The L'Anse sentinel. (L'Anse, L.S., Mich.) 18??-current, 1902-11-22
HEARING is OPENED.
Coal Strike Commission Begins TAX
ing of Evidence.
President Mitchell Presents State
ment of the Miners sade and
ID Then Questioned mt
GrenH Length.

| thracite coal strike commission APP
pointed by President Roosevelt to
| arbitrate the differences existing be-
tween the mine workers of the hard
coal fields of Pennsylvania and their
employers on Friday began the hear
ing of testimony by which it will de-
| termine whether or not the work.
men are receiving fair and just wages
for their labor and whether their
conditions should not be improved.
Mr.. Mitchell, before taking the wit
ness stand in the forenoon, presented
the miners side of the case in 5000
word statement. 1t took him 40 min
utes to read his address, and he was
listened to by the commissioners and
the operators with the closest at
tention.
President MitchelI's Statement.
Mr.. Mitchell prefaced his state
ment with the hope that the commits
sion would succeed in establishing
relationship between the operators
and the miners that will insure peace
and stability in the industry for an
indefinite period" He recited the
demands for increased pay for the
miner, shorter work day for the la
borer, the weighing of the coal, and
an industrial agreement. the refusal
of all of which led to the strike, Mr..
Mitchell spoke as follows on the
question of higher wages:
Work Extremely Hazardous.
"The work of miner and a miners
laborer is extremely hazardous; in
fact, it is more dangerous than en-
ployment in any other important in
dustry in the world. The number of
persons killed and injured is greater
than in any other industry. Each
day the anthracite coal mines are in
operation 2 CLIO persons lose their
lives and three times as many are
MANNED, and yet these men receive
less wages annually than are received
by men performing precisely similar
work in other fields under more ia
vorable and less hazardous condi-
tons. The number of years a man
can retain his health and strength in
this occupation. is limited. If he es-
capes death or injury by falls of rock
or coal, he cannot escape attacks of
miners asthma. There is scarcely o
mine worker who has not contracted
this malady. The miners are COM
PEELED to work in powder smoke, in
foul air, many of them in water, and
their work is difficult and exhausting.
Reputable insurance companies will
not issue policies to this class of
workmen, the risks are so great that
the premiums would be prohibitive
to men whose earnings are so low.
The entire 20 per cent. which they
demand as an increase in their wages
would not suffice to carry an insur-
ance of $1,000"
Reduction of Hours.
In supporting the demand for the
reduction of the hours of the day
la borers, Mr.. Mitchell showed that it
amounted practically to demand
for 20 per cent. increase of compen-
sation for $4,000 men, or 81 per cent.
of all mine employees.
weighing of Coal.
Defending the third demand that
coal shall be weighed and paid for by
weight and that 2,240 pounds shall
constitute a ton, Mr.. Mitchell de-
clarcd that the present method of
measuring the coal produced by the
miners in the Lackawanna, Wyoming
and Lehigh regions has been the
source of more discomfort than any
other of the many injustices imposed
upon the miners, and there can be no
contentment among these workers
until an honest system has been
adopted. Paying for coal by the car
or by ton weighing from 2,740 to
$3.50 pounds is fragrant injustice.
The cars have been made larger,
more topping is required and there
has been no corresponding increase
in the amount paid per car or per
ton. The miners have been forced to
produce constantly increasing
amount of coal for which they re-
ceive no additional compensation
Trade Agreements.
Mr.. Mitchell then took up the
fourth demand of the miners for
trade agreement, with the necessary
machinery for the adjustment Of
local grievances. He outlined the his
tory and policy of the United Mine
Worker. of America and explained
that by its constitution the anthra-
cite and bituminous mine workers
had home rule for the local govern
ment of local affairs.
Mr. MMchelIs Plan.
Mr.. Mitchell then outlined plan of
procedure which he thought would
prevent strikes during the time COW
cred by the award. 1t provides for
an agreement between the companies
and the representatives of the Unit
ed Mine Workers union fixing the
rate of wages, the hours. method of