New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-12
INVESTIGATING THE STRIKE.
CHAIRMAN LEE BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.

TESTIMONY WHICH PLACES ALL TIE BLAME Soh
THE rRouILrs on THR INVADING COMPANY.
WASHINGTON, Fob 1.-The Investigation into tno
Reading strike resumed this morning In the room
of the Committee on Military Affairs by the special
committee
For the purpose Of estopping the Reading Compsu'
from setting I'D any q, hat II net engaged tn
Interstate commerce and therefore not within the
jurisdiction Of the committee, Representative Ander-
son read and had spread upon the record suit IN
which the Reading Company, by its own plea sdni'eo
that IL was engaged In Interstate commerce.
John L. Lee, an cmploye Of the Reading Railroad
Company up to the time of the present troubles, anu
who was chairman of the Executive Board Oh tp0
Knights Of Labor for the Reading systom, was inc
first witness examined Mr.. lee said tina: he DAD ho'
consider that there any strike on the Reading
railroad; It a lockout tho part Of the general
superintendent of tbs Reading road Five crews no
said, refused to at Port Richmond anu
General Superintendent sweigert discharged INC"
without giving them hearing There was an asroo
meut that men should be discharged except amer
fair hearing. When the superintendent refused 10
renstate the men, pending hearing, general going
out followed subsequently a meeting was neid III
Pottsvile and it rsolved that settlement shoulo
be effected Witness and others Immediately went W
Philadelphia and December % they called on super
intendent sweigert and told him they were Willie
Is work according to the order Issued by oeh
did not report for duty the morning OF the 2'tn
would be dismissed from the companys service. hr.
sweIgert said: ~The order be banked Your COM
mittee would not come and only you know you
are whipped l have outgcncraed you. Had tno
power at my back that you people have couid 20
into this fight and win, but the Knights Of Labor iean
ers have brains. They bianked cowafds anu
they afraid to fight
Tho witness told MI sweigert that they came 70
prevent the strike rom going further, and asked what
mis- terms
Mr.. sweigert said: well, want the five crews
discharged never work any for this company
l further the discharge of the Master Workman
of 62s5 and of Bernard sharkcy.7
The witness told him the terms were pretty naru'
but that better for the Knights to support the
discharged men than have the strike continue They
then agreed declare the strike oG, and the witness
went TO The Philadelphia Ledger and Press Ounces
TO give notice that the strike of. There was no
written agreement. Mr. Sweigcrt was asked 10 put
the agreement n writing but he refused and wshted
to know If they questioned his verscty. The next
day Mr. sweigert failed to live up to his agreement
discharged the representative all along the
line The out there was nothing else
TO do. Said the witness
"swelgert when we saw him and asked If he did
intend TO live up to his agreement of last night
said, that he had changed his mind
Mr. Lee also said that kilograms sent to men order
he believed the that the railroad company
wanted EXCISE refuse employment 10 certain OF
the Il had agreed to take back The result OF
Swelgerts refusal TO carry out his agreement was the
cause OF the second strike or lockout
Referring thu trouble Elizabeth. n. j.. wit
said that II due % che refusal OF the men TO
10 boat wi cOl for Eckley B. Coke I'm whose mines
tie vas st.ik and thr men believed the Reading
Compan' was trying to aid COKE Ia his 0Ght against
the strikers
ncctiOn with the strike In the Lehigh region, Mr. Lee
stated that he then leave Of absence from the
Rp ANNA au.ff Mr. rUfe nd
ent OF the Reading had offered to pay him for the
period OF his leave of absence but the witness had
declined. saying he was drawing a. 80 per day from
the labOring men and could not afford TO take pay
from the railroad What Mr.. Swegerf wanted him 10
do was not stated but the superintendent said that he
made the offer because the witness had done great
deal for the company. In reply 10 another question,
the witness said that William T. Lewis Of COlnmhus,
Ohio, In charge OF District No. 1885. miners
izatiOn could give possible evidence that there has
lSted for some time combination between the power
fl railroad corporations having headquarters in New
York to break up the organization Of the knights of
Labor.