Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1902-12-08
THE MINERS
Show Existing State of Affairs
in MarkIe Mines.
They Score Points on Rates Of Wages
and Hours of Work.
Macveagh ConsuIts With Morgan
Still No Settlement.

Scranton. Pa, Dec. THE miners.
| having finished their attack on the
| Coke mines in the HaZelton region, to-
| day. turned the attention of the coal
strike commission to the coliierieS of
| c.. Il. Markle & Co, in the same To-
caity. The witnesses for the mine
| workers scored what appeared to be
| telling points with regard to wages
and other conditions prevailing in the
mines of this Independent company.
The attorney for the company was
not prepared to crosS-eXamine the Wit
nesses on all things they testified to,
and the commission has granted the
| company the privilege of recalling the
Witnesses for cross-eXamination.
The principal witness against the
Markles was james Gallagher, who had
worked in the Markle mines so years.
| He claimed the wages were so low that
| he was always in debt to the company
and that in Il years he only once re-
ceived money III wages. and that was
$50. He further testified that he had
| to deal at the company's store. the only
place where the miners could get cred
| it. and that the prices Were from 10 to
% per cent. higher than in other stores.
/
wiped out his debt, but the company
would then give him such poor work
that he would Immediately get into
debt again. He was evicted from his
house and refused work. but did not
| know why employment was not given
him. The witness. who is so years of
age and native of Ireland, kept the
court constantly in good humor by his
| wifi n q
by the lawyers. He said a man is
never called hurt in the mines until he
is half killed. He was half killed
twice. he said, which brought out the
remark from Chairman Gray that if
he was twice half killed, then he was
| now dead.
This caused much merriment, but It
was turned into a roar Of laughter
when the witness replied that the first
! half was healed before the other half
was Injured.
Mr.. Gallagher said he was evicted
| from his house and that he was refused
| his position by the company. He did
not know why the company would not
take him back unless it was because
his son was the secretary Of the local
union. Ii answer to another question
were from 10 to 20 per cent higher than
at other stores. He had made as high
as so month. but this was eaten up
in paying his debts with the company.
When he was clear of debt the COM
pany gave him a bad place to work un
til he was again in debt.
The arbitration plan of the Markles
was taken up IN the examination and
.E.,Ifs
agreement was attached to the lease
for his house and he did not know he
was signing such an agreement when
he put his name to the lease.
12-year-old breaker boy was called
to :he stand and gave testimony to
snow that he was working at the
Markle mines to pay off the debt in
CURED by his father who was killed
in the mines Is months ago. He re-
ceived no pay. but was given due bills,
showing how much his mother owed
the company. The bills also showed |
that the debts his mother was incur
ring. such as house rent, etc. were
growing faster than he could reduce !
them, and he was only getting four
cents an hour
The conditions prevailing at the Le- |
iisH Ndley company mines VIII be |
taken no next. The miners have a |
large number of witnesses they desire |
to call. and there is at this time no |
indication when the hearings will be |
concluded. Some of the operators de- |
Sire to place witnesses on the stand |
in their defence.
Rev. J. j. Curran of Wilkesbarre |
who was on The stand, Friday. when |
the Coal Strike Commission adjourned. |
was cross examned. Saturday. by Har- /
ry Reynolds, one of the lawyers for the
independent operators regarding con-
ditions in the vicinity of Wikesbarre.
Referring to the nOn-union men. FIR.
Curran said that most of the people of |
the coal regions believe the miners
should have better wages. IF a So
called 'scab' takes the place of a man
who is trying to get his rights. that
so-called 'scab' is doing wrong and an
injustice to the people in his commu-
nifty. said FIR. Curran. He admitted
that most of the violence committed |
resulted from attempts of mine owners
to resume work
John O'BIien. an attorney for the
noh-uhion men. next examined Father
Cuffan. He read Gov. Stones procla-
ton describing the reign of terror in