Freeland tribune. (Freeland, Pa.) 1888-1921, 1903-03-23

opinion that with a few notifications
the federal act of October, 1888, au-
thoriZing q commission to settle con-
troversies between railroad corpora
tions and other common carriers could
be made the basis of a law for arbitra-
ton in the anthracite coal mining busi-
ness. The commission, however, take
decided position against compulsory
arbitration. On this point they add
quite lengthy commentary, which
closes in the following language:
'The chief benefit to be derived from
the suggestion herein lies In placing
the real facts and the responsibility for
such condition authoritatively before
the people, that public opinion may
crystalline and make its power felt.
Could such a commission as that sug-
gested have been brought into existence
in June last we believe that the coal
famine might have been averted-cer-
tainly the suffering and deprivation
might have been greatly mitigated."
The Controversy Reviewed.
These awards and recommendations
tlit tioSluS part VI Tie re-
port. The earlier pages and by long
odds the larger portion of the report
are devoted to Il review of the contro-
verSy which led to the presidents ac-
ton in appointing the commission, to
the appointment itself and to the pro-
ceedings of the commission during its
existence. They review in Il general
way the production of anthracite coal
refer to the small area of country in
which it Is produced and dwell ut some
length on the market conditions and
the prices of coal They also refer to
the hazardous nature of anthracite coal
mining and give an estimate of the
losses occasioned by the strike. These
losses they estimate rs follows: TO the
mine owners, SAC 100000: to the mine
employees in wages. S25 100000; to the
transportation companies, S2S,000,000
The commission says that in making
their investigation they have done
whatever it was practicable to do to
acquaint themselves with the cOndi.
tions which brought about this strike.
The commissioners also say that,
while there have been differences of
opinion among themselves, there never
has been time during the five months
of the existence of the commission
when there was an unpleasant word
spoken among them 'or any indication
whatever of thought or desire of aught
save truth and justice"
The commissioners then take up the
demands of the mine workers and the
answers of the mine operators. giving
in detail the reasons for the findings
In general way they say that the
conditions of the life of the mine work
ers outside the mines do not justify to
their full extent the adverse criticisms
made by their representatives. They
also find that the social conditions in
the mining communities are good ana
they fail to find that the wages are so
low among the miners as necessarily to
force them to put their small children
to work The commission also find
that the average daily rate of earnings
in the anthracite regions does not com.
pare unfavorably with that in other in
dustries.
Question of Recognition.
On the subject of the recognition of
tne mlne workers union Jne commits
sion say that they do not consider that
this subject is within the scope of the
jurisdiction conferred on them. They
do say. however, that 'the suggestion
of a working agreement between EN-
ployees and employers embodying the
doctrine of collective bargaining is one
which the commission believe contains
many hopeful elements for the adjust.
ment of relations in the mining re
gion." Further on they say, "The pres
ent constitution of the United Mine
Workers of America does not present
the most inviting inducements to the
operators to enter into contractural re.
lations with it,"
They express the opinion that differ
ences can best be settled by consulta.
tions by the employer with "a commit.
tee chosen by his employees" but they
add that ''in order to be entitled to
such recognition the labor organization
must give the same recognition to the
rights of the employer and of others
which it demands for itself and for its
members" They add, THE union
must not undertake to assume or to in,
terfere with the management of the
business of the employer They alsC
pronounce a3Hintenable the contention
that "a majority of the employees OF
an industry by voluntarily associatina
themselves in union acquire author
ity over those who do not so associate
themselves
The report is to be illustrated, and /,
will be accompanied by the testimony
taken by the commission, but thus fai
only the report proper has been print
ed This alone covers eighty-sever
pages of printed matter.
Persistent Memory.
Norton-I noticed you were very
mick TO give up your seat in the street
1xy in