BULLETIN OF THE PARTMENT OF LABOR No. 43-NOVEMBER, 1902. ISSUED EVERY OTHER MONTH. WASHINGTON: GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE. CONTENTS. Page. Appendix B.-Correspondence between Mr. John Mitchell, president of the United Mine Workers of America, and Mr. Olyphant, president of the Delaware and Hudson Company, relative to proposed conference in Appendix C.-Correspondence between United Mine Workers of America and operators; letters and telegrams; operators' claims.... Appendix D.-Report of Mr. E. E. Loomis, superintendent of the coal- mining department of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Railroad Appendix E.-Report of interview of Commissioner of Labor with Messrs. George F. Baer, R. M. Olyphant, E. B. Thomas, and David Willcox. 1202-1213 Appendix F.-Statement of Mr. E. B. Thomas, representative of Erie Rail- Appendix G.-Statement of Mr. David Willcox, vice-president and gen- eral counsel of the Delaware and Hudson Company.... Appendix H.-Contract of bituminous coal miners and operators. Laws of various States relating to labor enacted since January 1, 1896........ 1298-1324 1264-1297 15187 III DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, Washington, D. C., June 20, 1902. SIR: I have the honor to submit herewith a report on the causes of and conditions accompanying the present controversy between the anthracite coal miners of Pennsylvania and the coal operators. I undertook this investigation in accordance with your verbal request of the 8th instant. The organic law of the Department of Labor provides that the Commissioner of Labor is "authorized to make special reports on particular subjects whenever required to do so by the President or either House of Congress." Immediately after your request, as provided by the law quoted, I proceeded to the city of New York, for the purpose of ascertaining all facts possible relating to the present controversy. I have not visited the coal regions, but I have been represented there by a very experienced gentleman who has studied the conditions of the coal regions many times and who undertook to make the necessary inquiries relative to the present strike. I am very glad to say that in every direction I have been met with the utmost courtesy, and all the facts required were generously put into my possession. These facts have been gained from presidents of coal-operating railroads, independent operators, capitalists thoroughly familiar with the coal business, but not engaged in it, presidents of railroads not operating coal mines, officials of the miners' union, foremen, superintendents, business men, miners, and laborers. One of the gratifying features of the investigation is that, so far as I have been able to ascertain, there has been no attempt to misrepresent, either willfully or otherwise, the facts as the individuals testifying understand them. The difference in point of view, in attitude to 1147 |