Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1902-11-11
TELEGRAPHIC NEWS.
answer 10 strike Commission.

Washington, Nov. 1i.-Carroll ID.
Wright, recorder and member OF the
anthracite coal strike commission, to-
day made public the answer OF the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company to the complaint OF
President John Mitchell submitted on
behalf of the striking miners. A
number of other answers have been
received, and all are said to be in line
with the argument advanced by Presl-
dent Baer, of the Reading Company,
which is, in part, as follows
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company, replying to the de-
mands of John Mitchell, representing
certain anthracite mine workers, says !;
The first demand for "twenty per cent.
increase upon the price paid during the
year 1901 to employees doing contract or
piece work. is arbitrary, unreasonable
and unjust. This company denies that
there is any such similarity between the
mining of bitumin0us and of anthracite
coal as to make wages paid in one a
standard for the other. 1t denies that
the rate of wages in the mines operated
by this company is lower than that paid
in the bituminous coal fields, whose coal
output completes actively with the pro-
ducts of this company's mines.
This company denies that the present
rate of wages is lower than is paid in
other occupations in the same locality
and controlled. by like conditions. And
it further AYERS that the annual earnings
of the anthracite mine workers is largely
reduced by their refusal to work as many
DAYS as it is customary TO work in other
occupations, and that by reason thereof
this company is subjected to great loss.
This company aver that there is not
anywhere else in the world mining re-
gion where the workmen have so many
comforts, facilities for education, general
advantages, and such profitable employ
ment. Any increase in wages will neces-
sarily increase the price of coal to the
public, restrictits use, and seriously affect
the ability of the industries using it as
fuel to compete with the industries us
ing bituminous coal. This company,
replying to the third demand, says: That
it has no disagreements with any of its
employees about the weighing of coal.
The quantity is usually determined by
measurement. There is nothing unrea-
sonable or unfair in the method it has
practised in arriving at the meas
urement of the coal from its mines.
This company, replying to the fourth
demand, says: That the United Mine
Workers of America are primarily a
btuminous coal organization; that
btuminous coal is rival competitor in
the maket with anthracite coal; that ever
since the advent of the United Mine
Workers of America in the anthracite
field the business conditions in the
anthracite mines have become intolerable;
the output of the mines has decreased,
discipline has been destroyed and strikes
have been of common occurrence.
Before noon today Recorder Wright
had received the answers of the six
operators who are parties to the arbi-
tration agreement. That of Mr.. Baer
is already in the hands of President
Mitchell of the coal miners, and was
therefore given out for publication.
Copies of the answers of the other FIVE
were at once mailed to him and will be
made public upon receipt of same by
him. Recorder Wright will leave for
Scranton top,orrow