The times., 1899-04-17
ACCUSED OF OPPRESSION.
Testimony Taken Before the In
dustriai Commission.

Coal mining as viewed by the officers of
the miners organization was discussed
Saturday before the Industrial Commits
sion in its rooms in the Bliss Building.
Thomas w. Davis, Vice President OF the
United Mine Workers of America, and
Benjamin James. member of the national
executive board of the same organization,
were the witnesses heard.
Mr.. Davis took the stand first and con-
cluded the testimony which he began on
Friday afternoon. He first took up the
subject OF boycotts and said he had known
Of but one Instance where il had been at
tempted in his craft, and no success at
tended the effort
The effect on the health by reason Of
working under ground was touched On by
Mr.. Davis. Miners asthma" seemed to
be the most prevalent disease among
miners and one which proved fatal in
many instances. The importation of con-
tract labor the witness believed was a
great injustice TO the miners in this coun-
try. This was one of the points on which
he recommended Legislation by Congress.
He objected TO procedure by injunction,
and favored compulsory arbitration as a
means of settling labor disputes. The
weekly payment system was recommend
ed. The tenement house system inaugural
ed by many operating companies was
condemned in no uncertain terms. These
houses were uniformly miserable and the
rents charged for them were enormously
high. the average price being 81 a room
for a house of from three to six rooms.
The eight hour day, Mr.. Davis thought,
should be made compulsory by law
The testimony of Mr.. James was more
particularly in regard 10 the anthracite
coal regions OF Pennsylvania. and brought
out many new points of interest and value
10 the Commission. One of the greatest
grievances which the miners were COM
PEELED TO submit TO, he thought, was the
company store. He submitted figures
showing that in the year 1897 the over
charge for blasting powder alone amount
ed to 81 100000 The price of provisions
was from . to 30 per cent higher in the
company stores than in cash stores. Ad-
vantage was also taken of the miner in
bookkeeping. and Mr.. James left with the
Commission several of the miners checks,
made cut so as TO make his monthly earn
ings pay exactly his bill at the store, thus
leaving him no surplus. store book
was also produced. showing the daily pur-
chases of one of the miners. The little
finger worn book iold story pathetic in
the extreme. The only item in the book
that savored at all of luxury was charge
for cents worth of peanuts. There is a
law on the statute books of Pennsylvania
prohibiting mining companies from run
ming stores. but it seems to be dead let
ter. said Mr. James.
Advantage was also taken of the miner
in the matter of estimating the quality of
his coal. and often times whole car loads
of coal were docked from his account by
reason of a few hundred pounds of bad
coal. Mine ventilation was also touched
on by the Witness who charged that mine
inspectors did not do their duty and that
the smoke and bad air in the mines caused
much i'll health to the miners.
Better organization among the miners
Mr.. James thought was the best remedy
for their ills. although he recommended
legislation restricting immigration and
regulating the hours of labc..