Omaha daily bee., 1903-03-22
COIL Strike COMMISSIONS REPORT.

Strlke commission - Oh tue NhNi' L"
yorable TO the miners and If acquiesced
in by the operators, as 1t is presumed
II will be, will improve conditions IN
the anthracite region and perhaps avert
i'm future such conflicts as that OF last
year. The commission finds in favor
Of an increase of wages and some re-
duction in time, deciding In these re-
spects in favor Of the contention of the
miners. There is no doubt that in this
the commission is entirely fair and
Just. The evidence presented proved
conclusively that the miners are en-
titled to better compensation than they
had been receiving, while as to the
hours Of labor they were in respect to
a very large number Of employees eXces-
sive. This was not the case with all
of them. but the aim of the commits
sion is to ~equalize the work and the
propriety and justice of this cannot
reasonably be questioned.
The commission recommends arbitra-
ton Of any difficulty or disagreement
arising under it's award and suggests a
plan for this that ought to be accept
able to both parties. This contemplates
a board of Cancellation consisting Of
three representatives of the miners and
three of the operators. If these fail to
agree the matter of disagreement shall
be referred to an umpire to be APP
pointed by a judge of the Third judicial
circuit of the United States. whose de-
cisiOn shall be final and binding in the
premises. This also is a proposition
that should be acceptable to both par
ties. 1t is suggested that this board
shall at all times be kept complete and
hat pending the adjudication Of any
matter before it there shall be no sus.
pension of work by lockout or strike.
Another important recommendation is
in regard to a sliding scale of wages
to be regulated by the price charged fol
coal in specified markets and deter
mined 10y an accountant or commissioner
named by one of the circuit judges OF
the Third judicial circuit of the United
States. Not the least interesting ant
significant clause in the report is this
mo person shall be refused employ
ment or in any way discriminate
against IN account of membership o.
non-membership in any labor ~organiza
ton, and there shall be no dlscrimina
ton against or interference with an!
employee who Is not a member of an,
labor organization by members of sucl
organization" The acceptance of thi
will require hat on the one hand opeI
ators shall not refuse work to men be
cause they are members of the miners
organization and that on the other han,
union miners shall not interfere wit
nonunion workers. The principle en-
braced in this will doubtless be quit
generally recognized as sound, but
cannot be confidently predicted that
will prove satisfactory to either tn
operators or the miners.
The commission Is said to take q d,
cided position against compulsory arb
/ tration and in this it is in accord wit
: general public sentiment. 1t is a we
established fact that the principle
compulsory arbitration has very lit
! support in this country, both employer
> and organized labor being with pract
cal unanimity opposed to it. The stat
I ment that the constitution of IL
United Mine Workers of America do,
not present the most inviting Undue
! ments to the operators to enter in
| contract relations with It" is vel
l likely to cause some resentment on Il
{ part Of that organization, but 1t shou
suggest to II the ~expediency of makir
some changes IN that instrument.
regard to the conditions Of the mil
workers the report says that they
not justify, ito their full extent" Il
= adverse criticisms made by their re
resentatives and that the average dai
rate Of earnings In the anthracite I
gions does not compare unfavorab
with that in other industries. Th
portion Of the report which deals wi
the relation of employer and employ
and speaks for the independence
nonunion labor is especially interestir
,s 1t will not be questioned that the
quiry made by the commission W
y most thorough and we think 1t will
very generally admitted that It b
been impartial In its conclusions.
- Its recommendations are needed the
N should be prolonged peace in the {