The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-13

/
| their parents.
| This statement we deny absolutely.
| Where the children of the miners are
lprematurely forced into the breakers and
mills. it Is due entirely to the disposition
of the parents, for the fact remains that
many of our most prominent and prog
| ressive and professional and business men
have been miners themselves, or are the
children of miners, and in their educa-
| tional qualifications they are easily the
| equals of their associates whose start IN
| Ire was from other surroundings.
| Ninth-Wages are below the fair and
| Just earnings of mine workers in this in
dustry.
This is fully answered in our foregoing
| answers to statements
Tenth-The ten-hour day is detrimental
to the health, life. safety and well-being
| of the mine workers.
In answering this question we beg to
refer your honorable commission again
| to the paper marked exhibit A.
Whether ten hours work per day is det-
rimental to health, life and general safety.
| is proposition which is applicable to all
avocations, and is not confined to that
of mining alone. 1t is a matter to be de-
termined by statistical research and the
opinions Of physicians and actuaries.
Eleventh--Shorter hours improve the
physical mental and moral condition Of
the workers.
A Sociological Question.
This is purely sociological question
with which the coal operators have MOTH
ing to do. BY this we do not desire to be
understood as assuming an attitude of en-
tire Indifference to the physical and moral
welfare of the mine workers. but we re-
iterate that the proposition is one which
sociologists are better qualified to deal
with than business men. The operators
concern in the controversy is to arrive at
a satisfactory basis upon which the min
ing of coal can be proceeded with by the
payment of a fair rate of wages to the
mine workers.
Twelfth-Shorter hours increase the in
tensity and efficiency of labor.
Another sociological question. Short
err hours also increase the cost of produc-
ton.
Thirteenth-The tendency of national
and state governments. Of organized
trades and of production generally is to-
ward shorter hours.
This is the result of nearly universal
disposition among men to work no more
than necessary in order to maintain such
standard of living as they find most con-
Educive to their own happiness.
Fourteentll-A working day of eight
hours Is sufficiently long for the best in
terests of the working man and of the
community.
This is another sociological question
l. Measurement by the legal ton wher- |
ever practicable is the only honest and
just system of mea asuring the earnings of
the mine workers.
This is not statement of fact. and it |
must be admitted without argument that |
1t Is Just as fair to mine coal by measure
as by weight
If legal ton was made the standard in |
ascertairing the earning of the miners in
Of fl,n ,1-s,
twenty and one-half hundred |
weight TO thirty hundred weight the |
standard, it would not make the slightest |
difference i'm the miners pay, as he would |
simply be paid by the hundred weight in |
stead of by the ton. |
Question of Ton.
.. When the operators sell or transport |
coal it is on the basis of legal ton of |
o,o4O pounds.
The question at issue in this controversy |
is whether the miner is receiving fair |
wages for the labor he performs, and we
submit that this question does not enter
into the controversy at all.
3. The excessive ton was originally in
tended to compensate the operator for the
waste of the small sizes OF coal which |
We're discarded, but which are now util-
lied and sCsl, and therefore there Is no
present necessity for the use of any other
than the legal ton.
This statement has no bearing on the
question at issue. If We understand
Alright, the questions before Your honor
able commission are to determine whether
the mine worker is receiving a fair and
just return for his labor. In the adjust
ment of this question We believe that the
only points to. be considered are: (a)
The nature and character of the work
performed (b) The hours of employment; |
,c) The wages paid, both with respect to
the cost of living. and in comparison with
the rate of wages paid to other skilled
Ia bor.
These questions we have answered, but
we again respectfully submit that the
above statement is irrelevant and not IA
question at issue or of concern to the
mine workers. We, however, might note,
that when this standard was established,
the market took from 20 to 40 per cent.
Of lump coal and large percentage OF
CRATE coal, but. owing to changes in meth
ods of burning, and the substitution Of
soft coal and coke in iron making, the
demand for lump and CRATE coal has prac-
Iically disappeared. Now we only have
market for egg, stove, nut and the small
er sizes, The grinding down of the lump
and the crate to smaller skies entails a
waste equal to the gain made by the
selling of the smaller sizes. AS matter
Of fact, the records of many companies
|
hundred weight to thirty hundred weight,
according to the different kinds of coal is
barely sufficient. owing to the breakaGe
n preparation and foreign substances sent
Dut in the car which run from 20 to 40
per cent, TO produce ton OF marketable
anthracite coal including pea and buck
wheat.
An Absurd Statement.
t. The adoption of this system would
'emove an incentive, both to the opera
or and The worker, to cheating and dis
and would allay jealousy among
he miners and prevent unjust discrmina-
lion and favoritism.
This as an absurd statement, and does
not enter into the question in controversy Z
At ALL 1t is as easy to cheat, If the desire
10 do so Is present, i'm weight as In meas
are, and il is impossible 10 keep dis
honest man honest.
g. The change of the present system TO |
he one asked for would prove Il strong
actor i'm allaying suspicion and discomfort {
among the mine workers. {
This is simply a repetition of former
demand. and we desire to reirerate as we
nave stated I'm cur answers 10 former de- |
nands, that ii is a poorly disguised effort
on their part TO secure an advance of 70
20 30 per cent in the price for their labor |
n addition to the demand for 20 per cent. |
n wages which they have already made.
md thereby increase a wage scale already
,bove that of other employments requir-
ng vastly greater skill and intelligence |
md years of apprenticeship at extremely !
Ow wages. as against a short term of
apprenticeship at high wages required TO
make an efficient miner.
/. The anthracite mine workers should
lot ba compelled to make or sign indi- G
iiduaI agreements, but have the right TO