Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-08
GONE TO NEW YORK
PRESIDENT MITCHELL AT CIVIC
FEDERATION MEETING.
Employees Of Markle Brothers Testify
Before the Strike Commits
sion To-day.

SCRANTON, Pa, December e.-Presfdeut
Mitchell Of the Miners Uniea. who has been
in constant attendance a the hearings of the
strike commission, was not present today,
having gone to New York to attend the
meeting of the civic federation Commits
sioner Clark who, as national president OF
the Order of Railway Conductors, Is also
a member of the federation, did not go.
Immediately after the opening OF the
morning session, Chairman Gray said to
the lawyers for the companies and the min
ers, that the statements of earnings hours,
number of men employed, and data of that
kind should now be in the hands of the
commission. The commissioners, he said,
arc very anxious to examine these state
ments. -
Attorney James H. Torrey Of the Della
ware and Hudson asked that the witnesses
of G. b. MarkIe & Co., be asked to return
for cross-examnation, because none OF the
lawyers for the Marble company was pres
ent. The commission thought it was not
just to keep the witnesses here. The mat
ter was set aside for the time being.
The first witness called was James Gal
lagher, a Markle employe who was on the
stand Saturday. He said it used to be the
custom of the Markle employees to contrib
ute $50 to the family of a man killed in the
mines, and the men working with the man
would lay Off until the dead man was bur-
led.
The Markles made compact with the
workmen, whereby they would pay the $50
and the men remain at work. The wit
ness said the size of the mine cars has
steadily been increased. but the wages
paid have not been raised.
Frank Rea, practical miner, employed
in the Markle mines was then examined
on conditions under which the men are
working. 1t was mostly of technical
character.
Paul Dunleavy, another Markle miner,
testified to having been refused work and
being evicted at short notice. His wife 8
parents were i'll and it was raining, but
Notwithstanding this the company gave
him five minutes to get out. He said ne
earned about $3.50 year, and out of his
earnings he had to pay an assessment for
services Of the company doctors. Married
men are assessed IS cents month and
single men 80. Lawyer Daniel ). McCar-
thy for the miners, explained to the com
mission that the company physicians nave
for assistants young men Just graduated
from medical schools, who. having 1aiied
to get positions in hospital, do this serv-
ice for the experience.
After they practice on the mine workers
and their families for six months or a year
they go elsewhere.
Continuing, the witness said he had never
seen the mine inspector in the mines where
he worked. He complained of excessive
docking.
On cross-examination the witness said
that nurses were furnished where neces-
sary.
Henry Shovelin, another former Markle
employe, said he was given six days no.
tice to leave the house. Two days after the
time limit expired his goods were placed on
the road.
He was in arrears in his rent about five
or six months during the strike. He was
not asked to pay his rent nor We're his
goods levied upon
Since the 1900 strike the men have,
through committees. often submitted griev-
ances to the company in accordance with
the agreement made which ended the strike.
but only one complaint in the last two
years was satisfactorily fixed UP. Numer-
Gus other grievances were not adjusted.
Recess.