Jasper County Democrat, Volume 5, Number 51, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 28 March 1903 — FEATURES OF DECISION BY STRIKE COMMISSION. [ARTICLE]

FEATURES OF DECISION BY STRIKE COMMISSION.

All awards made by commission to count from Nov. 1, 1902, and remain in force until April 1,190 G, except in case of sliding scale, which does not become effective until April 1, 1903. Contract miners, engineers, firemen, and pump men to receive 10 per cent increase. Sliding scale from this rate to be based on selling price of coal and to affect all. Engineers and firemen to work in eight-hour shifts. All employes to have one day of rest a week without loss of pay. Present methods of payment to be continued. Board of concilation for each of three districts to rule on all disputes between employers and workers. No strikes or lockouts to be allowed during the attempts to adjust matters in dispute. Miners are given the right to hire weighmen or clieckmen, the company to pay them, holding out their salaries from workers' wages pro rata. Compulsory investigation of all difficulties, but not compulsory arbitration. Strict enforcement of the child labor laws. Discontinuance of the coal and iron police. Union is not given formal recognition and employers are declared entitled to biro men regardless of union. Men are forbidden to discriminate against non-union workers. \ Individuals are denounced for the lawlessness and crime during the strike, but Mitchell and other leaders are exonerated of any blame. Boycott is denounced as unjust and a weapon which should not be permitted. Miners are said to average well in the matter of wages with other workers of the same grade. The cost of the strike is estimated as follow*: To operators $4G,100,000 To mine employes * ’ 25,000,000 To transportation companies 28.000,000 Total $99,100,000