The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1903-03-26
MINERS GET
HIGHER WAGES
Strike Commission Grants Them
10 Per Cent. Increase.
THE UNION NOT RECOGNIZED
Award Provides Shorter Hours, Slid
ing Scale and Cancellation Board.
PAYMENT sY WEIGHT REFUSED


PAYMENT sY WEIGHT REFUSED
Commissions Findings to Continue In
Force Until March 81. 1906, and Ad-
vance In Wages to Date From No
Vember I, t9o2-Diseontinuance Of
Coal and Iron Police Suggested.
Boycott and Blacklist Strongly Con-
demreo.
Washington. March 23.-The report
of the commission appointed by the
president last October to Investigate
the anthracite coal strike was made
puOlic Saturday. The report is dated
March Is. and is signed by all the
members of the commission. who are
Judge Gray, of Delaware: Labor Com
missioner Carroll ID. Wright and Briga-
der General John NJ. Wilson, both of
this city; Bishop John L. Spalding. of
Illinois; Thomas II. Watkins. of Penn
syl'ania Edward W Parker, of this
city. and Edgar T. Clark. OF Iowa. The
report is TO be illustrated. and it will
be accompanied by the testimony taken
by the commission. but thus far only
the report proper has been printed.
This alone covers 81 pages OF printed
matter.
The miners principal demands and
the action on them are as follows:
Miners Demands.
l. Contract mine workers to get 20
per cent advance in prices.
>. An eight-hour day for employees
paid by the hour day or week
g. Mining of coal to be paid for by
weight
T. Recognition Of the United Mine
Workers of America
Commissions Award.
/. Advance of 10 per cent. granted.
2 Nine-hour day granted to com
pany men; eight-hour day to engi-
neers. pumpmen and fremen.
8. Rejected.
4. Rejected.
Straight Increase of 10 Per Cent.
Following1s the commission's own
sum mary OF the awards made
J. that an increase of 10 per cent
over and above the rates paid in the
aASAAAAA VI y UllNs AsN-. nt DHi0 10 All
contract miners for cutting coal. yard
ade and other work for which standard
rates or allowances existed at that
Tune. and from and after November /.
l9pZ, ana during the life of this award.
The amount OF increase under the
award due for work done between No
Nember l. 1902 and April l. 1908. TO be
paid on or before June l. 1903
=. 1hot engineers who are employed
IN hoisung water shall have an in
crease OF 10 per cent on their earn
lngS between November /. 1902. and
April J., 1908, 10 be paid on or before
juno ], 1903; and from and after April
l, 1908. and during the life OF the
award they shall have eight-hour
SHIFTS, with the same pay which was
enectiye IL April. 1902, and where they
are now working eight-hour shifts. the
eiShthour shifts shall be continued.
and these engineers shall have an in
crease of 10 per cent on the wages
which were effective in the several po-
sitions in April. 1902.
Hosting engineers and other engi-
neers and pump men. 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 November l, 1902, and
April |. 1903, and from and after
April /, 1903, they shall have an in
crease OF per cent. on the rates of
wages which were effective in the sew
eral positions in April 1902: and in
addition they shall be relieved from
duty on Sundays, without loss of pay.
by man provided by the employer
TO relieve them during the hours of
the day shift
That firemen shall have an increase
or 10 per cent on their earnings be-
tween November |. 1902 and April l.
1903. TO be paid on or before June |,
1903. and from and after April l. 1908,
and during the life of the award, they
shall have eight-hour shifts, with the
same wages per. day, week or month
as we're paid in each position in April,
1902
All company men other than those
for whom the commission makes spe-
cial awards shall be paid an increase
of 10 per cent. on their earnings be-
tween November l, 1902, and April /.
1908. to be paid on or before June l.
1903. and from and after April l. 1908
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
ten-hour nay. Overtime in excess of
nine hours in any day 10 be paid at a
proportional rate per hour.
s. 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 ii is pro-
vided that allowances like those made
shall be paid 10 the legal representa-
tives of such employees as may have
died since November l. 1902.
Board of Cancellation. i g.
4. Any difficulty. or disagreement
arising under this award. either as TO
its Interpretation or application. or in
any way growing out of the relations
of the employers and employed, which
cannot be settled or adjus ed by con
sultation between the superintendent
or Or manager z ~ the mine Or minas and
ed. or is of a scope too large to be set
tied or adjusted shall be referred to
a permanent joint committee, to be
called board of cancellation, to con-
sist of six persons. That is to say, IL
~lo1 = IA