The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1902-12-14
THE STRIKE ARBITRATION
FIRST WITNESSES APPEAR AGAINST
GEO. F. BkER's COMPANIES,
The Miners win Close Their Case Prob
ably on Monday Wien Operators
VIII Open Their Batteries.

Scranton, Pa, December 13,--Witnesses
before the anthracite coal strike commits
sion today testified to the conditions ex-
listing at the collieries of the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron company.
These were the first witnesses to appear
against the company Of which George F.
Baer is the head. and considerable interest
was manifested as to the character OF the
evidence the miners would present against
that company Eight witnesses were called
and the principal grievance presented was
that some men who went on strike have
been Disseminated against.
There was largo number OF other wit
nesses called during the two session, but
most OF the testimony heard was or
cumulative nature. relating mostly to al
legged unfair local conditions. Among the
witnesses heard was p, r. Mitchell His
testimony related principally to the manner
In which he computed the averages he gave
yesterday, IN which he showed that bitumi-
nous men received from 40 to 80 per cent
mcrs wages than the anthracite miners.
| Counsel for the Delaware and Hudson dis
puted Nntchelrs method OF arriving at the
| average,
| on Monday, when the operators will open
| their side The coal companies have de-
! cided TO present only one opening argn-
/ ment, and Former Congressman simon Z,
/ wolverton. leading counsel for the Read
| ing company, Will make the joint opening
A breaker boy, 10 years old. who was
| called this afternoon, said he received s.
! cents a day. Inst month he received only
! - cents the remainder being kept for
| rent BY the Delaware and Hudson com
! pauy. He said he knew OF one boy who
/ applied for work he misrepresented bis
/ age but his mother has since given the
! company his correct age. He is still en-
J plOyed by the company.
Practically the entire afternoon session
was taken UP. with testimony Of men who
| are or have been employed Dy the Phlla
delphia and Reading Coal and Iron com
| pany. The principal grievance compliance
! OF by the witnesses examined was that OF
| discrimination ON cross-eNanination y
was brought out that the general treatment
! Of the witnesses by the company was good
| except in the instances complained OF. anC
| that there WIS some friction between tbs
which John Keith, as general mining sd
| perintendent, had no knowledge
James Borrey, counsel for the Delaware
and Hudson company presented the cor
10 the committee The igures handed II
several days ago were found 70 contain
errors made while clerks, under grea
pressure, were transcrtbing them The cor
rected figures according 10 Mr. Lorrev
show that the Delaware and Hudson wage
are considerably higher than those paid Ii
the bitumlnous region The Delaware AM
Hudson books and exhibits are absolutel.
correct. They are the onicial records an
the exhibits are those TO be hied with tn
commission.
Tho last witness OF the day was a t5-yeaT
old hoy who lost leg while working IN
breaker owned by the PENNSYLVANIA Rail
road company. He sRid he received moth
ing FOR the loss Of the limb.
Adjournment was taken until Monds'
morning