Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1903-03-31

that during the continuance of the late
strike disorder and lawlessness existed
to some extent over the whole region and
| throughout the whole period.
President Mitchell and his immediate
! chiefs of the miners union are held Off
cially blameless for violence, actual and
threatened, in the anthracite regions, but
a strong rebuke is administered to those
persons who resented the presence of the
militia called out by Gov. Stone of Penn.
sylvania to protect the colieries.
1t appears that all the concessions
made are clear gains to the miners, the
operators having conceded nothing Gnd
having denied the right of the commits
sion to inquire into their contractual re-
lations with the miners According to
the labor leaders they fatty refused to
arbitrate.
According to the miners counsel all
the awards made by the commission rep
resent net gains to the miners, although
it is admitted that President Baer offered
at one time to fix the minimum wage
scale on the basis of 50 coal. The com
mission fixed this basis at $3.50.
Better Wages and shorter Hours.
Under the commissions awards miners
not working by the day, month or year
will be granted an advance in wages Of
10 per cent and miners working by the
day, month or year will be granted
nine-hour instead of a ten-hour day. The
wages of the former class. it is Figured,
will be advanced 1919 per cent, as they,
too, have been granted a nine-homr in
stead of a ten hour day. Firemcn and
engineers under the decision of the Gray
commission are given an eight-hour in
stead of a twelve hour day and the wages
of some of these employees have been
advanced.
In addition to a general advance of 10 /
per cent in most instances and decrease
in working hours the commission recon-
mends the settlement of all disputes by
arbitration and provides a minimum
wage with a sliding scale. Proyis-
ion is also made against discrimination
of persons either by mine owners or min
ers on account of membership or non
membership in a labor union, and it is
provided that the awards Of the COM
mission shall be in force until March 81, !
1906
The miners having worked 100 |
days since Nov l, 1902, it is estimated |
that back pay due them will reach near
ly S3.000000 and that advanced wages |
viii amount approximately to $S,000,000 |
a year.
The average income Of a skilled miner |
In the anthracite fields last year was |
$500 and of an ungkilled miner 1919. |
The miners insisted that their working /
day should be reduced from ten 20 eight !
hours and the foremen, engineers and 1
pumpmen demanded that their twelve
hour day be reduced TO eight hours.
The commission in no instance met the
full demands 90 the miners, but the
awards made are considered liberal. in
view of the bitterness Of the strike con
troyersy. The commission also favored
the miners by recommending tie with
drawal Of the coal and iron police ard
modification Of the child labor law 10
favor Of the miners.
Recognition Of the miners unioH IS tx
plicitIy refused. although Il Is conceded
that the doctrine Of collective bargain.
ing has n it many hopeful elements FOX
adjustment Of labor disputes II ass
is suggested By the commission that the
present constitution Of the miners uniSs
does not present the most inviting IT,
ducewents to the operator 70 enter info
contraclsal relations with i.