The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1888-02-11

dR. BRUMM REVIEWS THE TROU-
BILE IN PENNSYLVANIA.


The Statement Made to the Special
Committee of the House Appointed
to Investigate the Labor Troubles in
Pennsylvania-E Eek cessive Charges on
Coal for Short Haul.
WASHINGTON, Feb. 10.-The special
committee appointed to investigate the ex-
isting labor troubles in Pennsylvania held
It's first meeting today and organized by
elecJing Representative Tillmau as chair
man. Representative Brumm, of Pennsyl-
vanja, whose district is in the Reading coal
region, was requested to make preliminary
statement with reference to the troubles
there. upon which the committee might
proceed to an intelligent investigation
regarded as an adviser of the committee
rather than as witness.
CAUSE OF THE TROUBLE.
He began by saying that, in his opinion,
the trouble in the coal regions is primarily
the natural result of an over-development
of an industry stimulated during the war.
The product of anthracite coal under the
present system of mining and shipping is
prices. Changes in the method of conduct
ing the coal business had compelled the
Reading Company to become the proprietor
of coal lands and to mine coal for its rail
road to carry, and now the anthracite coal
trade of Pennsylvania was practically
monopolized by three great corporations,
the Reading, Lackawanna and Lehigh.
A COMBINE.
Formerly the prices of coal, rates of
freight and wages, as well as the quantity
of the output in these systems, had been
regulated by what was known as the Anthra-
cite Board Of Trade but now from the best
information he could get they were con-
trolled by board consisting of representa-
tive men from these three systems. The
prices Of coal were regulated by circulars
issued by the corpprations, but how such
prices were fixed he did not know, but prob
ably by positive decree Of the heads Of the
corporations.
CAPACITY OF THE REGION.
Individual operators in the territory con-
trolled by the Reading company were
allotted a certain output which they would
be permitted to mine, such allotments being
based upon the proportion which the mining
capacity of the individuals bore to that of
the whole Reading region. The annual
capacity of the whole Reading region was
about 10000 900 tons, but only 100000
tons were permitted to be mined. Mr..
Brumm was of the opinion not only that
this whole striking business or lockout, as it
is called, had been fostered by the Reading
company, but that all of the corporations
named were as deep in the mud as the Read
ing company was in the mire.
KEEP DOWN ovER-PRODUCTION.
Strike and iockouts helped to keep down
over-production. In his Judgment if the
coal mining business were not connected
with the carrying system the effect would
he TO put higher price on coal at the mines
and lower price on freight In that way,
while miners could be paid higher wages,
the lowering of tolls would allow coal to be
sold more cheaply, and by the incident ofin-
creased demand the coal output could be in
creased and more work afforded the men.
A BIG MARGIN.
Asian illustration, the price of coal loaded
in cars at the mines, 100 miles from Phila-
dephia, was 81, and in Philadelphia it was
"a per ton. In a suit between a coal man
and the Reading Company, the Reading
itself admitted that the cost of transporta
ton between the two points was 15c per
ton, and yet they charged 81 So more than
that for freight. When the Workman's
Benevolent Association was a power in the
coal region and there were numerous indi-
vldual operators, Mr.. Brumm said, the men
were better treated.
INDIVIDUALS CRUSHED OUT.
After this the railroads, by annoyances
OF all kinds, crushed out a great many indi-
vdual operators and secured control of
others. From the time the "long" strike
occurred in which the men were beaten,
there had been constant complaints that
while the established 80 so scale, known as
the Reading scale, was ostensibly i'll ex-
lstence, it was really violated from time to
Cme to the miners injury. Coming up nearer
TO the present strike Mr.. Brumm said that
after the miners had become more pros
porous they again organized and made
demand for 10 per cent. advance in the
scale
THE LEHIGH STRIKE.
The Lehigh Company refused to submit
the demand to arbitration. and the result
was the present Lehigh strike, which began
III September. The Reading compromised
On an per cent. advance for four months
Mr. Brumm then gave the miners story Of
lAe M strike on the Reading, which began in
January. The statement was, in sub
stance, the same as that which
nas already been published, and
was simply history from the miners side
OF the present trouble. That Nh Corbin
could afford to pay the advance, he as
serted, was shown by the fact that on ac
count OF less fixed charges he actually
tSniled coal l0c. per ton cheaper during the
!yur months that the advanced rate of
TUsges was in force than before that time.
ne could authoritatively deny that the
ai lileS were combining their grievances
Win those of the railroad men.
NOT FAIR CHANCE.
=, ne reviewed the railroad strike and said
S slat Whlle they were in the wrong at the
rrSO the blame of refusing the offer of the
nleh TO settle the differences rested upon
ne railroad. After the first interview
"Ilh Mr.. Sweigert the men had attempted
~ Sehd kilograms declaring the strike off
WHu ordering the men back, but the
!sIn eSteIn Union Company, which to
pCnsiiuerable extent was controlled by the
,Nag eaulhg Company, had refused to transmit
Tony ol these messages, and the Reading
M nlpahy, making pretext Of the fact that
ss oL al distant points had not returned to
strii, oirK, mad the next day laughed in the
sy,..l syrlherS faces. He thought the telegraph
''Veui should also be investigated.
WORKED TOGETHER.
NT; Anderson, of Kansas, asked whether
ra, .,e heetadlng company received any COM
ensallon from other companies who were
aIIles to the allotment for not mining its
TEal, out Mr.. Brumm said he did not know.
AZ 10y would all work together, however,
90 ,u oy their actions compel the miners TO
30 on strike.
ne hearing will be continued tomorrow.