New-York tribune., 1902-11-20

tracts exist. The Mine workers VIII cohtenu
that the miner has right to say whether he
desires to work by contract or by weight
Before the noon adjournment the commission
decided to admit the non-union men to recog-
milton. The commission stated it must be upon
the distinct understanding that no matter in
reference to them submitted to the convention
shall be kept secret.
In handing the names of the two thousand
of these workers to Clarence L. Darrow, Judge
Gray intimated that he hoped no unfair use
would be made of them. as the commission
would believe in that case it was a party to it.
"Oh. no." said Mr.. Darrow. I'VE only desire to
see if these gentlemen hired their attorneys
or if the coal companies did"
1T makes little difference whether they did
or not" said Judge Gray; the attorneys are
here to represent an important element in this
controversy"
In the testimony of the Rev. Peter Roberts
there were many interesting points. He said
that the coal region comprised 4SO square miles,
and that, of the population of 650OOO some
10000 were dependent upon the mines for
livelihood. OF the conditions OF mining, he said
that the large veins were rapidly becoming ex-
hausted and the smaller veins developed, so
that the work of the miner was harder now
than it was formerly.
The clergyman added that the standard of
wages was fixed some years ago upon the size
of the diamond car, which contained some 13
cubic feet; but that since that time the COM
panies have increased the size of the cars until
they now hold from 80 to 50 cubic feet. topping
included
In speaking Of the population of the mine
field, he said, that until 1870 the emigration was
from the British Isles and Germany, but since
that date from Southwestern Europe Or this
class. from 1870 to 1883 most of the men were
bachelors. Since 1880 he said, the majority
from families who had settled here. He
excepted the Italians. however
In regard to wages, he said, in the last ten or
fifteen years they had been less than formerly
He said inquiries among the Slavs showed that
the individual operators had made an especial
effort to induce immigration to the mining
regions from Southwestern Europe during the
strike time of the seventies and eighties. He
declared that worker living up to the
American standard OF living could not in the
last six years save money, but that at the Slav
standard he could have saved little.
He compared these standards by saying that
the Slav paid for rent 81 TO So a month; the
American 81 to SIS. The Sav picks coal from
the culm piles; the American pays S3 to 81
month for it. The siav spends for incdentals
in a year SIS to $25; the American from $50
to $50 The Slav spends each month for gro
ceries for family of five SO to SO; the Amer
lean so to SO. In the last twenty years ne
also declared, the Slavs had built more houses
for themselves than the Americans.
He gave some school statistics to show that
a miners children leave school before the chill
dren Of other workers. the average age being
eleven and half years for boys. He spoke on
the child labor question, saying it was Of
the evils which should be remeded. OF the
employment of girls he declared that many of
them employed all night in the factories,
some being in and around Scranton
In reference to the general conditions, he said
that the people of the region good church.
goers, that there many churches, a num-
Der OF hospitals that the rate Of insurance for
miners is high; that in the Schuylkill district.
since the inception Of the union, the number OF
saloons has decreased and that the union has
given the Slav additional patriotic interest and
raised his social conditions. He gave list OF
the strikes aud their causes. but he could not
say, in answer to a question by Commissioner
Clark. whether there had been more violence
during the last strike than during those which
had preceded II.
The children in the breaker, he added. are ex-
The work stunts their bodies and dulls their
minds, he said. and the moral effect is even
He described the health OF the miners
and said they were subject to rheumatism and
asthma
On the cross examination by Mr.. Wolverton
the witness admitted that the information
largely collected for the purpose OF writing a
book. He also admitted, in describing further
the conditions OF mining, that in the mines of
the Philadelphia and Reading. where the pay
ment Is by the lineal yard. the union does not
ask that the system be changed TO payment by
weight, because they do not consider 1t practical
there. They do desire II in veins where the
pitch is light and where payment is now by car
Reading from Mr.. Robertss book Mr.. Wolver-
ton found that Mr.. Roberts said the wages and
the conditions under the Philadelphia and Read
and also some paragraphs which strengthened
the operators contention that the minsrs only
stay in the mines few hours.
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