The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1902-12-12
AN OPERATOR
ON THE STAND
He Was Very Reluctant to An.
sWer Questions.
STORY OF A CRIPPLED LAD
COMPANY GAVE HIM NOTHING
FOR LOSS OF A LEG.

Q CRANTON. Pa, Dec. 1.-The rep
resentatives Of the miners, during
today's proceedings before the an
thracite coal strike commission. called
one OF the independent operators To
the witness stand to tel the exact price
he received for his coal. and the opera
tor refused, giving instead, after much
questioning, an average Of the price
he received The operator was i. n.
crawford, president of the Peoples
Coal company. which operates the OK
ford colliery in Scranton The request
for him 10 take the stand was a sur
prise The Oxford colhery during the
strike managed to ger enough men to
operate the plant, and for one month.
according to Mr.. Crawford his com
pany received so ton for its coal
objection was raised to the miners
lawyers trying TO get hirl to tell what
he received from the Delaware. Lack
aWanna a Western company for the
production of his coal. but the exam
inatiOn was permitted to prooeed for
what it was worth, the commission
stating that the exceptionally high
price Of coal during the strike was not
pertinent to the present inquiry
Miners Almost Through.
The miners announced that they ex-
pected to close their case on Saturday
and thus gave notice TO the other side
TO be ready 10 proceed with their tes-
timOny- In reply, the companies an
nouneed that they would have to ask
for a short recess in order to properly
prepare their case Judge Cray, for
the commission, in reply said ne hoped
there would be no interruption in the
proceedings and he hoped the compa-
MES would be able to proceed as soon
as the miners have concluded their
case.
From the large number of witnesses
yet to be called by the miners il is not
likely they viii finish their case on Sat
Urday. Nearly the entire day was tax
en- Up in hearing witnesses who had
some specific complaint 10 make,
among other things the price per mine
car and the size Of the cars.
Surprise Strong.
Lawyers for the miners sprung a
surprise on the coal companies at the
opening Of t0day's proceedings by cali
ing 10 the witness stand J. J.. CraW-
ford one Of the prominent independent
operators He is president of the PeQ-
pies Coal company, which operates The
oxford cOiliery at Scranton. Mr. Crau--
siOns each day, was surprised to be
called, and he remarked as he took
the stand:
This is a new turn OF Affairs
When did you ship coal Iast?''
asked Mr.. DarrOw-
Yesterday"
What are you getting for it?''
Z don't know exactly
can you come near it2'
4 can if I want to-.
Don't you want tor
NO. SIR
you are party to this commission
and went 20 New York to see the coal
presidents
Yes. sir
Reluctant Witness.
Then YOU refuse to give this com
mission that Information? %
4 don't think IL am compelled to
tell
Which road co you sell TOP"
Delaware. Lackawanna & Western"
What do yOu get for it2''
About % pr cent Of what the Lack
awanna gets for IT."
At this point attorneys for the Oper-
ators objected to the inquiry proceed
ing any further along the lines Of what
a eOmpany's profits are.
Mr.. Darrow said he called the Wit
are able to pay the advance in wages
asked for. Wayne MacVeagh in his
cross examination Of Mr.. Mitchell. he
said. intimated that the increase. If
granted, would ultimately be placed on
the bowed backs Of the poor" and he
wanted TO show that the companies are
well able TO give the increase asked
for without putting it on the poor.
Mr. barrow then continued the ex-
animation
How many tons DO you ship in a
day."
Nine hundred to LOCO tons"
And you don't know how much you
get for it2'
Could Give an Estimate.
81 can give an estimate
well, what is it2"
About 50 a ton"
On further examination, Mr. Craw-
ford said that during the latter part
OF the strike his cOluery was in Op-
Grafton and he got SO a ton for his
coal.
Chairman Gray here stopped the ex-
animation, saying that the exception
ally high prices during the strike were
not pertinent TO the inquiry.
The miners called several witnesses
who told of conditions at the cOllieries
OF the A. Pardee company, in the Ha-
Zleton region One of the witnesses
was a boy, who said he lost a leg in
the mines, received nothing for its loss.
but instead, when he returned TO work
the company took OF his wages his
fathers debt
Mr.. barrow here announced that tbs
miners expect TO close their case this
week, and now gave notice for the
other side to be ready next week
The companies attorneys said they
desired recess for a short time after
the miners close, 70 complete the prep
aratfOn OF their case
Chairman Gray said he hoped there
would be no interruption OF the ses-
sions.