Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-14
MINERS CASE TO CLOSE
Plaintiff Side Of Strike O~satrOversy Binds
Tomorrow.
OPERATORS WILL MAKE JOINT SPEECH
Decide 90 Combine Opening Effort In
Single Appeal before Proceeding
TO Gail witnesses Before
Commission at

SCRANTON. Pa, Dec. 13.-The miners
called witnesses today before the strike
commission to show the conditions in the
Philadelphia & Reading company's pits.
Eight witnesses we're called and the prin-
cipal grievance presented was that some
men who went on strike we're discrimi-
mated against.
Among those giving evidene was Mr..
Mitchell.
The miners will probably close their case
on Monday, when the coal companies will
present a joint opening argument.
Mr.. Mitchell yesterday presented figures,
gathered by his agents, showing a lower
average wage rate than those handed to
the commission by the Delaware & Hudson
company.
Mr.. Tosrey criticised many Of Mr.. Mitch
ellis figures and finally said that almost
anything could be shown by juggling hg-
ures.
Mr.. Torrey next tried 20 place the re-
spOnsibility for the strike on Mr.. Mitchell.
Witness said he opposed the strike at the
time IL was inaugurated, but favored one
later in the year.
Mitchell Concludes Testimony.
Counsel for the Independent operators
asked Mr.. Mitchell IL the operators made a
NShNa WIN ~ III NhlN z
was a clause providing for noninterferenc
with nonunion men. whether the union
would enforce the clause.
Mr.. Mitchell said 80 long as we have
no contracts or joint conferences we are
not willing to tell in advance what we will
agree to-"
The miners president concluded by ex-
planning the unions attitude in trade au.
tonomy. He said the United Mine Workers
exercised jurisdiction over all employees in
and about the mines. II the engineers
1remen and pumpmen each had a separate
organization and one of these classes STRUCK
II would close down everything. Last yeaI
400 fremen did strike and thereby threw
$4,000 mine workers out of employment. L
all classes we're in one organization the!
could act together.
A breaker boy aged 10 was called and sait
he received 65 cents a day, but last month
he only got 25 cents, the remainder beinl
Kept by the Delaware & Hudson compan!
for rent. He said he knew Of one boy VIII,
received only 1 cent in a month. When h,
applied for work he misrepresented his age
but his mother has since given the compan,
his correct age.
Practically the entire afternoon session
was taken up by witnesses. who are, OF hav,
been, employed by the Reading company.
No Pay for Repair Work.
One man complained that he was not get
ting regular pay for repair work, anothe
said there we're two sizes OF cars where h
worked and only one price for both; an
other. who lost his leg. complained tina
he was taken of light work and given heav
work.
The men who did not get work after tn
strike gave as the company's reason tina
they took a too prominent part in tn
strike.
James Torrey, counsel for the Delawar
l. Hudson, presented the corrected summar
- that company's figures. which shove
that wages were higher than paid in tn
luminous regions.
These figures were examined and foun
correct on December 4 and certified to b
James Warwick for the miners and A. 1
Culver. comptroller of the company.
A life insurance agent was called to Civ
the life insurance rate for miners and pei
sons employed in other occupations. TIL
rates for miners were high,