The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-20

sons they represented. The commission,
however. decided they could not be party
to such plan of secrecy
In connection with the nonunion feature
of the investigation Mr.. Mitchell announced
that he is also representing thousands of
nonunion men who struck with the union
lists. and that all the workmen would abide
hy the award of the arbitrators "or get out
of the union.' s-rs- ,-----. 80.
Mr.. MitchelPs testimony to-day contained
little that was new to the commissioners,
and that of Mr.. Roberts was OF general
character regarding the economic and So
Geological conditions in the anthracite coal
country.
The commissioners. while regretting they
have to do so, are still reminding both sides
they would like to have the submission of
testimony expedited. Chairman Gray sew
eral times during the day interrupted and
showed that ground then being gone over
had already been covered. 1t has been sug-
gested that counsel for both sides agree to
rules for the submission of evidence, but
nothing has yet been done looking towards
that end
The Rev. Peter Roberts. of Mahanoy
City, who is the author of book on the
anthracite coal industry, took the stand,
and had just begun his testimony when
recess for luncheon was taken. In the
course of his examination by Mr.. Darrow
in the afternoon Mr.. Roberts furnished sta
tistics showing that the anthracite fields
covered 4S0 square miles. Out of a total
population of $4,000, he said that 100000
were directly dependent on the mines.
Answering questions by Mr.. Wolverton
DR.. Roberts said there were four methods
of payment in the anthracite region, by
the car, by weight, by the yard and by the
day. The wages paid are far from uniform
he said. and he then went on to describe
the changes which had been made in the
size of the cars from 72 cubic feet until
they now vary from so to 92 feet. In NOV
ing the car from the breast of the mine to
the shaft, Mr.. Roberts said there was a 5
per cent. shakedown.
Answering a question by Commissioner
Watkins DR.. Roberts said there was an ef-
fort made by the individual operators to
import cheap labor into the anthracite
fields. 1T was DONE said he. through
ship agents. who get men in New York to
watch the vessels coming in and turn the
current of immigration, that is, the Slav
immigration into the coal fields.'
Have you noticed the effect of the sa-
looms on miners?" was asked.
county have decreased" was the reply,
land the consensus Is that ii is
due largely to the miners union" He said
that the social worth and manliness and
individuality OF the Slav have been greatly
increased through the miners unioIl
f'Do you know what was the result of the
strike OF 1900?
"It decidedly improved conditions by CIV
ing 10 per cent advance"
on cross-examination Mr. Roberts said
that of the 1E,O0o mine employees in the
Nl
He admitted that in some instances, owing
to the impurities, the measurement of coal
by weight would be impracticable.
Mr.. Wolverton inquired If il would be
fair to average the work of all the miners
for the day, but the witness said IL would
depend on the miner. THE lazy miner. E"
said Mr. Wolverton would get as much
as the industrious miner, would he not?'
1.-The system of docking would be COM
ing in" was the answer.
'Where did you receive the information
you have in this book?" Mr.. Wolverton
asked. after reading several passages in it,
from Mr. Mitcheli?"
II did not know Mr.. Mitchell personally.
Never spoke a word with him until about
three weeks ago..
Under the conditions you have ex-
planned" Mr.. Wolverton further asked.
can there be any uniform standard of wages
or where fixed would the wages apply TO
the whole coal regions or to one coliiery
that would do justice TO the employe and
employer"
The witness replied that he did not know
whether that could be done, but said that
where work is the same or nearly so there
was no reason why wages should be diff
ferent. AT this point the commission ad-
| journed until tomorrow morning at 10
| o'clock.