The Washington herald., 1909-07-04
Cancellation Board Effective
in Its Work.
HEARS MASS OF COMPLAINTS
Strikes Have Been Rare in Six
Years OF It's Existence-COmpOSed
of Three Employers and Three La
bOrers-Umpire Decides When the
Board Cannot Agree.


features OF the new agreement between
mine workers and operators is the added
prestige which It gives the board Of con-
ciliatiOn. This tribunal has been in. ex-
ietence six years. since the strike COM
mission made its award in 1903. When
the renewed agreement has expired the
board will have rounded out nine fun
years Of service.
It's function has been TO settle complaints
made by either employees or employers.
Often the six members decide In favor OF
the men or in favor Of the companies
with little or no difference OF opinion.
Sometimes there is a tie vote and tbs
case is referred to an umpire
Board FOrbids Strikes.
In any event strikes are forbidden un-
der the agreement II the mine workers
al any colliery have walked out" they
must 90 back TO work before their griev-
ance will be considered by the board In
its practical aspects this is one OF the
most important results OF the whole sys-
TEN, for It has done away with the nu-
merous petty strikes which were so dam
aging 20 the interests Of both the men
and their employers.
At first the board was in the nature OF
an experiment. At the end OF its first
three years, however. the principle OF
Cancellation had established itself so
firmly that there was no question but
that the scheme would be continued IN
lis essential features The only question
was as 20 some OF the details Ii was
finally agreed IN 1906 TO continue the
board just as Il was first formed Now
the same arrangement has been made for
the next three years-untliI March 81. 1872
Three from Each Side.
As provided by the commissions s award.
the Cancellation board Is composed OF
three representatives Of the mine workers
and three representatives Of the oper-
ators. Il examines witnesses and hears
the arguments Of both sides. When a de-
cision IS not reached the case under con
sideraion is referred 10 an umpire ap-
pointed BY one Of the judges OF the Third
judicial circuit Of the United States.
Every employe who believes that he has
been anjustly treated and who has failed
in his efforts 10 have the case settled by
the officials Of the company at the col
liery where he is employed has the privi-
lege Of appealing 10 the board for an ad-
justment II his grievance is sustained
he receives whatever advantage IS due
him by reason Of the boards decision. II
IL is not sustained. he remains al work
with the satisfaction OF having had a
hearing before a body IN whose member
ship the employers and employees are
equally represented.
Effect Cannot Be Measured.
The effects OF the boards work are not
Of the kind that can be accurately meas
ured. but they are plainly evident 10 the
population OF the anthracite region. The
relations between the employers and their
employees have probably never been so
peaceful as during the last six years. The
very knowledge that an appeal to the
board Is always easy tends 10 prevent the
sort Of bad feeling which was often pres
ent under the old regime.
The members Of the board representing
the mine workers are John Fahy. Of Sna-
mOkin, representing the Southern dis
trict: John J. Waters. OF HaZletOn, rep
Tesenung the Middle district. and Adam
Ryscavage. Of Scranton. representing the
Northern district All these are officers OF
the United Mine Workers Of America
The operators representatii are W
J. Richards. vice president and general
manager Of the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company. Of Pottsville: $
D. Warmer. vice president and general
manager OF the Lehigh Valley Coal Com
pany. Of Wilkesbarre, and ". l. Con-
nell. an independent operator, OF Scran-
ton, Pa
Board Hears Many Subjects.
All kinds Of questions that arise in the
complicated industry OF anthracite min
ing come before the board for settlement
The price OF coal purchased by employees.
the method OF employing check weigh
men and check docking bosses" in
creases in pay under the strike commits
sion's award, the refusal Of employers 20
re-employ their former employees. alleged
discrimination IN favor OF or against
union or nonunion mine workers-these
are a few examples OF the sort Of qUes-
ticns the board has 10 pass upon.
A fireman claims that he has not re-
ceived the advantage Of the commission's
ruling as to the number OF hours OF work
-
that a certain company has refused "a
give them work because they took part
in the strike; an engineer says he has
been compelled 70 work extra time with
out extra pay; a company complains that
its employees refused 20 work on a certain
day in order 70 attend q picnic; men do
ing chamber work seek 70 show that g
change Of system in loading coal has
done them an injustice-sO the list OF
grievances runs.
The rules OF procedure aim at sim
plicity The object is 70 do away with
technicalities and red tape" as far as
possible and get directly 20 the merits OF
every question. There IS no fear OF
costs" as there IS in a regular court Of
justice, to deter a man Of small means
from making complaint
Seek Adjustment First.
The rules provide that members Of the
board in their respective districts shall
endeav0r to settle cases before they are
presented as formal grievances for the
action Of the entire board. The cases
thus settled by the members OF the board
OF c0neiliatiOn in their respective districts
have probably been greater in number
than all the formal cases settled by trial
before the entire board.
During the first three years Of the
boards existence there were 10 griev-
aDces presented. During the second three
years this number fell 10 twenty-five
This was due In a large measure to the
great number OF cases settled IN this
way, without being laid formally before
the board
The decrease in formal complaints IS
really the best indication Of the success
that the board has had in fulfilling its
purpose This purpose. TO use the words
Of the President Of the United States In
his letter Of instructions to the strike
commission in 1902, has been to "endeavor
10 establish the relations between the en-