The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1903-03-25

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hanna Valley Orphans Home.
The report OF the anthracite coal
strike commission to the president,
made public Saturday, decides the four
main questions at issue, as follows:
The miners demanded an advance OF
20 per cent in rates of pay for contract
mineworkers. An advance of 10 per
cent is granted.
The miners demanded an elght'aour
day for employees, paid by the hour,
day or week. A nine-hour day is
granted to company men; an eight
hodr day to engineers, pumpmen and
firemen
The miners demanded pay by weight
of coal Rejected.
The miners demanded recognition
of the United Mine Workers of Amer
ica Rejected.
The commission recommends that
differences in the future be referred
for adjustment to permanent joint
commission to be called a board of
Cancellation, to consist of six mem
bers, three to be selected by the min
ers and three by the operators,
The rights and privileges of the non
union men are declared as sacred to
the men as the rights and privileges
of union men, and that a majority of
the employees in an industry by vol
unfairly assCciating themselves in a
union acquire authority over those
who do not so associate themselves is
pronounced untenable.
The United Mine Workers is criti-
cised for permitting boys of immature
age and Judgment to participate in de-
Gliding the policy and actions Of the
organization, and it is remarked that
the boys in the union anthracite re-
gion constitute 20 per cent of the men,
bership. In the opinion of the com
mission, "the present constitution of
the United Mine Workers of America
does not present the most inviting in
ducements to the operators to enter
into contractural relations with it."
Objectionable features in the union
are pointed out and the commission
advocates an independent and autono-
nous organization of the anthracite
mineworkers of Pennsylvania"
The commission does not agree with
the assertion, that the annual earn
ings of the mineworkers are INSULT
cient to maintain the American STAN
dard Of living" 1t says:
I'VE find that the average daily rate
of earnings. as nearly as can be as
certained, does not compare unfavor-
ably with that in other industries re-
quiring substantially equal skill and
training. 1t is more instructive, of
course, to compare annual earnings of
the contract miner with the annual
earnings of those employed in other
occupations. We find that the annual
earnings of contract miners, based
upon returns for the year 1901, range
between $3.50 and 5000. Perhaps it
would be safe to put the average at
$500"
In further, considering the living
conditions of the miners, the report
says: Another contention of the min
ers, to wit, that the wages of contract
miners are necessarily so low that
their childreA are prematurely forced
in breakers and mills, has not been
fully sustained" and the commission
calls for a stricter enforcement of the
law in. relation to child labor.
Touching the question-of discrimin-
ation,- lawlessness, boycotting and
blackllsting the commission states
that during the continuance of the
late strike disorder and lawlessness
existed to some extent over the whole
region and throughout the whole
period.