The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-10

as a class are addicted to drinking?
A. They like their beer pretty we'll. If
Kaiers brewery was not here so many
wouldn't die of Brights disease.
@. Then yOu are of the opinion that if the
class of people who are in destitutiOn and
want had saved some of their earnings when
labor was plentiful, instead of spending it in
saloons, the condition would not be IS re-
presented here
A. Not as much.
G. 4. LLEwELLYN,
Insurance superintendent, recited the dis
tress he found as secretary of the MahanOy
City Relief Association and the work the
association performed. He assigned non
consumption of anthracite coal as the cause
of the hard times He believed that dis
elimination in freight rates had much to do
with tue cause of the nOn-cOnsumpton.
CHARLES BENsINGER,
Retired Mahanoy City, also found much dis
tress in the town and spoke Of the work
done by the relief association. Among other
things he stated that the Truant officer in
the employ Of the School Board had told him
,hat he met hundreds Of children who could
not go to school because they had no clothing
OF shoes
JOHN F. BECKER,
Grocer, Mahanuy City, said affairs were in a
critical condition
ROBERT sNEDDON,
estiug witness of either session. He testified
that he had not worked since December, 1896,
with the exception of three full days since
Tuesday, last. When asked why he ans
wered, II couldn't get it." He explained
/ that the calling he worked at had shut down.
! Q. About what wages did you receive per
day
A. Sl.17 each for those three days.
Q. What company do you work for?
! A. The Reading.
Q. You have no doubt but that the money
! will be paid
A. o, sure, no doubt of it.
Q. What is the condition of affairs?
A In general they are bad enough
q. Have you over known it TO be worse
A. Not in my time
Q What is the cause of this depression
among the miners2
/ 4. There are too many 6olieries Open.
| When there are less cOllieries open they en-
/ plOy loss men and give steadier work.
@. DO you think there Is an excess of labor
| in this community
A. ! hat is for the work that is going.
Q. If the collieries were able to work con-
tinuOusly is there too much
A. No, l don't believe there is
q. A gentleman this afternoon stated that
taking the miners in this vicinity, no more
than are constantly employed?
A. At the present time, yes.
O. Then you attribute this condition to an
Over-prOduction Of coal2
A. No, sir; l don't
@. What then2
A, If there were less Of the mines open
there would be fewer men to work them and
give steadier work,
Q. If there were fewer mines there would
be less prOductiOn2
A Correct.
g Aud W tn the number of miners in thi'
vicinity, less work
A. If there were the same quantity of peo
pie here, yes
Q. This population is here now and mus
be provided for in some way?
A. That is so,
@. You have heen able to liver
! A. So far
Q. And without seeking assistance?
A. No, sir.
Q You had to apply for aid2
A. had to- but was willing to labor fol
it, aud did.
Q. Have you any knowledge of what il
costs to put ton Of coal on the cars?
A. l have never given 1t thought.
@ The miners, as rule, are paid by th'
tony
A. By the wagon
@. What does a wagon hold
A. Three tons of coal.
Q. How much do you receive per wagon
A. Ninety cents.
Q. How many tons viii the average mine
dig2
A. According to the place you have. Tax
an average Of three cars per day. You &c
your share as the cars run.
Senator Roberts You don't mean to sa
that three cars would give you S2702
A. When you take the cost for powder
paper, oil, squibs and blast barrels out, IL
considerable less. They are furnished b
the company but we pay for them.
Senator Hanes Do companies cOntrolle
by corporations use their men as we'll {
those working for individuals
A. Well, in regards to treatment the con
pany is just as good as the individual.
Senator Campbell There is no perlerenC
/ given to any Of the employesY
A. No. sir.
CHARLES BURCHILL,
hotel proprietor, was called to the witne
stand just before the committee adjOurne
and stated that there were about 1l9 liquC
D licenses in Mahanoy City. The licenses COS
$3.50 each, and revenue license S25, and b
the time the lawyers get both fixed mp t.h
cost is 5000. OF those only two are who'll
sale licenses and two for botuing establish
J mCnts
{ @ If the liquor business Of this city va
> confined to the regular hotels do you thin
the same amount Of poverty and distre
! would exist2
I donft fIin1- IL would