The Memphis appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-12

another advance on COAL and said he
thought II would DO best for the men to
make hay while the sun shonc, but Mr..
Oorbn thought, witness thought, as il was
likely the conditions would continue only
one month the men would be better salts
fled TO have present arrangements contn.
ued.
On croSs-cXamination witness said Mr..
| VIM. Il. LOWS, OF Columbus, o., in charge
OF district 1855, Miners organization, could
| give positive evidence that there has eX-
isted Tor some time combination between
the powerful railroad companies having
| headquarters in New York, 10 break up
| the organization of the Knights of Labor
AT the conclusion of Mr.. Lees testimony
Hugh McGarvey, Of the Lchigh region,
took the stand and testified that he had
been miner nearly all OF his life, but for
two or three years past he had been en-
gagged IN other business. lie was familiar
with the IGhlgh mining business so far MS
II concerned the workmen, but was not
familiar with the operators Of the business.
n order to keep up wages, the miners
union in 1870 enforced a thirty days stop
| page, despite the operators protest. They
were refused work at the end OF tho thirty
! days and afterward was told that they
would not be taken back except nj n 10
per cent. reduction. After a strike they
were forced 10 accept the reduction. Wit
ness declared that the operators alone
fixed the price of coal in all eases
In answer TO Mr.. Stone, who
asked what was the immediate cause OF
the strike in the Lchigh region, witness
replied that the prices paid for labor were
MI 10 10
for big vein, while the contract called Tor
43l cents. The advance made by the
miners was III percent Miners would
hardly average $3.50 per annum IA their
earnings. Perhaps - per cent. Of
the miners accumulated little money.
Mr.. Stone asked il the operators had not
accumulated large fortunes. The witness
replied that some of the wcalthicst men in
the State we're in the Lchigh regions.
Since the strike began many Of the miners
had found work in other regions, but
about 10 per cent. were still idle. lie knew
OF none who were actually starving, hut
there We're many in want Since Sepicm-
Der the labor organizations had distributed
~, 900 or 1000 weekly among these poo
pie. lie said that miners were valued 10y
the assessor Of taxes al 500 aud laborors
at $50.
The companies deducted the amount Of
the taxes from the miners wages, together
with . per cent commission for making
the collections, and turned IL over 10 the
collector Of taxes The taxes amounted Ia
AZ much as $500 for n miner. Chairman
Tillman believed that the witness must be-
in error, saying: THAT IL four times ~
high as ] have ever heard Of negro being
taxed in the south, in the nature Of u poll
tax, nor is this poll tax"
In answer 10 Mr.. Parker witness said
that the Catholic miners paid their priests
about 30 cents a month piece, through
the company's office. At the time Of tho
strike there were about 5000 llungarinns,
Poles and Italians in the regions.
Tho chairman inquired whether the
witness was paid for lecturing for the ben
eft OF the miners, and lac replied in the ai-
iirmativc.
John II. Davidson, n miner from Mount
Carmel, In the schuykill region, was the
next witness. lilo said that the general
impression was that the Philadelphia 4
Reading company aud the Coal and Iron
company were under the same manage
fncnt. The witness told how the opera.
tors had managed 10 reduce the wages vi
miners by gradually increasing the sizc Of
the car, or increasing the work by widen.
ing tho breast Of coal, while lowering the
pay per yard.
The operators lived in luxury and had
their fast horses. Mr. Pardcc was worth
$i7,0O0,OO0. Thirty.hve years ago he was
worth nothing. lie had seen Mr.. Lewis,
an individual operator of the William
Penn mine, quoted ~ sayingthat he could
not only afford 10 pay the : per cent. al
vance In wages, refused by tho Read
ing company, but 10 per cent ON top Of
that.
Adjourned.