The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-06-15
THE WOES
OF MINERS
Pe1nSylvania's Legislative Committee
Presents It's Report.
COMMITTEES RECOMMENDATIONS
The Abolition Of Company Stores, Whicl
Are Declared Un-Americap, and an
Appeal For a Law Restricting
Foreign immigration.

Harrisburg, June 15.-The joint COM
mittee appointed to investigate the
condition of the miners in the anthra-
cite coal regions last evening made its
report to the senate. Senator Meredith,
chairman Of the committee, presented
the report.
"The testimony taken" says the re-
port, Shows conclusively the deplor-
able condition of affairs for a period
covering about two years, and particu-
larly since the first of January of the
present year, since which time the men
in and about the collieries have been
employed not more than two to three
and three-fourths days per week, earn
ing on an average about 81 per week.
upon which, in many instances, they
are compelled to support large families
The greatest desutution and want is
found in Mahanoy city and its vicin-
ity Shenandoah and it's vicinity, Halle
ton and it's vicinity, Shamokin and its
vicinity and WillSesbarre and its vi
cini+y.
The report then goes on to say that
II seems that the wages now paid are
upon the basis agreed upon by the
operators and the miners as far back
as 1875. The basis is then given, and
the committee says that the manner
Of regulating the wages certainly APP
pears to be one which shows a strong
disposition on the part of the employ
ers to treat labor fairly"
THE committee especially inquired
into the subject of company houses.
the report continues, "and found i'm
all cases that the houses were roomy
and comfortable, and that the rents
D
charged by individuals for houses of
the same character in the villages and
towns adjoining"
The committee also inquired into the
causes which have brought about the
present condition of affairs and al
though numerous reasons We're ad-
vanced the majority of witnesses
thought it due to the depressed condi-
ton of business throughout the country
THE surplus labor in and about the
mines" asserts the report, contributes
largely to the present condition of af-
fairs"
Speaking of the foreigners working
in the mines, the report says: Non
English speaking miners and laborers.
with English speaking superintendents
and foreman, must necessarily produce
trouble ana render the miner more
liable to accidents. The committee is
of the opinion that there win be no
general prosperity in the anthracite
regions until congress shall have passed
a restricted immigration law"
Regarding the charges that the high
price charged for coal at tide water,
thus decreasing the consumption, was
the cause of the deplorable condition
! of the miners, the committee says that
for a number Of years none of the coal
| companies, save one, have declared
| dividends. Upon the question of
| freight rates the committee is of opin-
ion that the rates charged are not
greater than those charged for other
classes of freight.
on the subject of company stores
the report has this to say: I'VE re
gard these stores as un-American,"
The committee makes these recon
mendations; First, the enactment of ;
law abolishing company stores sec
ond, the prohibiting of discounting OF
negotiating money orders belonging L
tho miners third, the enactment of
compulsory semi-monthly pay law
fourth, the repeal of the miners ex
amining law and the enactment of {
law providing for a state board OF eS,
aminers, and that certificates issued by
the board shall entitle the holder to b,
employed in any mine in the state
NTH the enactment of a law providing
for the appointment of an inspector o
coal, to examine the coal as it comes
from the mines; sixth, the passage o
a resolution requesting Pennsylvania
representatives in Congress to vote 70
and urge the passage of a law restrict