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

O. Can you state what has produced this
of affairs
A. Overproductou That is all
@ or what2
A. Labor and coal.
O. Have You any remedy to suggest for
this condition
A. If the company would give the people
work, then it would be hot o.
@. You are engaged in Tie feed business
A. Yes, sir.
@. In your business You employ no more
men than you wantY
A. No. sir.
senator Roberts Then, If you we're in
the coal business you would mine no more
coal than you could selly
A. No, sir.
@ Then you don't blame the mine owners
for not storing up big quantity Of coal
A. No; but blame them for not using
their coal aud taking this coal away with
other coal
O. What size of coal do you burn
s. Pea coal
q Why do you do that2
A. can use &c in my stove.
@ How much do you pay for it?
A $40 for of @ ton.
@, Why don't you burn the other coal2
A. It won't suit my stove.
@. Why don't you get some other kind Of
stove
At this point there was general outburst
Of laughter
Chairman Meredith You buy pea coal
because it is cheaper than the other?
A. I couldn't use the other
Senator Roberts You buy it because it is
cheaper?
A. Not on that account alone. 1t burns
bcttcr in my stove
MIR. ADAMS TEsrIFGEs.
John NJ Adams merchant, Mihauoy City
called aud sworn.
@ What arc the condition of affairs in the
anthracite refion2
A. They are not very good just now.
@. What are the conditions Of affairs in
your own business?
A. They are poor. Not as good if the
men were working stoadier.
O. DO you know of any people being in
distress
| A. Yes, there are a good many
| Q DO you know of any relief stores?
/ A. There was one.
| @ Doyou know Of poor committees being
appointed to furnish the needy with the
accessories Of life?
/ A. l saw it I'm the paper
/ Q. You hnvc no knowledge?
/ A. No; only what 1 saw in the papers.
O. From your own knowledge you cannot
say thar this state Of affairs does exist?
A. Mo- | was not there
O. Can yuu give this committee any in
/ formation as to the causes of this condition
of affairs?
/ A There is not enough work for the people
| here to earn "a living. There is an overpro-
luctiuu of coal ! { the work would go on
| steady ] don't think there would be an over
production of labor
Senator Roberts; Don't you know there
has been more coal produced In the last 10
years than any prior 10 years.
| A. l think there ought to be more pro.
Q. why, then, do these men work of the
ime
A. couldn't say that.
q. Don't You think an over supply OF
labor creates the distress
A. They can mine more coal now than
they did years ago.
o Don't you know ID to be true that there
are too many men here?
A. Well, / couldn't say that
JOHN T. QUINN
Mahanoy City, butcher, called and sworn
@. State, in detail, the condition of affairs
in this vicinity2
A. There is not employment for the men
| There are too many men here attribute
the distress to the fact that there is an over
production OF labor. -FOUR years ago ulu q
J business of $4,000 per month. Now l do 8
business of s., 600 don't think there is
demand for anthracite coal. My idea is thai
not only Mahanoy City, but the country
generally, is in a depressed condition. Busi-
is stagnant
Senator Roberts; Do you remember wher
they used to ship large proportion Of lumI
cOal2
A. Yos. sir.
O. What was it used for2
A. Furnaces and rolling mills,
@. Do you ship much lump coal now?
A. I don't think they do.
@ If the manufactures rolling mills anc
furnaces were going ON they would not hav'
this condition Of affairs?
A. Yes, sir / believe it.
f. y. SMITH,
Mahanoy City, called and sworn. / know
there are some people in want l had few
relief orders l had to fill. / suppose thu
oyerproduction of labor and uon-consumptioI
, Of coal has produced the state of affairs.
q, w. Dennis, Mahanoy City, dry good
merchant ~ know by personal knowledg
that tbere has been great deal Of need ant
distress. The relief committee has relieved
s people at the rate OF 30 to 40 families a day