The Portland daily press., 1888-01-25
THE MINERS REPLY.
What the Men Who are Out Say OF the
Reading Strike.
Growing Sentiment That the Miners
Must Finally Surrender.
Strikers Returning to Work at the
Individual CoIIieries.

NEW YORK, Jan. pa special from
Pottsville, Pa, says: The Miners Joint
Committee prepared an answer yesterday to
President Corbn's statement. The dOcu-
ment recites the history Of the agreement be-
tween the miners and the company, and
says that it was accepted by all parties con-
cerned, as it could not be expected that any
person or committee Of average intelligence
would enter into an agreement with the re-
ceivers binding on the men that would not
be binding on the company, and this was the
view taken of the matter by both sides when
the memorandum was under consideration.
The miners reply continues: "Mr Corbin's
statement thai during these four months the
miners were paid in addition to basis wages
the sum of S241 1905 is good evidence that for
ten years back the miners have been paid at
least that amount less for every four months
than they we're entitled to receive. What
ever Mr.. Corbin's information may be as to
the reason why the miners refused to con-
tinue work after the first OF January, we
have only to say that the miners quit work
because the company refused the advance
asked for, and would not agree to arrange
meeting with the committee for the purpose
Of agreeing to arbltrate the question, as was
done in September last. The miners have
no desire to drive the company out of the
sort to any business policy unfair to its pa
irons or consumers"
The committee says it is an open question
whether or not the Schuylkill miners re-
ceive as much for their labor as miners in
other localities, and also says: What the
miners desire is not so much after all SIM
pie advance In wages as it is to establish
living basis wages for all kinds of work, to
be subsequently equitably advanced in pro-
portion to the advance in the price Of coal"
Before a House Committee.
WASHINGTON, Jan. 24.-Mr Anderson's
resolution. directing Congressional in
quiry into the Reading strike, was again un-
der discussion before the House Committee
on Commerce to-day. The session was rath-
er stormy and every member Of the commit
tee freely expressed his views upon the mat
ter. Representative Brumm of Pennsylya-
MIA made long statement, touching the
origin of the troubles, and defended the ac-
ton of the striking miners. He said that he
fully intended to have asked for Congress
ional inquiry into the strike and had been
anticipated by reason of temporary absence
Referring to Austin Corbin's statement of
the agreement with the miners upon rates of
wages, Mr.. Brumm said they had not viola
ted that agreement in any sense. When it
was made, he said Mr.. Corbin had expressly
stated that it could not run beyond Jan. /,
for the reason that he could not bind the
management of the company, which was to
resume control of the property on that day,
and therefore the miners did not feel bound
by it, when it had expired by its own terms.
In the discussion, some of the members OF
the committee took the ground tha the strike
could properly he investigated by the Inter-
state Commerce Commission, as it was al
legged that the company had violated section
seven of the Interstate Commerce act, for
bidding any conspiracy or agreement to pre-
vent the continuous operation OF railroads in
the handling of freight traffic. When the
hour of IL o'clock was reached Mr.. Anderson
moved that the resolution be again taken
upon Thursday. with the understanding that
a vote should be had upon it at 11.30 O'Clock.
But Mr.. Dunham of Illinois, who had been
an opponent of the measure, made the point
that the hour for adjournment had been
reached, so the matter went over to the next
meeting as unfinished business without any
special order or immediate prospect of vote
upon it. With few exceptions the MEM
bers of the committee seem to be opposed to
the proposed inquiry, either for the reason
that it is not a proper subject of inquiry by
the Government or because they believe the
inquirylshould be made by the Interstate
Commerce Committee.
Increasing Dissatisfaction.
READING, Pa, Jan. 24-All the dispatches
received this afternoon from different points
in the coal regions indicate that while the
majority Of the miners are still resolute,
there is increasing dissatisfaction. 1t is only
a question of time as to the miners ultimate
lv vieldinp Publc OpiniOn is shaping