Evening journal., 1902-12-04
.|kELY To SETTLE
OUT OF COURT
lnless Something Is Done,
Work of Coal Commission
May.,Run Into Next Year
|DTHING DEFINITE YET DONE

81 Scranton. Pa. Dec. 4-Unless some
#hine is done by the lawyers on both
sides to curtail matters the proceed
#ngs Of the anthracite strike commits
ssion will surely run into Eext year
With the reassembling of the commits
sion yesterday there was a revival OF
he talk OF a settlement "out of court "
Nothing definite has been done, and
heither side has approached the other
30 far as can be learned regarding
81 urther negotiations, but, as one prom
*nent attorney expressed IL, there is
fomething in the air" The lawyers
xpn both sides have heard the rumor,
#hnd profess they know nothing about
#t, but would not be surprised II
komething in the way OF an agreement
|8s reached before the hearings are
concluded Chairman Gray. speaking
SoT the commission, again expressed
She hope that efforts would be made by
Hboth sides TO agree on as many points
1hs possible. and that the commission
help to bring about that end.
& Yesterdays proceedings were of a
#more or less desultory character. Six
witnesses were on the stand during
1the two sessions. They were Presi-
Ndent Mitchell. two photographers. two
practical miners. one of them a Hun
.garian, and the wife of a German mi
#ner Mr.. Mitchell was on the stand
8for short time only, and was called
Hto show that a 20 per cent. increase in
Ewages did not mean a corresponding
Bincrease in the price per ton Of coal.
zThe photographers produced a half
r. hundred photographs they had taken
#of the homes OF mine workers in the
#Hazleton region, which territory was
8under investigation. The two miners
zsestified with reference to wages paid
*and working conditions at the collier
#ies of Coke Bros. & Co, an independ-
sent concern in the Hazleton region,
zand the woman, whose husband is en-
*ployed In Coke mines, told a general
zetory Of poverty.
The commissioners at times were
seemingly impatient at the way the
proceedings dragged. While they had
Ha half dozen witnesses before them.
*they did not learn much more than
Hthey already knew. On their trip
&through the coal fields they saw
#houses whose general appearance was
Nworse than those pictured, and they
Aalso received much information along
Nthe lines presented from the men in
Hthe mines which they visited. They
#are anxious for the documentary evi-
dence, such as wage statements and
other data on wages and conditions.
The first practical miner to appear
NDefore the commission was w. II.
Dettrey. He testified to the wages
8paid by Coke Brothers, and complain
yea OF the blacklist and docking in
Svogue there.
Mike Middlick. a Hungarian miner.
sWho has been employed in the Coke
Hmines as a practical miner for four
syears, and who lived at Eckley. in the
zHazleton region. was called TO the
<stand Mike as the commissioners
Sfamiliarly addressed him. said that he
&earned an average Of about $3.50 last
Syear. He also complained of the dock
sing system, and said he had been
|oocked about eight cars in two weeks.
pc submitted his wage statements for
Ithe last year or more, which showed
|the largest amount Of money he re.
.ceived for any two weeks to have been
Ia little more than SIS. One statement
Isnowed that he made less than SO for
.two weeks. but he could not tell
whether he worked full time during
stnat particular two weeks. In narrow
breasts, where mining was bad and
'fhe roof dangerous, the men did not
.get any more than where the cutting
'of coal was good.
n the Coke mines. he said the
.inine workers were paid much less
'than the men employed by other com
spanies in the vicinity During the
examination, he said that in six years
She saw the mine inspector of the Ha.
Szleton region only twice, and in both
Instances he saw him in the gangwav.
8and not up in the breasts where the
Emen were at work. On cross-ezamina.
Euon the witness said that he had
8oeen refused work. and that the com.
pany would not take him back until
me left the town OF Eclxley. in which
sae resided. The next nearest town
Fwas Freelands four miles away and
ne could not walk eight miles a day
#and perform a good days work. When
5asked why he did not apply 70 other
2eompanies If they were paying more
Sthan the Coxes, he said he did apply
2to the Markles at Jeddo, but they had
Sro work for him. He did not earn
4 enough money. he said, to permit him
ITO journey to other places to look for
q better place.
4 Mrs. Mary Boland. the wife Of a Ger
{ ran miner, employed by the Coke
q company, and who lives at Derringer
IN tbs Hazleton region, was the mex
4 And last witness OF yesterday. She
4 Eoid general story OF poverty. and
said the money earned by her husband
E4x nos eufHeler& 4r groo-. - 80,