Evening star., 1899-04-10
THE COAL MINERS
Testimony as to Their Condition
Given Today.
INDUSTRIAL COMMISSION INQUIRY
A Mine Operator Who is Friendly
to the Men.
ORDER AS TO TRU SITS

The industrial commission met today and
began it's investigation with the mining in
dustry of the United States.
The commission has decided to resume its
investigation into the trusts of the country
next May. The following definition of a
trust has been adopted:
In.e<tigation OF Trusts.
"The investigation of trusts industrial
combinations by the United States indus
trial commission will include any or all in
dividuaIs firms. corporations or combina-
tions that from any cause. whether control
of patents favors of transportation COM
panies large capital or otherwise. may APP
parently So prevent or regulate. or attempt
50 to prevent or regulate competition ana
production that they can nx the price oI
their products for the whole or part of a
market with little or no reference to acts
of existing competitors or to the cost OF
production and distribution
The commission has issued the following
invitation with a view to securing compre-
hensive information on the subject OF
trusts:
THE United States Industrial commission
in its investigation of industrial combina-
tions and large corporate industries, wishes
to secure from every source trustworthy IN
formation regarding the methods of organ
izing and conducting such enterprises ana
rivals in trade. upon employees and upon So
ciety at large To that end the commission
will collect reports and examine witnesses
but il also invites statements of facts along
these lines from any one VINO Is III d po9l-
tion to give them
'Speculations regarding causes or results
are not now needed: but facts or sucn a lla-
ture that the informant could verify them
by an affidavit will be gladly received from
any one"
4 Mine Operators Views
Mr. Neil Robinson Of Charleston, W. Va. a
member of the executive committee of the
Chesapeake and Ohio Coal Association, was
the first witness placed on the stand. While
Mr. Robinson is a mine operator, ne Is re-
garded as extremely friendly to the miners;
The witness said there are very few coal
mines that had not passed through TWO or
large percentage. he said. of these failures
had been caused by lack of experience on
the part Of those in charge OF the mines
The restrictive features of West Virginia
mining laws were very limited. The opera
tors without exception, Were opposed TO
any discrimination in freight rates Mr..
ingalls, of the Chesapeake and Ohio railroad
several months ago said before the inter
state commerce commission. Mr.. Robinson
testified that there had been discrimina-
tions but that there would be no more in
the future and he had no reason to believe
that this agreement had not been carried
out He knew of no railroad that was IN
the coal mining business. although in the
case of Senator Elkins, for instance, a
president of a railroad could be found who
was also president of mining companies.
In the opinion of the witness railroad
companies should be required to advertise
their rates and live up to them He did not
consider it necessary that these rates
should be treasured by the distance over
which the freight was hauled. The rates
should he arranged with respect to COM
petftive districts but 1t was not necessary
to change the rate with every difference IN
Air, Ratchford, who. as president of the
Miners Association. led the great miners
strike of 1881 col duct ID the examination
of the witness. In reply TO question the
witness said ne did not know the cause for
the strike Of ~.
You knox more about that than I do
he replied. AT the time l thought it was
a result of the general decentralization OF
the markets"
Combinations of Companies.
Speaking of combinations of mining COM
panies he said such consultations had been
brought about by a desire to lessen admin
istrative expenses. usually as the result Of
low prices in the trade. They did not
lessen or cut down the prices of labor in
the mines but usually affected bookkeep-
ers. storekeepers, etc
The use Of mining machinery resulted in
some economy. but not so much as has been
Claimed by dealers in such machinery. He
believed that the coal mines now developed
in this country had a capacity of - or 81
per cent in excess of the present consump-
tion. This country is developing an export
trade that has been neglected in the past,
and will soon keep company with England
in that industry Tha American coal can
cross the equator without danger of spOn-
taneous combustion, and it is of high
grade Coal for household purposes is de-
creasing in amount every year on account
OF the use of gas and petroleum, and lower
grades OF coal are being used in furnaces.
Organized IaIor
Mr.. Robinson had had the experience of
dealing with organized and unorganized
labor. He preferred dealing with organized
labor, as there were many advantages in
it. Now the miners general union was
dominated by members from Ohio, Indiana
and Illinois. He preferred having a state
association of miners Of West Virginia with
which to deal their interest would be
the interest OF coal mines IN that section
II was found more convenient to make a
bargain with a union for all labor needed in
d mine than with individuals. as il rendered
the possibility Of a strike more remote He
thought companies stores in his district
operated for the benefit Of the miners fol
the reason that at times coal is sold in the
market Tor less than il costs to produce il
and the profit Of the stores allows the com
pany to do business He thought profit
sharing should be encouraged in coal min
ing and other industries. One coal oper.
atOr Of West Virginia had introduced q
proht-sharing plan among his employees
and 1t appeared to work. Mr.. Robins u
said If a reduction OF hours of labor is rec.
esSary among miners. it would be better t.
have day in the week declared a holiIay
than 20 establish an eight-hour day