Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1903-03-27
B EFITS THE MEN

REPORT OF COAL STRIKE COM.
MISSION GENERALLY FAvoR-
. ABLE TO THE MINERS.
All Glasses Of Workmen Get an In.
crease In Wages Of From Five to
Ten Per Cent and Certain Employees
Are Granted a Shorter Day-No
Award on the Question Of Recogni.
ton Of the Miners Union.
Washington, March 23.-The report
of the commission appointed by the
president last October to Investigate
the anthracite coal strike has been
made public. The report is dated
March IS and is signed by all the
members of the commission.
In brief the commission recon-
mends a general increase of wages
amounting in most instances to 10
per cent; some decrease of time; the
settlement of all disputes by arbitra-
ton; fixes minimum wage and slid
ing scale; provides against discrimina.
ton of persons by either the mine
owners or the miners on account of
membership or nonmembership 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 nonrecognition of
the miners union, but declined to
make any award on this matter.
Following is summary of the COM
missions award:
First-That an increase of 10 per
cent over and above the rates paid in
the month of April, 1902, be paid all
contract miners for cutting coal, yard
age and other work for which standard
rates OF. allowances existed at that
time, from and after Nov. 1, 1902, and
during the life Of this award.
Increase fer Other Employees.
Section two provides for al increase
Of 10 per cent il wages of engineers
who hoist water, from Nov. l, 1902, tx:
April /, 1908, ana thereafter they shall!
work eight hours at wages paid in
April, 1902; those now working eight
hour shifts shall receive 10 per cent
increase. Other engineers and pump
men receive 10 per cent increase from
Nov. l, 1902, to April 1, 1908, and from
then on increases of 5 per cent on
wages effective in April, 1902, and
shall be relieved on Sunday without
loss of pay by men employed by COM
panies.
That iremen shall have an increase
Of 10 per cent on their earnings be-
tween November, 1902, and April,
1908, to be paid on or before June l.,
1903, and from and after April /, 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 April,
1902. All employees or company men,
other than those for whom the COM
mission makes special awards, shall
be paid an increase of 10 per cent on
their earnings between Nov. l, 1902,
and April l, 1908, to be paid on or be-
fore 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 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 b.
paid at a proportionate 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.
Board of Arbitration.
Section four provides for board OF
arbitration to be composed of six per-
sons, three to be named by each side,
which shall pass upon all questions at
issue between the miners and opera
tors. There shall be no suspension
of work pending settlement.
Fifth--Whenever requested by a
majority of the contract miners of
any colliery, check weighmen or check
docking bosses, or both, shall be en-
ployed, to be paid by the miners in a
manner to be determined.
Sixth-Mine cars shall be distrib-
uted among miners who are at work
as uniformly and as equitably as pos
sible and there shall be no concerted
effort on the part of he miners or
mine workers OF any cOlllery or COL
lieries to limit the output of the mines
or to detract from the quality of the
work performed.
Section seven provides that where
miners are paid by the car the in
crease awarded to contract miners is
based upon the cars in use and any
increase in size of cars is to be &C.
companied by an increase in pay.
Section eight provides for a sliding
scale of wages based on the price Of
coal at or near New York.
Ninth-No person shall be refused
employment or in any way discrimi-
mated against on account of member
ship or nonmembership in any labor
organization; and there shall be no
discrimination against or Interference
with any employe who is not a men,
Der of any labor organization by mem.
bers of such organization.
Payment Of Miners Helpers.
Tenth-All contract miners shall be
required to furnish, within q reason