The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-05
MEN FEAR
 OFFICIALS Hesitate to Report to
 Inspectors. NEW QUESTION COMES UP
Work of Strike Arbitrat0rS
 Becomes Broader.
More Talk is Heard of Settlement "out of Court" But Lawyers Declares They Know
 Nothing Definite.

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 4.-At today's ses- sions of the anthracite strike comnhs- sion the representative of the mine work CTS continued to csu witnesses, mostly practical miners who told their story of conditions as they exist in the Hazelson or middle coal fields.
 Some of the witnesses testified that they were not given their old places and main tained that men prominent in the union in the various localities during the strike were discriminated against
 The commission has decided to invite the mine inspectors to appear before them, because the miners assert that the workmen fear to inform the mine inspec- tors of dangerous or unhealthy places in the mines, because the inspectors are usually accompanied by some representa- tive of the company who may cause the mans dismissal. This is a new point before the commission.
 Rumors of possible negotiations looking to a settlement outsIue the commission continue to be heard. Lawyers admit they have heard such rumors but say they know nothing about a possible set clement. Whatever Is done will be first decided upon in New York. Several at- torneys. among them W. w. Ross of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western Company, have returned to the metropo- lis. Whether 1t is in connection with peace negotiations cannot be learned here The opinion still prevails here that the operators and the miners will agree on most points before the commission concludes its hearings.
 Dottrey is Recalled.
 W. c. Dottrey. a miner for tho Hazel ton region and President of his local union. who was on the stand yesterday. was recalled at the opening of the after room session. He presented some cor respondence that passed between him. self and the Coxe Company with refer ence to the employment of 639 men who struck and were net given back their old places. Some of these men were subse- quently taken back The witness tes.i- fled that the mine foreman read him letter in which President Dottrey was in- formed that the other men would not oe taken back until after the strike commis sion shall have made it's award. If the award, he said the letter stated, Is against the men, none of the United Mine Work CTS will be taken back.
 Jackson Ansbach of the Hazelton re- zion was an interesting witness because he Is the first fireman to appear before the commission. He said he received $1.57 for a day of twelve hours, and his assist ant $126 On every other Sunday, when he and his assistant shifted from day to night work they were compelled to work twenty-four hours straight without relief. This statement caused a buzz through the court room and every commissioner straightened up and became more inter ested He said he was of duty one day avery two weeks thus working six days one week and eight days the following week.
 "supposing you should fall asleep when you work in the long shift of twenty-four hours. what would happen? asked MT Dsrrow.
 Might Kill Few.
 ..Well..' he replied, If I slept long enough the fans would stop, gas would accumulate in the mines and If an ex- plosion took place some one might be killed: that's all.'
 The Rev. James V. Hussie. rector Of St. Gabriers Roman Catholic Church Bazleton, and the dean of Lower Luzerne County. was the next witness. Father TIussie stated that he had an intimate knowledge of the conditions in and about Hazleton because he was rector of the parish there Drinking among the min CTS he said, was at minimum dnrlns inc strike. When asked to explain the general conditions as he found them Father Hussie said he had lived in the coal region practically all his life.
 The conditions in this region. he said. "are deplorable. The mine workers are barely able to exist I say this with ont any coloring, knowing that l am under oath. 1 have been in their homes. They are not homes. but merely a haoi- tation a resting place. They are fru- gal conservative, reasonable and God fearing We have eight Catholic Church ca in Hazleton and they are crowded ev- cry Sunday with worshpers, and this is no doubt true of the churches whose faith is opposed to ours
 Continuing, Father Hussie said that this was the condition before the strike and that during the suspension the mine workers and their families were more pinched, that they were most economical in many things and barely existed. Fami- Has cannot be kept together, he said. The bovs are sent into the mines almost as aoon as they are able to toddle out and +he girls are sent to the mills In the small towns in the vicinity or drift to the large cities He related instances of poverty and said that it took one man six years to nav off a funeral debt of $200.
 Or cross examination Father Hussie
 id the newspaper reports of violence tr the Hazleton region were exaggerated.
 Tmprtation of Green Horns"
 1rdrew Mattey, who was on the stand o+ +oe morning session, was recalled 10 ni,a more information regarding the al- iaged importation of slavonians to the rSs mines. He told how he had been ot1 to go to Hazleton and meet the r--aanbarus" who had been shipped nT b,s mother from Europe at his re- Sst pS and at the behest of a foreman ea,oved at the Coxe mines. Judge Gray, eiit5entIv thinking that the alien laws were being violated, became ,. greatly in in terasted an5 leaning towar dthe witness Sa said: When was this?'
 "seventeen years ago replied the Hun S"Ob'" said the Judge as he leaned back I, his chair. and a wave of laughter swept over the court room.