The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-11-22
QUESTIONING MITCHELL
Labor Leader Growing Weary From
Strain Of Cross Examination.
ANOTHER TILT WITH LAWYER


cause Attorneys Do Not Limit Cues
lions 10 New Features-Recopnit
Of Union Most Important Point.
Scranton. Pa. Nov. 10. - Presi-
dent Mitchell yesterday for the
fourth successive day occupied the
witness stand during the two sessions
Of the strike commission, and was
cross-examlned by three attorneys for
rs many coal companies The arbitra-
tors are growing restless in conse-
quence of the long cross-examination.
which apparently does not bring out
the facts as quickly as the commits
sion would like to have them present
ed. Several times during the course
OF yesterdays session Chairman Gray
reminded the attorneys Of the value
of time and suggested that crOss-exam-
inaticn be limited TO new features Of
those questions that have already
been gone over. The lawyers assured
the commission THAI they. too. were
anxious to expedite matters. and would
do everything possible 10 hurry mat
ters along without injuring their own
case.
Mr. Mitchell has been on the stand
since last Friday morning and IS show
ing signs Of WEAKNESS from the strain
of four days cross examination. Thus
far his attorney. c. s. barrow. and
David Wilcox. for the Delaware and
Hudson; Wayne MacVoagh. for the
Erie; Francis l. Gowcn. for the lie.
high Valley and W. w. Ross. for the
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
Company, have examined the miners
president. The commissioners yester-
day for the first time entered into tho
discussion with the lawyers and the
witness over disputed points which
arose from time 20 time. Mr.. Mitchell
was still on the stand when the com.
mission adjourned.
Mr.. MacNeagh. who began his cross
examination of Mr.. Mitchell on Sat
urday. concluded yesterday mornine.
The recognition Of the union IS looked
upon as the most important question
before the commission. and It is quite
evident from the trend OF the proceed
ings thus far that the companies viii
oppose it TO their utmost ability.
Mr.. Ross line of examination was
FOR some time directed toward testing
Mr.. Mitchell's knowledge OF bitumin-
GUS mine working. the number of men
employed the wages paid and com
parison OF these with the wages paid
in the anthracite fields Regarding
the number Of hours the men work In
the hard coal regions. Mr.. Mitchell
said that when the breaker runs 10
hours. the men usually work seven
eight OF nine hours. When the
breaker runs less the men work IN
proportion. On the average. however.
the men worked more hours than the
breakers.
AS matter of fact" said Mr.. Ross.
has not your organization stopped
the miners from working on the days
when the breakers were idle?"
Mr.. Mitchell admitted that In this
district the rule IS that the men shall
not prepare coal on idle days This
he said was for the purpose OF pre-
venting favoritism.
do any OF these epithets and slurs."
inquired Mr.. Ross. you have made re-
garding the horrible condition OF the
miners apply to our company"
Will you tell me particularly what
slurs you refer tor" Mr.. Mitchell
asked Il do not recall having used
language of that character"
Mr.. Ross did not take any notice Of
Mr.. Mitchelrs remark. but instead took
up the line of his examination.
you have spoken OF the existence
of favoritism for one thing" Mr.. Ross
said. "and you referred 10 the. excess
sive system Of docking. Do they exist
in our mines?"
That Is my information" was the
reply
After some unimpOrtant testimony
as to a comparison OF wages. the So
cial features of the coal fields was
taken up. and Mr.. Mitchell said he
could not see any other reason in
child labor than that the families re-
quire the money to live on, the excep-
ton being where the parents may be
inhuman. He then reiterated his for
mer statement that the minimum wage
should be $500 a year.
1--WE might want to go to the sea-
shore" said he. Speaking with a lit
tie sarcasm, Mr.. Mitchell said that
the company had some employees who
had visited Philadelphia once in "a
years. and that they thereby had an
important event in their lives to relate
to their grandchildren.
At this point Mr.. Ross took occasion
to call attention TO the fact that his
company owned 2s4 houses. which
were rented to the miners on an aver
age OF IS a month.
so you see" remarked Mr. Ross
I'VE haven't very many houses for the
number of employees, upward of 12..