The Opelousas courier., 1903-03-28
Washington, ID. G., News.
From our Regular Correspondent.
WASHINGTON, March %, 1908

The decision Of the Anthracite
Coal Strike Commission has just
been made public and will doubt
less be regarded as a victory fol-
the miners, not only in that il
awards to them the increase in
wages for which they originally
struck, but in that it refutes the
economic propositions advanced by
President Baer and other mine
operators. On this subject the
Commission says: "Undoubtedly
the proposition that men who own
the property and carry on the busi-
ness must control it is generally
true, and its maintenance is neces-
sary to the political and economical
welfare Of society; but it is also true
that where a business is of such
magnitude and it's physical condi-
tions are such as to constitute a
natural monopoly, it is affected with
a public interest Which cannot be
ignored by those who control it,"
While submitting that they do
not feel authorized, under existing
conditions, to advocate compulsory
arbitration, the Commissioners rec.
ommend law proposed by Charles
L. adams which provides for fed
eral intervention in time of exten-
sive conflicts between employers
and employees.
The specific awards of the Com
mission, by which both operators
and miners are bound, give to the
latter general 10 per cent increase
in wages, beginning with April,
1902. Men employed nine hours
are to be paid on a ten-hour basis,
and provision is made for an in
crease in wages of l per cent for
every scent increase in the whole
sale price of coal, above $3.50 per
ton, for pea coal. The average
price of coal is to be determined by
a commissioner appointed by Uni
ted States Circuit Judge and paid
by the operators. The miners are
permitted all the check -weighers
they may demand, but they are to
be paid at the miners expense.
Any increase in the size Of miners
cars is to be met with a proportion
ate increase in wages. 1t is further
provided that all disputes arising
during the period for which the
Commission makes it's awards shall
be adjudicated by a 'joint conciia-
tory committee to consist of six
members, three to be appointed by
the operators and three by the
miners. In the event that an agree
ment cannot be reached by this
evenly divided committee, the com.
mittee shall select a seventh mem
Der, who shall cast the deciding
vote. No discrimination shall be
made against union Or non-union
miners, and all awards shall stand
until March 81, 1906.
The special session Of the Senate
of the 58th Congress has adjourned
after ratifying the Panama and
Cuban treaties. Attention now
turns to the action of Colombia on
the canal treaty and the magnitude
of the undertaking to which the
United States has committed itself.
1t is estimated, by those who be-
lieve in the success Of the agree
ment, that about the autumn of
1904 some 10000 negroes armed with
spades and picks will invade the
isthmus of Panama and begin dig
ging. 1t is said by the engineers
that 20,0OO will be a minimum force
of laborers, and that as high as
$4,000 may be employed at times.
There are now about 1000 men at
work under the French company,
and every foot of the ground for
the canal has been broken. There
is no contract labor law which ap-
plies to the isthmus, and doubtless
negroes from all the West Indian
islands will be imported, and few
may go from the United States, al
though those already acolimated
will be given preference, as the
amount of sickness will thus be
materially diminished. Labor on
the isthmus commands from DO to
30 cents per day. There are now
on the route of the canal two thor
oughly equipped hospitals, and
these will doubtless be kept full to
overflowing, as none but Ameri-
cans will be given the higher
grades of work. All details of the
construction will be determined by
the Isthmian Canal Commission,
the members Of which the President
will appoint as soon us the treaty is
ratified by Colombia.
The provisions of the Cuban treaty,
as ratified, will not go into effect
until the next session of Congress,
as it has been so amended as to ne
cessitate favorable action by both
houses, and Senator McEnery, of
Louisiana, tells your correspondent
that he believes the agreement has
been virtually killed, that the house
will inevitably amend any bill ap-
proving it, and thus precipitate ex-
tended discussion in the Senate,
and that the upshot will be ulti.
mate and absolute failure of the
whole project. Senator Newlande