Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-12

ident OF the Peoples Coal company, which
operates the oxford colliery at Scranton.
During the strike he managed to continue
working. and In one month received $40 a
ton for all coal mined, although the av-
erage price was only about $3.50.
The miners announced that they expected
to close their case on Saturday and Thurs
day. In reply the companies announced
that they might have 20 ask for a short
recess, in order to properly prepare their !
case.
witness In Ignorant.
Mr.. Crawford. who has been attending
the sessions each day, was surprised to be
called, and he remarked as he took the
stand
This is a new turn of affairs"
when did you ship coal last? p asked Mr..
Darrow
Yesterday
what are you getting for it?''
II don't know exactly"
"Can you come near it?''
II can IL want to-"
Don't you want tor
mo, sir"
You are a party to this commission and
went to New York to see the coal presi-
| dents?''
''Yes, SIR"
"Then you refuse to give this commits
sion that information?"
Il don't think 1 am compelled to tell'
who do you sell to?'
| Delaware, Lackawanna 4 Western"
What do you get for it?'
About IS per cent OF what the Lacka-
wanna gets for it."
At this point attorneys for the operators
objected to an inquiry into a companys
profits.
Able to Pay More Wages.
Mr.. Darrow said he called the witness
to show that the coal companies were able
to pay the advance in wages asked for.
Wayne MacVeagh, in his cross-examina-
tion OF Mr.. Mitchell. he said, intimated
that the increase, II granted, would ulti-
mately be placed on the bowed backs Of
the poor" and he wanted to show that
the companies were we'll able to give the
increase asked for without putting 1t on
the poor.
Mr.. Darrow then continued the examina-
tion.
How many tons do you produce in q
day?''
mine hundred to 1000 tons :
And you don't know how much you ges
for it?"'
81 can give an estimate"
well, what 10 itf'
about $3.50 a ton
On further examination Mr.. Crawford
said during the latter part Of the strike
, his colliery was in operation and he got $40
a ton for his coal.
Judge Gray here stopped the examina-
tion, saying the exceptionally high prices
during the strike were not pertinent to the
inquiry.
, The miners called several witnesses who
described the conditions at the collieries OF
, the A. Pardee company in the Hazletor
region.
One Of them was boy, who said he
! had lost leg in the mines, received moth
ing for its loss, but instead, when he re-
Z turned to work. the company stopped his
wages for his fathers debt.
Mr.. Darrow then announced that thu
miners expected to close their case thit
a week and gave notice for the other side t
a be ready to proceed
Say Wages are High.
Two witnesses employed by the Della
ware, LackRwanna & Western company
= were called, and each testified that befor,
the strike of 1900 they received "a cents
car, and that the strike was ended by th
company granting an increase of 10 pc
cent. 2h In cash and the rest to be con
sidered In the reduction In the price O
70 powder.
Instead Of receiving the increase the
r now get cents car less or 81 cents
They did not know why It was reduced.
=, In cross-examination figures were pro
duced showing that one of the witnesse
earned an average of $425 day for sew
enteen days worked In November. Wit
ness. however, claimed he went into tn
mines twenty-five days during the month
nd NIxyk At,
far less. One handed in q statement give
~ him by a mine superintendent shown
that there were several sizes OF cars at III
u colliery where he worked The same wage
were paid, however, for filling them, r.
d. gardless OF size.
r Father o'Donnell was asked by Juds
a. Gray:
do you believe in boycotts?"
- 81 believe have the right not to del
" or associate with person who does som,
thing that do not like or is contrary
ne my interests"
4 go along with you that far" said II
chairman; how much farther would yC
go? For instance have you a right to boz
colt me If l should deal or associate vii
as such q person7"
he mo. sir; neither would I commit vi,
as lence."
er THAT is right; we draw the line at Il
same point" responded the Judge.
ed p. J. Rogan, a miner for the Temp
ed Lead and Iron company. was the last wi
ness for the day. His complaint was tn
he had been docked for light loading VIII,
~ he had a foot more than the required To-
ping OF six inches.
Three Die I'm Mine.
WILKESBARRE. Pa. Dec. 11.-Thr
men lost their lives and one was serious
injured in the Kingston company mine
by Edwardsville this evening. They we
tor walking up the slope behind a train
To- loaded cars. The slope runner desired
ing shift the cars and notified the men to st
wn aside. They did not heed the warning
coupling broke and the cars dashed dov
M the steep incline, ploughing into the m
and hurling them against the roof and sid
Of the slope.