The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-13
CASE AGAINST
THE OPERATORS
Miners Have Been PiIing Up
Damaging Testimony.
MEN ROBBED IN MANY WAYS
|ARE PAID ONE PRICE FOR CARS
OF ALL SIZES.

.
er part of today's sessions OF the
anthracite coal strike commission
was taken up IN presenting cumulative
testimony on matters that already have
been heard by the commission. This
testimony tended to show that there
S1as been excessive docking, that many
S nen were disseminated against be-
cause they went on strike rather than
1o the work of the strikers, that they
Fre paid one price for mine cars of all
sizes, that they do not get paid for all
Ihe coal mined. that they should have
he eight-hour day beca use the mines
pre- unhealthy and dangerous, and that
fhey ought to receive higher wages.
President Mitchell was the last wit
mess of the afternoon, and occupied
he stand for an hour. He submitted
IN evidence the contract between the
Union and several coal operators in
Illinois, which is somewhat similar to
he contracts had with the operators in
indiana, Ohio and western and central
pennsylvania, in all sections of which
sight hours constitute a days work.
y Figures Presented.
He then presented comparative fig
sres which showed that company men
p the bituminous regions earned from
80 to 30 per cent more than company
snen in the anthracite fields and the
ormer only work eight hours a day.
Company men are not contract miners,
tRnd are paid by the day. His figures
vere gathered by his own officers. and
hey were generally higher than those
submitted to the commission by the
Delaware e Hudson company.
Mr.. Mitchell gave a history of the
efforts made by the union to prevent
he late strike, all of which have been
gtven to the public from time to time
During the last ten months. This was
none so that it would be on record be-
fore the commission.
Chairman Gray asked Mr.. Mitchell
what was done by the miners to ad-
Just grievances during the interval be-
tween the two great strikes, and Mr..
Mitchell replied that he did not know
ri any company refusing to hold con-
ferences with its own men, but he
Ibid know that in most cases the at
8 tempt to adjust grievances proved a
failure.
Union Not Recognized.
In some instances the company Off
rtals had refused to see district Off
cers OF the union Mr.. Mitchell fur
her stated that the operators had re-
81 used the proposition for collective bar
8 gaining, or collective agreements, but
hat Chairman Thomas of the Erie
company, early in 1901, agreed to treat
COtiUllL-
tee or representative.
General Wilson, before Mr. Mitchell
eft the stand. asked him what was
he initial cause of the strike, and he
replied that it originated with the men
because they thought they had griev-
hnces and that conventions were called
by the district officers at their request
The Delaware q HudsOn's statistics
are the only ones officially before the
Commission. and an Investigation by
he companies accountants late this
afternoon showed that they contained
many errors. which will be corrected
The attorneys for the miners do moi
expect TO close their case until TIT
early part of next week, probably
Tuesday. The representatives of the
coal companies are considering the ad
Instability of joining hands in present
ng their opening argument and hav.
Ing only one joint address, instead o.
aach company presenting a separate
D-.a.
The Miners Robbed.
The calling of witnesses for tn,
miners was Immediately resumed wheI
5the morning session of the strike com
mission opened. The first witness wa.
Edward Ridgeway, formerly company
docking boss in the employ of The
Temple Coal & Iron company He saiC
he was a member of the union, and
74iid not know it was contrary to The
rules for a company docking boss L
belong to the union. He said that ninj
years ago he was told by the mine fore
man that he must dock a certain per
centaSe, no matter whether the Goa
was clean or full of dirt This per
centage ranged from to per cent
After the union had a check docking
boss appointed the percentage fell t,
!. 81 Der cent
John McLone, a checkweighman fo
tine union, gave figures which showed
that the men at the No. coiliery o
stfe Pennsylvania Coal company minet
II II .1S3 more tons Of coal from April
1901. to April. 1902, than they had beef
paid for. He explained this by sayins
there was more than 2,240 pounds o
clean coal In the miners ton of 2.70
( pounds. He gave figures to show tina
p the average monthly wages of tn
miners laborer were S27.72 and tn
miners wages S34.77 The accuracy o
his figures was questioned by the com
pany's attorney. and McLone was TEN
porarily withdrawn from the stand b,
the miners lawyers.
William Mates, a miner for the lie
high x Wilkesbarre Coal company. wa
81 the first witness to complain agains
the system IN vogue in determinin,
how much rock. slate and coal is in
car at the court house." which is ;
place at the colliery where the con
tents Of a mine car are tested. He sal,
= SlIe system IS inaccurate.
~ 49, a