Sistersville daily oil review. [volume] (Sistersville, W. Va.) 1902-1905, 1902-11-19
President Mitchell Is Showing
Signs of WEAKNESS From
Long Cross-Examination.
is STILL BEING QUESTIONED.
Arbitrators Growing Restless In Cor
sequence of Long Proceedings and
Urge Attorneys to confine Proceed.
inqs to New Features.

Scranton, Pa, Nov. 19.-President
Mitchell, for the fourth successive
day, occupied the witness stand dur
ing the two sessions of the strike
commission and was cross-examined
by three attorneys for as many coal
companies. While a considerable
amount of information for the en-
lightenment of the commissioners was
brought out, the day was rather
quiet one, compared with those which
have preceded it. The arbitrators
are growing restless in consequence
Of the long cross-examination, which
apparently does not bring out the
facts as quickly as the commission
would like to have them presented.
Several times during the course OF
the days session Chairman Gray re-
minded the attorneys of the value CT
time and suggested that cross-exam-
ination be limited to new features OF
those questions that have already
been gone over. Mr.. Mitchell has
been on the stand since last Friday
morning, and is showing signs Of
WEAKNESS from the strain Of four
days ross-eXamination.
The commissioners yesterday for
the first time entered into the discus
sion with the lawyers and the witness
over disputed points which arose from
time to time.
Mr.. MacVeagh, who began his
cross-examination Of Mr.. Mitchell on
Saturday, concluded at II o'clock yes
terday.
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 questions thus far that the com
panies will oppose it to their utmost
ability.
Mr.. Gowan and Mr.. Ross questioned
Mr.. Mitchell principally regarding
conditions existing at the collieries
Of the companies they represent.
In the afternoon Mr.. Ross line OF
examination was for some time di'
rected toward testing Mr.. MitchelPs
knowledge Of bituminous mine work
ing, the number Of men employed,
the wages paid and a comparison OF
these with the wages paid in the an,
thracite fields.
At the request Of counsel Mr.
Mitchell gave a history Of his con
nection with organized labor.
Mr.. Mitchell reiterated his former
statement that the minimum wage
should be 5000 a year. 1--WE might
want to go to the seashore," said he.
Speaking with little sarcasm, Mr.
Mitchell said that the company hal
some employees who had visited Phil
adelphia once in "a years and that
they thereby had an important event
in their lives to relate to their grand
children.
At this point Mr.. Ross took occa'
sion to call attention to the fact that
his company owned 2S4 houses, which
were rented to the miners on an av'
erage Of S5 month.
$50 you see," remarked Mr.. Ross,
I'VE haven't very many houses for
the number of employees, upwards OF
10000"
You charge enough for the ones
you do have" was Mr.. Mitchelrs dry
response, which caused merriment
among the miners in the court room.
After securing an expression from
the miners president that the com
pany paid to stockholders 26 per cent
on their capital stock, Mr.. Ross in,
quired If he was not incorrect. y
think the earnings were that" said
Mr.. Mitchell. There are good
many methods for putting profits
away in a railroad" he added.
Here followed long list Of ques
tons On the subject of the demand
for an eignt-hour day, nothing new
being developed.
Giving as a reason for the miners
preferring to be paid by weight
rather than by measure, Mr.. Mitchell
said that persons buying coal wanted
/ it weighed. as do sellers of coal
What benefit is there" asked Mr.
Ross, ito the miner by being paid
by the ton instead Of by the carr"
Mr.. Mitchell said that there hal
been general discomfort among the
miners because or dissgreements aris
ing from docking, not only for i'm
purities.. but account the. topping