Items of Interest March 28, 1903 Issue

Items of Interest

By the decision of the Anthracite Coal Strike Commission the miners get a little less than half of what they struck to achieve. On the union issue, which at first was their most vital demand, but which later they virtually dropped, the commission made no specific award, but recommended a separate anthracite union to deal with the questions in the anthracite fields, a conciliation committee of six, one member chosen from each of three districts by the miners and one from each district by the operators to deal with questions arising under the award. In brief, the commission awarded a general increase of wages, amounting in most instances to ten per cent; some decrease of time; the settlement of all disputes by arbitration; fixes a minimum wage and a sliding scale; provides against discrimination of persons by either the mine owners or the miners on account of membership or non-membership in a labor union, and provides that the awards made shall continue in force until March 31, 1906.

The report was unanimous, all seven members concurring. Intimidation and boycotting by the miners, blacklisting by the operators, and discrimination by both were severely condemned. The ignoring of the rights of the general public by both parties in the controversy was scored. The losses resulting from the strike were estimated as follows: To mine owners, $46,100,000; to mine employees in wages, $25,000,000; to transportation companies, $28,000,000; a total of $99,100,000. The amount of percentages due to the miners on their earnings between November 1 and April 1 will amount to about $2,000,000.

General Wood will leave Washington this week for Naples. He will be accompanied by Colonel H. T. Scott, Seventh Cavalry, and Lieutenant F. R. McCoy, Tenth Cavalry. It is expected that the party will arrive in Manila about the middle of June. General Wood will have command of the Department of Mindanao, until he is advanced to the command of the division of the Philippines.

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