Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-03
Strike Commission Resumes
Duties at Scranton.
BIG CROWD PRESEN T
JUDGE GRAY MAKES STATEMENT
TO PUBLIC.
Mitchell Says Miners Demands Would
Increase Cost of Coal
Very Little.

SCRANTON, Pa. December 3.-After an
adjournment of ten days, during which time
the representatives of the operators and the
miners were kept busy at work preparing
evidence for submission to the anthracite
coal strike commission, the hearing of the
miners side Of the controversy was resumed
in the state superior court room at 10 O'clock
this morning.
The usual large crowd was in attendance,
and in addition there were several new
faces among the large array of attorneys
The most prominent among these was
Samuel Dickson of Philadelphia, represent
ing the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Com
pany, a large independent company, whose
collieries are all located in the Panther
Creek valley. Among the spectators were
about twenty Italians and Polanders who
will be called upon to tell of the conditions
prevailing in the middle, or Hazleton,
gion.
Chairman Gray's Explanation.
In opening the days proceedings, Chair
man Gray made an explanation of the at
titude of the commission regarding the eff
forts at an outside settlement. He said
there had been a misunderstanding in some
quarters. The idea had gone out that the
whole matter would be dismissed if an
agreement was reached. This, he said, was
Incorrect He read a statement made by
the subcommittee in which 1t was stated
that the committee would not abrogate its
duties. and that it would stand responsible
for any agreement 1t approved, award
it made. The chairman also added that the
commission wished to say that parties to
the controversy may not withdraw without
the consent of the other parties before the
commission.
I'VE would be glad to have everybody
represented. and have the whole field COW
cred" said he.
Mr.. Dickson announced that In addition
TO representing the Lehigh Coal and Navi-
cation Company he appeared for the lndi-
vidual concerns in the Hazleton region. On
the outside agreement proposition Chairman
Gray announced that the commission still
entertained the hope that efforts to agree
would continue and that the commission
would gladly lend its good offices to that
end
Fear of Long Investigation.
Judge Gray said that unless some com
nonsense agreement was reached as to
the presentation of figures. expectation of
life Of most of the members of the commits
sion would be insufficient to reach an end
TO the controversy.
President Mitchell was called to the
stand, and in answer to questions by his
counsel said the 20 per cent increase in
wages would increase the labor cost less
than 10 cents ton. Taking President
Baer's statement as d basis. he said, the
increase would be about Il cents a ton.
He was cross-eXamined by Wayne Mac
Neagh and other attorneys In reply to
question Mr.. Mitchell said the companies
were not averse to increasing the wages of
the men, but they did not do so because
they were opposed to the union.
Two photographers were sworn who pre-
sented photogra phs of mine workers homes
in the Hazleton region.
w. II. Dettrey, president of a local union
employed as a miner by Coke Bros S Co.
Drifton, said company men are paid an
average of SI.20 a week, and all contract
miners are required to stay in the mines
from . m. to p. m. regardless of whether
they have enough cars to fill with coal they
had mined. He said a blacklist exists at
the Coke mines, and that he was on il for
nire months because he refused TO work a
breast which netted him only So a week.
He also complained of the docking system