New-York tribune., 1902-12-18
COAL OPERATORS CASE.
What II Is Expected To Prore-
Discrepancy an FIGURES.

operators opened their side OF the controversy
with the mine workers to-day before the strike
commission. and the attorneys who are on rec
ara before the commission as representing the
,on-union men. who have been admitted to the
arbitration scheme. began calling witnesses
The sessions to-day were the liveliest vet held
br the commission.
At the morning session the miners lawyers
challenged the fairness of certain wage state
,n4nts handed TO the commission by the Penn
evIvsnia Coal Company. and in the afternoon
Nr Darrow had spirited discussion with
Chairman Gray as to whether or not the miners
had q right know who is paying the lawyers
-epresenting the non-union men before the com
mission Mr.. Darrow asserted they were en-
moved by the coal operators
Preceding this Simon P WoIverton. counsel
for the Reading Company. who delivered the
opening address on behalf of all the large coal
companies, made the point in his address that
the recognition of the union is not an issue
before the commission. which brought out
n-otest from Mr.. Darrow. The latter claimed
that If il were not, then the operators should
ne forbidden 70 present testimony that
tended 10 show the union was responsible for
all the alleged violence committed during the
strike.
The alleged unfairness Of the wage statements
came 10 the notice of the commission as a result
Of its inquiry into the child labor question in
This vicinity Several little girls testified
Monday that they worked all night in silk
mil il order TO help their fathers along, who
were employed in the mines and received poor
nav Yesterday Everett Warren. who represents
the Erie Company, which controls the PennsyI-
vania Coal Company. in whose mines some Of
these fathers worked. handed to the commits
sion memorandum showing that one father
last year received about 81 400 for himself and
lsborer. and that the other father received
$1,000 for himself and laborer.
At the opening Of the session to-day the miners
placed the two parents on the stand. and they
swore that the earnings mentioned were divided
among from four to six men This testimony
surprised the commissioners. and Judge Gray
asked II the figures on the memorandum were
taken from the wage statement already filed
by the company with the commission, and Mr..
Warren replied in the affirmative
Chairman Gray then requested counsel for
the company TO indicate in its statement, hand
ed up. whether the figures given for one,
two or more men
We don't say il shakes faith in the state
ment." he continued Unless you can show.
however. that there are none of these cases, such
as are suggested by this testimony. Il VIII very
materially shake our faith in it,
STATEMENT FOR COMPANY
The company through its general manager,
W A May, was permitted to make statement.
He said: The Pennsylvania Coal Company has
two systems. one where four men work in a
place and known four handed place, and
another in which there only two men, known
as z two handed place. There may be places
where only one man works. and there may be
plsces where there are four working. but
the fact is not known to the company itself.
The company does not keep a record OF the IN
diziduaIs in e contract, the number 1t only
keeps the name Of the man in whose name the
place Is run It can he possible that there are
more men in place than the company has any
cognizance of, but that is entirely outside its
province
The company, he said. does not pay the Ia
borer: II only pays the man in whose name the
place appears
Mr. Darrow cross-examined Mr.. May, and the
latter said he did not know whether two, four I
or six men worked 10 earn the money indicated |
on the memorandum handed tn the commission, |
adding that he got the figures from the auditor |
Of the company.
You saw these figures handed TO me, to the |
newspapers and 20 the commission, and you |
did not state to any one that you did not know
how many men shared in the money earned" |
ssi5 Mr Darrow.
I did not say anything about 1t either one /
In q further discussion Mr. Darrow directly |
challenged the good faith of Mr.. Hay. who |
handed the figures to the companies attorney |
for presentation TO the commission, and he said |
Il vas unfair 20 have given them to him or to |
the commission without indicating how many |
gorkmen's earnings We're represented in them
This ended the matter. The commission exam |
ined deputy factory inspector regarding child |
labor. ana suggested that the legislature Of
Pennsylvania be petitioned TO improve the fac |
tory inspection laws
The miners here rested their case, and Nj |
wo!verton formally opened the operators side |
Of the controversy by reading statement which |
represented the views Of all the large coal COM
panes. He said:
II has been thought advisable that brief state |
ment should be made in behalf Of the respondents
An The anthracite coal in the United States is !
found within the boundaries OF few counties IN /
over ss0e.aeoo are invested in the ownership Of I
these lands and many millions OF dollars in the
development Of them. and over one hundred and /
iorty thousand employed IN the mining |
The oonditors are 50 entirely ierent in differ
@ parts Of the anthracite coal nelc that Il Is no.
9FacEcable 10 adopt any uniform metaoo o5 m. MINIS %
,nat ean be successfully carried on throughout the
Conditions not only differ IN different parts Of /
ne anthracite field but in different mines. N Inc
1se necessary that the mining In the greater part
ei this coal field must be done by special barSaln
:ng from time TO time. between the operators ana
tne miners
Biturninous coal is found in almost every State !
ano Territory. The United Mine Workers OF Amer
1ea was organization of miners OF biturlinous +
coal covering most OF these States and Territories
PRODUCING coal. and which is competitor "l'a /
ahthracite coal in the market ,
The respondents VIII show that II is the dc-
- %edged purpose of the United Mlne NorEe9s ,s
~ America organize all mine employees ina.
Produce or handle coal coke in or around All or
ne mines OF the United States. ana thus 10 eSlap-
!sn monopoly Of the labor necessary 10 produGe
ne fuel supply which is essential 70 the aonesIc
comfort and Industrial prosperity OF the american
feople: monopoly obviously dangerous 10 All IN