The Savannah morning news., 1903-03-22
WILL RAISE WAGES
FINDING OF STRIKE COMMISSION
FOR THE MINERS.
ADVANCE WILL BE GENERAL
IN MOST CASES 1T WILL AMOUNT To
TEN PER CENT.

REPORT OF the commission Appoint
ed by the President Is Made Pub
Hc-Is Victory For the Miners,
as Operators Have to Abide by the
DecisiOn-NOt Only Higher Wages
But Reduced Hours Fall to the Lot
of the Miners-Other Provisions of
the Finding.
Washington, March 21.-The report of
the commission appointed by the Pres
ident last October to investigate the
anthracite coal strike was made public
to-day. The report is dated March is,
and is signed by all the members of
the commission.
In brief, the commission recommends
a general increase of wages, amount
ing in most instances to 10 per cent. !;
some decrease of time: the settlement
of all disputes by arbitration; fixes a
minimum wage and a sliding scale;
provides against discrimination of per-
sons by either the mine owners or the
miners on account of membership or
non-membership in a labor union, and
provides that the awards made shall
continue in force until March 81, 1906.
The commission discussed to some
extent the matter of recognition or
non-recognition of the miners union,
but declined to make any award on
this matter.
Following is the commissions own
summary of the awards made:
First. That an increase of 10 per
cent. over and above the rates paid in
the month of April, 1902, be paid to all
contract miners for cutting coal, yard
age, and other work for which stand
ard rates or allowances existed at that
time, from and after Nov. 1, 1902 and
during the life of this award. The
amount of increase under the award
due for work done between Nov. 1, 1902,
and April l. 1903, to be paid on or be-
fore June 1, 1903. -'
For Engineers and Firemen.
Second. That engineers who
are employed in hosting wa
ter shall have an increase of
10 per cent. ON their earnings
between Nov. /, 1902, and April /, 1908,
to be paid on or before June /, 1903;
and from and after April 1, 1903, and
during the life of the award, they shall
have eight hour shifts, with the same
pay which was effective in April 1902;
and where they are now working eight
hour shifts, the eight hour shifts shall
be continued, and these engineers shall
have an increase of 10 per cent. on
the wages which were effective in the
in rrf1
Hosting engineers and other engin-
GERS and pumpmen, other than those
employed in hosting water, who are
employed in positions which are
manned continuously, shall have an in
crease of 10 per cent. on their earn
ings between Nov. 1, 1902, and April
l, 1903, to be paid on or before June
l, 1903; and from and after April 1,
1908, and during the life of the award,
they shall have an increase of per
cent. on the rates of wages which were
effective in the several positions in
April, 1902, and in addition they shah
without loss of pay, by a man pro-
vided by the employer to relieve them
during the hour of the day shift.
Firemen shall have an increase OF 10
per cent. on their earnings between
Nov. 1. 1902. and April l. 1903, to be
paid on or before June l, 1908, and from
and after April 1, 1908, and during the
life of the award. they shall have
eight hour shifts, with the same wages
per day, week or month, as were paid
in each position in Aprih~ 1902
Everybody Gets a Raise.
All employees or company men, other
than those for whom the commission
makes special awards, shall be paid an
increase of 10 per cent. on their earn
ings between Nov. l, 1902 and April l,
1903, to be paid on or before June /,
1903; and from and after April l, 1903,
and during the life of this award, they
shall be paid on the basis of a nine
hour day, receiving therefor the same
wages as were paid in April 1902, for
a ten-hour day. Overtime in excess Of
nine hours in any day to be paid at a
proportional rate per hour.
Third. During the life of this award
the present methods of payment for
coal mined shall be adhered to, unless
changed by mutual agreement.
In all of the above awards it is pro-
vided that allowances like those made
shall be paid to the legal representa-
tives of such employees as may have
died since Nov. /, 1902.
Fourth. Any difficulty or disagree
ment arising under this award, either
as TO Its Interpretation or application,
or in any way growing out of the re-
lations of the employers and employed
which cannot be settled or adjusted by
consultation between the superintend-
ent or manager of the mine or mines
and the miner or miners directly in
terested, or is of a scope too large to
be so settled or adjusted, shall be re-
ferred to joint committee, to be call
ed a board of Cancellation, to consist
of six persons, appointed as herein
after provided. That is to say if there
shall be a division of the whole region
into three district, in each of which
there shall exist an organization repre-
senting majority of the mine work.
ers of such district, one of said board
of Cancellation shall be appointed by
each of said organizations, and three
other persons shall be appointed by the
operators, the operators in each of said
districts appointing one person.
Matters For the Board.
The board of Cancellation, thus con-
stituted, shall take up and consider
any question referred to it as afore-
said, hearing both parties to the con-
troversy, and such evidence as may be
laid before it by either party; and any
award made by a majority of such
board of Cancellation shall be final and
binding on all parties. II, however, the
said board Is unable 10 decide any ques-
ton submitted. or point related there
% that question or point shall he re-