discrepancy $2,208,000 (including cash). Again we have substantially similar results. But the differences in the amount of commodities consumed are more important than the valuations. compared with non-intercourse, For these we have, as B 46 Taking both countries together we have, Consumption of corn, "steel, 4,200,000 bu. corn less. 210,000 tons steel less. 6,900,000 bu. corn more. 60,000 tons steel more. 2,700,000 bu, more. 150,000 tons less. Again the results are similar to those obtained by the first method. There is a gain in the consumption of corn and a loss in the consumption of steel; in order to make these quantities commensurable they must be reduced to terms of utility. This may be done in the same manner as before, i. e., take the gain or loss in consumption times the mean utility for that portion of the consumption on the demand schedule. It is necessary to make this calculation for steel only, since the conditions and results for corn are the same as before. loss of utility = 1⁄2 (28.50 + 29.70) (6,020,000 - 5,810,000) A, B, total gain of utility = $6,183,000 Taking both countries together we have a loss in utility,— The result is substantially similar to that obtained by the first method (discrepancy $596,250). Cash is not reckoned. It is unnecessary to continue the comparison further. THE ANTHRACITE STRIKE COMMISSION'S THE AWARDS. 'HE work of the Anthracite Strike Commission has passed into history and stands as the most important event of the last quarter of a century in the industrial world. Its influence upon both employers and employees will be far-reaching, while the method of its appointment convinces all that the interests of the public cannot be ignored when, in an industry whose production is essential to the life and happiness of the people, the coöperating parties are engaged in a ruinous conflict. Soon after President Roosevelt appointed the commission he outlined the work it was assigned to do. His instructions to the members were that they were to inquire into, consider, and pass upon the questions in controversy in connection with the strike in the anthracite region, and the causes out of which the controversy arose, and furthermore they were to "endeavor to establish the relations between the employers and the wageworkers in the anthracite fields on a just and permanent basis, and as far as possible to do away with any causes for the recurrence of such difficulties as this which you have been called to settle." After a few preliminary sittings in Washington, D. C., the commission visited the coal fields on October 30th, and spent one week personally examining the mines, breakers, pumping stations, and engine houses, throughout the anthracite regions, and on November 13th began its sessions in Scranton, Pennsylvania. The proceedings were opened by a statement from Mr. Mitchell, President of the United Mine Workers, setting forth the mine workers' demands, which were (1) an increase of 20 per cent. in the wages of contract miners; (2) a decrease of 20 per cent. in the hours per day worked by company men with no reduction in wages; (3) the weighing of all coal mined, wherever practicable, and (4) the regulation of hours, wages, and labor conditions by agreements between the United Mine Workers and the anthracite coal companies. On November 21st, after the commission had agreed that its award, whatever it might be, should be valid from November 1, 1902, it adjourned, in the hope that the parties to the controversy would agree as to the main issues in the dispute. Advances had been made that week for an amicable agreement by the representatives of the coal operators, which, undoubtedly, would have been accepted by the representatives of the miners if the individual coal operators had not frustrated the scheme by protesting against an agreement thrust upon them without their consent, the terms of which they could not accept. The counsel for the individual operators said that his clients worked their collieries on a narrower margin than did the large companies and that they could not pay a 10 per cent. increase in wages, unless an equal increase were made in the rates paid by coal carriers for prepared coal on the cars at the breakers. The attempt to arrive at a peaceful settlement failed, and, on December 3d, the commission resumed its task in Scranton, and after the Christmas holidays continued its work in Philadelphia, and closed its investigation February 13th. The commission in reviewing its work said that it gave attention to the economic, domestic, scholastic and religious phases of the miners' lives, listened to and directed the examination and crossexamination of 558 witnesses, gave free scope to the counsel who represented the operators, the non-union men and the miners, and devoted an entire week to hearing their arguments. From February 13 to March 19 the Commission reviewed the evidence presented and unanimously agreed on the following awards: (1) That an increase of 10 per cent. be paid all contract miners for cutting coal, yardage and other work. (2) That engineers who are employed in hoisting water shall have eight-hour shifts with no reduction in wages. Those who are now working eight-hour shifts shall continue to do so and have an increase of 10 per cent. in their wages. Engineers, other than those employed in hoisting water, and pumpmen shall have an increase of 5 per cent. and be relieved from duty on Sundays without loss of pay. Firemen shall have eight-hour shifts and no reduction in wages. All company hands shall be paid on the basis of a nine-hour day the same wages as were paid for a tenhour day. (3) That the present methods of payment for coal mined shall be adhered to, unless changed by mutual agreement. (4) That any difficulty or disagreement under this award which cannot be adjusted by the employers and employees, shall be referred to a board of conciliation to consist of six persons, three to be chosen by the miners and three by the operators, and in case the board fails to adjust the difficulty, that it shall be referred to an umpire to be appointed by one of the circuit judges of the Third Judicial Circuit of the United States, whose decision shall be final and binding in the premises. (5) That a majority of miners at any colliery requesting a check-weighman or check-docking boss or both shall have the same, whose wages shall be paid by the operators from deductions made by them from the earnings of the miners. (6) That mine cars be as equitably distributed as possible among miners, and that mine workers are not to limit the output of the mines save by a mutual agreement between the operator and an organization representing the majority of the miners. (7) That the size of the car and the topping required is to remain the same, but any increase in the size of cars or topping shall be accompanied by a proportionate increase in the rate per car. (8) That the wages fixed in the awards shall be minimum wages, and for each increase of 5 cents in the average price of white ash coal, above the size of pea-coal, at New York over $4.50 f.o.b., the employees shall have an increase of 1 per cent. in their compensation. The average price shall be computed monthly by an accountant appointed by one of the circuit judges of the Third Judicial Circuit of the United States and shall be paid by the coal operators. (9) That no person shall be discriminated against on account of membership or non-membership in a labor organization. (10) That all miners' laborers shall be paid directly by the company. (11) That back pay due to the mine employees shall be paid before June 1st, 1903, and that the awards made shall continue in force until March 31st, 1906. Besides these positive awards the commission recommends the discontinuance of the "coal and iron police" and a resort in case of necessity to the regularly constituted peace authorities; a stricter enforcement of the laws regulating the employment of children; and the establishment of means to make a compulsory investigation of industrial troubles so as to place the real facts "before the people that public opinion may crystallize and make its power felt." The commission, however, takes a decided stand against compulsory arbitration. The awards of the commission bear upon them the stamp of compromise. They commend themselves to the public as fair and carry great force in being signed by all the members of the commission. Both parties to the controversy are pledged to abide by the decision, and whatever dissatisfaction may prevail, we feel confident that the next three years will be years of peace in the anthracite industry. The provision made for a board of conciliation is to hold only during the life of the award, but it is to be hoped, that the good effect of such a scheme will so commend itself to both employers and employees as to guarantee its continuance for many years to come, while the suggestion contained in the report, that the State or Federal government should provide machinery for making compulsory investigations of such questions as that studied by the commission, is worthy of the consideration of our statesmen. The task which the commission had to perform was difficult and onerous. Possibly no other industry in the United States has as many complications and varied conditions as are found in the one in question. To perform the work assigned it, within a reasonable time, the commission had to put certain restrictions upon possible lines of testimony and, in order to get the facts, it had to follow, in a general way, the methods in vogue in courts of justice. The inquiry, however, could not be kept within the ordinary court room routine, for it belonged to a higher level; hence much testimony was admitted that judges in court rooms would exclude, and greater latitude was given the attorneys on both sides than would have been allowed, if the rules of evidence had been closely followed. This method of procedure served the purpose of bringing much interesting testimony before the public and enabled the commission to get at the root of the trouble. To the wage-earners this form of settling an industrial struggle |