Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 50, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 21 March 1903 — COAL COMMISSION’S REPORT [ARTICLE]

COAL COMMISSION’S REPORT

Jndge Gray and Carroll D. Wright Place It in Hands of President Roosevelt. Washington, March 18. —Judge Gray and Carroll I>. Wright, president and recorder respectively of the anthracite coal strike commission handed to President Itoosevcli the report of that commission. It is said the report will be made public Saturday. The report of the commission is a bulky document, but the conclusions reached can readily be summarized, although the members of the commission have been particularly reluctant In regard to the details of tbeir report In a general way it Is known that the commission recommends an average increase of wages amounting to about 10 per cent, of the existing rates. This is coupled with the general recommendation that the coal corporations should lie more considerate of the modes of living of their employes and should discourage the extension of the truck system and endeavor to arrive at a general system of arbitration regarding not only the question of wages but also of hours of labor, systems of weighing and the application of credit in the company stores. The report makes a strong plea for the rights of the non-union man, and shows that a labor organization which Is strong enough to make 100.000 men lay down their picks ought to be strong enough to prevent absolutely the application of the boycott with or without violence.