The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1904-08-01
$4,000 men
May GO ON
STRIKE

Scranton. Pa, Aug. 1.-The executive
board OF the Wyoming and Lackawanna
district miners, representing $1,000 men,
went into session here today. The board
Is TO decide what action shall be taken
TO force the operators to observe the
check weighing and check docking boss
decision OF Umpire Carroll ID. wright
and has been given the power by that
convention of the district miners 10 order
n strike AT every collery where II is not
enforced
District President Nichols, who pre-
sided said I'm an interview before the
meeting:
The operators suggestion that we
refer the grievance TO an umpire VIII not
be accepted by the miners. IL has been
finally settled by Mr.. Wrights decision as
umpire, and we see no reason why that
should be changed just because 1t does
not suit the operators"
DOES NOT EXPECT STRIKE.
washington, Aug 1-CaTroll D. Wright.
commissioner of labor. OF the department
OF commerce and labor. expressed the
opinUbn today that no strike or the an
thracite miners would result from the
contention which has arisen between the
opera tors and miners concerning the ap
nojntment by the miners OF check
weighing boss in various collieries
Mr.. Wright called at the White House
to present TO the president his annuai
report on wages. an abstract or whlch al
ready has been published. At the conclu-
sion OF his interview with the president
he talked briefly about the pending diffi
GUILTY between the anthracite operators
and miners BY agreement he Is the um
| pire 10 whom all disputes which may
arise over the carrying into effect OF the
anthracite coal strike commission
award, may be referred
The award provided that II in any
| colliery the miners desired one OF their
number as a check weighing boss. whose
| duty II should be 10 protect the inteNest
| OF the miners in weighing OF coal taken
out OF the couiery, he should be appointed
! His pay was TO be assessed pro rata upon
! the miners OF the colliery receiving the
| benefit OF his services.
| In the colIieries OF the Coke Brothers
/ at Wilkesbarre and at other colliertes, a
majority OF the men have asked for q
| check Weighing boss. The proposition
has been objected 20 by the operators be-
| cause all the men in the collieries did not
| ask that the coal be check weighed. The
operators maintained that only the men
who requested the checking should be
assessed TO pay for the wcighers services
The matter was referred 20 Mr.. Wright
as umpire and he decided that the assess
ment should be made on all the men en-
ployed I'm any given colliery.
The decision was not satisfactory q
the operators. who suggested that another
umpire be named to pass upon the sub
ject.
The reason for the objection OF th'
operators Is not clear 10 Mr. Wright. HI
regards such plan as perfectly fair Il
both sides
Under the provisions OF the award. j
the men who do not ask for the checking
boss object TO paying their portion Of th'
assessment they may be discharged l
Il simply a case OF enforcement OF rul
of the majority.
Mr. Wright expressed a belief that M
strike would arise from the present con
tention and he thought the operation
would abide by his decision.