New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1902-12-14
IN READING COAL MINES
EVIDENCE FOR THE MEN
Shouang That They Were Discr1m-
mated 1eaipst


against the company of which George F. Baer
| is the head and considerable interest was mani
tested as to the character CT the evidence the
miners would present against that company
Eight witnesses were called and the principal
| grievance presented was that some men VINO
went on strike were Disseminated against.
There were g large number of other witnesses
called the sessions, but most of the testi-
rnony- heard was of cumulative nature, relat-
ing to alleged unfair local conditions. Among
the witnesses heard President Mitchell His
testimony related principally to the manner in
which he computed the averages he gave yes
terday in which he showed that bitumnous
men received from 40 to 80 per cent more
wages than the anthracite miners Counsel for
the Delaware and Hudson disputed Mitchells
method of arriving at the averages.
The miners will close their probably on
Monday. when the operators will open their
side The coal companies have decided to pre-
sent only one opening argument, and former
Congressman Simon P. Wolverton leading coun-
sci for the Reading Company, will make the
joint opening statement.
1t is reported that President Mitchell will go
to West Virginia to organize the miners there
sooi-. The presentation of the wage statements
OF the Scranton Coal Company was the first
business to come before the strike commission
to-day The statements presented by
John b. Kerr, Vlce-DreSlGent ana SeIeTdi couH-
sci for the New-York Ontario and Western
Railroad, which company controls the Scranton
company. The statements show that in the
year ending April so 1902, the company oper-
ated nine coliieries. Two worked only eleven
months on account Of fire and flooding, and one
only eleven and one-half months. on account
of the miners strike The average earnings of
the miners in the year were S53S 80, and of mine
laborers 1913 76. Average to the breaker, day
Of ten hours for miners, So 3D. and for miners
| laborers 81 So The wages of other employees
range from 81, 200 year for engineers, down
to $3.50 for breaker boys.
President Mitchell was again called to the
stand and he was examined by James Torrey.
counsel for the Delaware and Hudson COM
pany. Mr.. Mitchell yesterday presented fig
ures, gathered by his own agents, which, he
said, showed a higher average of wages paid
than the figures handed to the commission by
the Delaware and Hudson company
Mr. Torrey criticised many of Mr. Mitchells
figures and finally said that almost anything
can be shown by Juggling figures. Mr. Mitchell
denied any juggling.
Mr.. Torrey next tried to place the response
bility of the strike on Mr.. Mitchell. The wit:
ness said he opposed the strike at the time II
was instituted but favored one later in the
year.
Counsel for the independent operators asked
Mr. Mitchell if the operators made contract
with the miners in which there was clause
providing for non-interference with non-union
men whether the union could enforce the clause
Mr. Mitchell said: $50 long We have no con-
tracts or joint conferences we not willing
to tell in advance what viii agree to-
A discussion ensued over the question Of
whether Mr.. Mitchell tried to prevent inter
ference with non-union men during the strike.
and My Mitchell answered that the union was
opposed TO all violence. The miners president
concluded his testimony by making an explana-
ton the commission regarding the unions
attitude toward trade autonomy. He said the
United MINI Workers exercised jurisdiction
over all employees in and about the mines. II
the engineers, firernen. pumpmen, etc. each had
a separate organization, and of these
classes struck, il would close down everything
He said last year four hundred fremen struck
throwing out -os work sixty thousand mine
workers. If all classes were in one organiza-
ton they could act together.
Practically the entire afternoon session was
taken up with the testimony of men who are.
have been. employed by the Philadtlphia and
Reading Coal and Iron Company. The principal
grievance complained of by the witnesses
| amined was that of discrimination. One man
complained that he not getting regular pay
| for repair work; another one said there We're
| two sizes Of cars where ne worked and only one
| price for both; another, who lost his leg COM
| planned that he taken eff light work and
| put on heavy work and that when he COM
| planned he told that he must do it get
| out The men who did not get work after the
| striks gave the company's reason that they
| took q too prominent part in the strike.
| On REORGANIZATION 1t was brought out that
1 the general treatment of the witnesses by the
company good, except in the instances com
| planned Of and that there some friction be-
| tween the and the colliery superintendent,
| of which John Veith, general mining super
| intendent had had knowledge. In this con-
| necton a miner named William Grett EN-
| ployed at the Silver Greek Colliery, said he
struck bad heading and could earn very little
money He complained to the foreman, but the
/ latter made TO effort to improve matters
Simon p Wolverton. the Readings attorney,
| asked him why he did not complain to Mr..
| Veith and the witness replied that If he went
over the forernan's or the colliery superintend-
| ent's head to the general mining superintendent
| the others would get even with him.
| James Torrey, counsel for the Delaware and
| Hudson Company, presented the corrected sum
| mary of that company's figures to the commits
| sion. The figures handed in several days ago
| were found to contain errors made while clerks
| under great pressure tranScribing them.
| The corrected figures. according to MIR. Torrey.
| show that the Delaware and HudSOn's wages
! are considerably higher than those paid in the
| bituminors region The Delaware and Hudson
! books and exhibits absolutely correct. They
| are the official records, and the exhibits
| those TO be fled with the commission These
| were examined and found correct on December
| q and certified to by James Warwick. for the
| miners and Abel Culver, controller of the
| Delaware and Hudson Company.
VAIN APPEAL OF WIDOW I'M WILL CASE.
| Position Dec is-Judge Loring in the Supreme
Court to-day granted the motion of Amos Bartlett