The Montgomery advertiser. [volume] (Montgomery, Ala.) 1885-1982, 1902-11-19

the coal we could get We have never
been able really to supply our orders"
That information" Mr.. Mitchell an
swered, lis much different from what
usually got from the men you represent,
because they said their sales were limit
ed entirely by the competition of bitumin-
Gus coal"
I'VE are not discussing competition at
present" Mr. Ross remarked.
During this era of prosperity we work
ed all the miners we could to advant-
age" y ,
Statement in Conflict.
"I say said Mr. Mitchell. further an
swering the question, that that informa-
ticn Is contrary to the statements made
by the Presidents of your companies"
At the request of counsel, Mr.. Mitchell
here gave a history of hfs connection with
organized labor. He said he secured
recognition of the union and change OF
from ten hours to eight in the State OF
Illinois in the spring Of 1885 There was
no strike.
1--WE did what we are trying to do here
we asked the operators to meet US ana
we agreed on an advance OF IL per cent
and an eight hour day"
After some unimportant testimony az
to comparison Of wages the social fea-
lures of the coal field was taken up. and
Mr.. Mitchell said he could not see any
other reason in child labor than that the
families required the money to live on,
the exception being where the parents
may be inhuman. He then reiterated MS
former statement that the minimum wage
should be $500 year. -,
1--WE might want to go to the seashore,
said he, speaking with little sarcasm.
Mr.. Mitchell said the company had some
I1 tafk I'd
once ir twenty-four years. and that they
had thereby an important event in their
lives to relate to their grandchildren.
Company Rents Houses.
At this point, Mr.. Ross took occasion
to call attention to the fact that his com
pany owned 2S4 houses which were rented
to the miners for an average Of -
month.
so YOU see," remarked Mr.. Ross. I'VE
haven't many houses for the number OF
employees, upward of 1900"
"You charge enough for the ones you
do have" was Mr.. Mitchells dry re-
Spouse, which caused merriment among
the miners in the court room.
After securing an expression from Mr.
Mitchell that the company paid to stock
holders 2s per cent. Of their capltal
stock, Mr.. Ross inquired If he was not
incorrect.
'I think the figures were that" said
Mr.. Mitchell There are good many
methods for putting profits away In
railroad" he added.
Replying to further inquiries, Mr..
Mitchell said there had been very few
failures of coal companies either in the
anthracite or bituminous fields, although
Mr. Ross contended that from an In
vestment standpoint 1t is regarded as a
hazardous business.
Here followed a long list of questions
on the subject of the demand for an
eight hour day, nothing new being be-
veloped. Giving as a reason for the min
ers preferring to be paid by weight rath-
err than by measure, Mr.. Mitchell said
tina tpersons buying coal wanted 1t weigh
ed, as do sellers Of coal.
What benefit is there?" asked Mr..
Ross, ito the miner by being paid by the
ton instead of by the carr"
Complaint Of Docking.
Mr.. Mitchell said that there had been
neral discomfort among the miners be-
cause of disagreements arising from the
docking not only for impurities but on
account of the topping"
You do not know said Mr.. Ross.
that it is necessary to discipline a
man."
Is that the reason, asked Mr.. Mitch
ell, for impurities or because their car
did not have enough in it?' He insisted
that he knew Of instances where dock
ing amounted to 8 or 4 per cent. although
Mr.. Ross had stated that 1t was eight
tenths of a cent. Mr.. Mitchell then re-
ferred to the increase in the size of cars
without increase OF wages and said this
was another ground for complaint be-
cause 1t represented n decrease in a min
ers' earnings.
Answering Judge Gray Mr.. Mitchell ad-
mitted that about 10 per cent. of the total
production of anthracite coal was put out
on the eight hour basis.
At 4 o'clock the Commission adjourned
until tomorrow. Mr.. Mitchell still being
on the stand.