The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-09


such circumstances. collected back ren,
by charging an extra half months
rent each month after the suspension
until the back rent was paid. The
witness could not give a single instance
IN which this had not been done.
At this juncture the commissioners
undertook TO get an understanding OF
the much discussed and very compli-
Gated powder question"
The effort was projected by Commits.
sioner Clark's action in recalling Paul
Dunlsavy to explain some seemingly
unexplicable items in the due bills OF
checks he had offered when he was on
the stand earlier in the day.
| 1t was all clear enough to the wit
| ness, but he could not appreciate the
commissioners difficulty. and conse-
| quently they could not make any con-
siderable headway. Attorney Mccarthy
sought to explain but his effort al
calculating the intricate problem
proved fruitless.
| sis there any ons who can explain II
to us?" finally Judge Gray called out
in desperation. This, that aud the
other lawyer took a turn at attempt
! ing to make the thing clear to the COM
| missioners, but still the commission
was in the dark.
Old man Gallagher sitting in far
corner Of the room stood up.
Maybe Mr.. Gallagher can explain
| it." said Mr. Darrow. At this there was
loud and some derisive laughter.
"Maybe / can explain it" said the old
] gray-haired miner, not at all non
plussed by the greeting he received.
He Explained 1t.
ITS this way" said he and he Went
on to explain briefly and concisely by
an illustration.
Good" said Judge Gray. That's
what we wanted to know. The other
commissioners nodded assent to the
chairman's enthusiastic declaration.
The room fairly rang with applause.
which Judge Gray was slow to check.
4 President Crawford. Of the Peoples
Coal Company had been figuring on
one Of the due bills with a view of
making exactly the same illustration
that the old miner had just given.
When the applause and laughter sub
sided Mr. Crawford arose and after
stating that Mr.. Gallagher had given
the proper explanation, proceeded to
cidate the difficulty.
The difficulty grew, primarily, out Of
the action of Markle e. Co.. in literally
following the provisions Of the notice
passed at the end Of the 1900 strike, in
which it was specified that the ten per
cent. increase TO contract miners would
be made up out of a 2 12 per cent. in
crease in the price per car and L.
per cent ir decrease in the cost Of
powder. 1t was figured by the COM
panies and agreed to by the miners, or
at least silently acquiesced in. that
reduction in the price Of powder of
from s2.70 to $1.50 per keg would repre-
sent a decrease in the miners working
expenses of 1-2 per cent. All except
one or two companies let it go ut that.
The Markles. however. calculated that
this meant little more than a 10 per
cent raise and figured each mans ac-
count at the end of two weeks. SO as
to show exactly what reduction in
working expenses the reduction in
powder amounted to. If it amounted
TO moro than Z 1-2 per cent. the excess
was charged back on the due bill.
His Explanation.
Here was old man Gallagher eX-
planation: If Il miners gross earnings
We're $50 he was entitled to 10 per
cent raise, or S.. He used four kegs
of powder, The reduction in powder
was sl.20 n kee. The four kegs repre-
sented reduction in his working en-
penses Of $3.50. The company would
add . - per cent of fiat increase to
the $50. which would be s1.25. The $3.50
decrease in working expenses plus the
S1.25 Increase in wages, plus the $50
gross earnings would give him s56.25. A
10 per cent increase would entitle him
to only $50. Therefore the company
would charge back on his due bill the
sum Of sl.o5.
Mr.. Crawford figured on $50 as earn
ings and five kegs of powder, with the
price reduced from s2.75 (Which was the
old charge in some places), to $3.50 and
showed that in this case the miner
would be getting $685. instead of $6 (or
10 per cent of sG0). and would have 25
cents charged back to him.
Nh. Mccarthy stated that the miners
have an expert who will go on the
stand later and show the details of the
working Of this plan.
J. W. Rirtenlouse, former state secre-
tary of the Retail Grocers' association,
and at present state organizer, was
next called TO the stand and examined
by Attorney John j. Murphy with a |
view of showing that the increa sed |
price in food stuff since 1900 more than |
eats up the 10 per cent increase in
wages.
Price of Groceries.
Mr.. Rittenhouse presented the fol-
lowing list of groceries as sold by re-
tail merchants in this region in the |
years 1900, 1901, 1902
December, 1900.
Butter ..............,.......... a5c |
f-RSS OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES. .Oc |
J. louT 81. oJ-yo. .W
sugar, 2o-22 pounds for....,.-..,... Sl.00
.heese .'''''.'.,'..-........,- lJc
Potatoes .,.......-.............,.,. G5c
SAT- Bacon ...,,...,..,.....,........ lie !
smoked bacon ..-.,.......-....,.. l2iac
california nam ............,,....... 7Iac
Ham ....,....,,.............. l0lac-lic
l.aru ,.,,,.,.,,.....,.......... l0c ,
Onions per peck ....,,,....,....... zoe |
Tomatoes. standard, 5 cans ..... 25c |
Canned corn, cans .........,.. a5c |
Marrow beans, . quarts ......,,.. 25c |