The Van Buren press., 1902-11-15
BAER MAKES RESPONSE.
President Baer of the Philadelphia
& Reading Coal Co. Replies
10 Mr.. Mitchell.
ALL LATTER'S CONVENTIONS C0ROA1to'
Mr.. Bser Makes ii Plain tha' Any
Recognition of the United Mi"e
workers In the strike eo""
.,.n,. Proceedings Will be he-
sisted BY the Operators.

Washington, Nov. 12.-The reply VI
President George f. Baer of the fhll'
sdelphia g. Reading Coal Co. to the
charges of President Mitchell OF inc
limited Mine Workers, which has peeh
presented to the anthracite coai
strike commission, was given TO the
public Tuesday. Mr.. Baer makes no
reference to Mr.. Mitchell as the presl-
dent of the miners organization put
refers to him simply as an individual
Taking up the specifications In MI
Mitchell's charges seriatim, Mr.. baer
first admits that his company owns
81 colieries and that before the strike
it employed 26,529 people. Following
is brief summary of the response 10
Mr.. Mitchel's other specifications;
Second-The demand for 20 per
cent. increase in wages on piecewoFK
is denounced as arbitrary, unrea-
scnable and unjust" The company
contends that after making all neces-
sary allowance for different condi-
tons that the rate of wakes paid for
the mining of anthracite coal is as
high as that paid in the bitumlnous
coal fields.
Third-The company denies that
the present wages are now lower than
wages paid in other occupations IN
the same locality and controlled by
like conditions.
Fourth and Fifth-Mr. Baer denies
that the earnings of the anthracite
workers are less than average earn
ings for other occupations requiring
skill and training, and also the
charges that the earnings are insult
fcient because of the dangerous char
acter of work in the anthracite mines,
Sixth-This specification made by
Mr.. Mitchell is referred to as too
vague for specific answer, but in a
general way it is stated that the an
thracite regions are among the most
prosperous in the United States.
Seyenth-The company pronolnces
AS unjust and inequitable the demand
ior a reduction of 20 per cent. in hours
Of labor without reduction of earn
Ings for time employees, and this de.
nand is pronousced Improbable. In
his connection the following state
ment is made
Because of the injury to the mines
by the strike OF the United Mine
Workers, the cost Of producing coal
has been greatly increased, and a
temporary Advance in price was made
by this company, but it will be inn
practicable to continue such increase
when mining operations become nor
nal"
Eighth-Mr Bacr says that his com
Dany has no disagreement with any
If its employees about the weighing
VI coal, because the quantity Is usu'
ally determined by measurement and
lot by weight,
Ninth-Rcplyirg to the fourth de-
nand by Mr. Mitchell, Mr. Boer says
since the advent of the United Mine
Workers organization into the am
.hracite fields business conditions
here have been intolerable; that the
output of the mines has decreased;
that discipline has been destroyed
that strikes have been of almost daily
occurrence; that men have worked
when and as they pleased, and that
the cost Of mining has been greatly
increased. lie also takes the position
that the jurisdiction Of the commits.
sion is limited to the conditions named
by the coal company prcsidents,which
excludes the United Mine Worker
from any recognition In the proceed
Ings. lie says, however, that "wher
labor organization limited to an.
lhracitc mine workers Is created
which shall obey the law, respect tn,
right Of every man to work, and hon
estly cooperate with employers, trade
contracts may be practicable" :,