The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1903-04-01

Weighed CommIssion Five Months
Arriving Mt . Decision.
Washington. D. C.-Afterfive months
OF arduous labor In taking testimony.
visiting the mine regions. and prrpar'
ing their report. the members OF the
Coal Strike Arbitration Committee. ap-
pointed by President Roosevelt. filed
with the President unanimous recon-
mendations and their final report.
Judge Gray. who was Chairman of the
Commission. and Carroll u. Wright.
the Recorder. went to the White
House. informed the President that
their labors were done. and placed
the report in his hands. The President
thereupon invited NIL the members OF
the Commission to dinner In the WINE
House.
Although the Commissions report
had not been made public. enough was
known OF It's recommendations to per-
NIT a review Of It's material featurcs.
Not only Is an increase OF ten per cent.
in wages granted to the miners. but
new regulations In weighing the coal.
It Ia said. will really make the Increase
much larger, as they Will preclude the
men from being compelled to mine
more than q ton Of coal and getting
paid only for a ton, as now prevails.
This complaint Of the weighing sys-
tenn in vogue ut the mines has DeeI
considered carefully by the Commits
sion. and II Is understood that 1t Is
agreed that the miners complaint In
that connection was we'll founded. An
other point decided by the Commits
sion Is that the mining operators u
fix d days work ut eight hours Tor
every miner.
The miners also gain another point
OF contention In being recognized with
checkers OF their W for b coal
rs mined. BY 4 system OF dockage
the miners assert the operators hereto
fore have overburdehed the wOrkmen
with rebates. which materially reduced
their actual income. So the real issue
raised by the miners when they went
on strike is granted by the Commits.
sion.
Less work. more pay and less inter
ference and Partially OH the part OF
mining operators sums up this feature
Of the Commissions report. The re-
port also contains n provision. 1t Is
said. for the settlement Of all future
troubles between the miners and the
operators. by adjudication by n com.
mittee Of the two parties to the contro-
versy. In this provision 1t is under.
stood the Miners Union Is Indirectly
recognized. and this again liz regarded
rs a victory for President Mitchell and
organized labor. On the other hand.
however, the Commissioners rebuke
the boycott instituted by organized
labor against miners who do not be-
long to their union. The general priE.
ciple Is enunciated that every man
has an u%nalienable right to work
wherever he a find II, II he
il In need. and that no other man
has q right to interfere with or modest
him In obtaining the necessities Of life
for himself and his family by honest
toll.
While the boycott and the bitter
temper exhibited BY the union miners
against the n%on-uni0n men are cited MS
having caused q share OF the dlsor-
der and personal injury sustained dur
ing the strike. the coal operators do
not escape nsu for having been
also a party to these disturbances by
the wretched methods which they have
allowed to exist In the mining regions.
and the sewers treatment Of the miners
In their employ.
Company stores and company houses
are rebuked and n better feeling Of
.live and let live" recommended for
the consideration Of the coal capital.
lists.
The conditions seen by the Commits.
sioners I'm the mining regions also are
discussed. and suggestions for the indi.
vidual and home benefit Of the miners
are recommended.
The Presidents instructions to the
Commission when appointed required
that It should investigate also "thc
causes out Of which the controversy
arose.. In presenting Its view OF
these causes the Commission does not
spare the coal operators. and It Ia be-
lieved that this will be the most severe
ccnsure upon the operators. The Com
missions report throughout Is based
on the belief Of Its members that the
miners did have serious grievances.
which the operators should have salts
fed Instead Of refusing to arbitrate.
President Mitchell. who. 1t Is under
stood. had gained a good understanding
of what the Commission recommends.
Is said to be well satisfied with the re.
port. He will he recognized. or rather
the Miners Union Of which he Is the
President Will be. by the President.
who will send him n copy Of the report.
rs binding upon tie miners In the