The evening herald. [volume] (Shenandoah, Pa.) 1891-1966, 1897-04-09
THE LEGISLATIVE INVESTIGATING COM
MITIEE AT MAHANOY CITY.
THE INQUIRY COMMENCED |
WHAT REPRESENTATIVE ROBERTS SAYS
ABOUT THE COAL TRADE,
COMMITTEE MAY VISIT SHENANDOAH
A Pull and Detailed Report Of the Proceed
ings will be Furnished Herald
Readers, Prom a stan Correspond
ent Who viii Accompany tle
Committee on It's Tour
in This Section.


III AAla obGbloMs
Special staff correspondence
MAHANoY CITY, April o. p. m.-The
Miners Investigating Committee arrived
here from Harrisburg at 11:47 this morning
and registered at the Mansion House. where
rooms have been engaged until after Sunday
next. The gentlemen Of the commission are
Senators Meredith and Haines, Representa- res
Roberts, Dunlap and Campbell Senator
Meredith is chairman of the committee.
Edward L. King is the stenographer He ar
rived here early this morning and made the
hotel arrangements for the commission.
Unless more interest than was manifested
during the early part of the day is shown by
the people the commissions visit will be Of
very little importance, or value However,
the committee has thus far done nothing but
organize and this town is the first selected for
its investigations. After the work is started
the interest may increase.
Mr.. Roberts, who represents Luzerne
county in the Legislature and is a member Of
the investigating committee, spoke freely in
reference to the work mapped out by the
committee, but has very little faith in any
good results that may follow. lie said In
my opinion the commission will net accom-
plish much, if anything. The whole root
and basis Of this depression is overproduc-
ton, as all well know, and how are you go
| ing to remedy that unless you create "A
wider market for the coal? The depression
is greater now than it has been for years, for
| the simple reason that many more factories
are idle than there have been for years. and
of course this has great effect on the coal
market" Mr.. Roberts, being the only mem
Der of the committee from the coal regions,
has much greater knowledge of the condi-
tion of the mine workers than any Of his
colleagues.
The committee is expected to hear all evil
dence bearing upon the condition Of the
anthracite miners and report upon the
results of the investigation. The evident
intention is TO show the distress existing in
the Anthracite field, tracethe cause, and then
secure basis upon which to frame legisla
tion looking to the Improvement of the con
dition of affairs. 1t is said special attention
will be given to the condition Of the miner
of Morea, Buck Mountain and Park Place
where there are company stores. AS there
are no collieries in operation to day the at
tendance at the session may be large. A
this time it is impossible to say when tn,
commission will be at Shenandoah, although
it is presumed the sessions there will b,
opened on Monday afternoon. Much will
depend upon the interest and other develop
ments here The visit to town may be ex
tended.
Senator }. Henry Cochran, Democrat, wa
one of the original members of the com
mittee, and subsequently resigned for TIN
purpose of having Senator Coyle appointe,
in his place, but Speaker McCarrell refuse,
to accede to their desires in this respect Tn
Speaker named Senator Harvey w. Haines
of York, instead. Coyle failed to accompan!
the committee to town.
When the committee arrived at the hote
there was half dozen or more people abou
the corridors of the Mansion House, who dis
cussed the proposed investigation and til
appearance Of the state solons But beyon
this little interest was manifested in the CON
, ing of the honorable members. Their arrva
had been preceded by Il. L. Eyre, of Yves
Chester, Sergeant-at-Arms of the Stat
Senate, and Edgar l.. King, typewriter. Tn
Sergeant-at-Arms spent the morning
serving subpoenas upon the follow
ing persons to appear before tn
/ committee and furnish whatever il
formation they possess D. NJ. Graham
Patrick Carr, John Smith Company, Ltd
Joseph Milewski, II. J. Stern, W. f. Clifford
. Daniel Hopes, John NJ Adams, John 4
Q Quinn, A. X Smith, Ii. k Smith, Fl. ]
= smith, William Hersker, William steidl,
. Patrick O'Donnell, A. S. Mengle, Pet,
a Eichman, P. Hersker, F. L. Smith, Villa
# Y. Weber, Henry Sehreyer, Harry Cliflor
g Frank Meyer, Ralph L. Melick, d. j. Clear
r ]. NJ. Kutz, q. F. Dipper. These names we
n furnished by Senator Coyle.
u 1t was noted with much surprise by tho
present, and freely commented upon, Uh
the list did not contain single mi ner n
10 that of any one employed in and around ii
It mines. Later in the day, however, son
persons who were interested in having tn
class Of citizens summoned, furnished
T. member of the investigating committee wi
n several names of miners, which will probab
Ie find their way into the hands of the Sergear
'e alarms.
ID A member Of the committee Informed yo
representative that further than making
start the commission had outlined no pl
Of ticular plan upon which to conduct its j
ID quiries. Anything bearing ON the condit
lg of the miners or the business of mining W
be considered within the scope Of the COZ
mittee's investigation.
The committee held an executive sessi
!. in the parlors of the Mansion House un
w 1.45 p. m, when several witnesses who h
in been waiting in the corridors of the no
is were invited to the rooms whore the co
mittee was in session d. NJ. Graham, O
Of the proprietors Of the Daily Ameroa
m was the first witness. lie testified as 10