The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-17
Miners CASE
HAS Been
CONCLUDED
IContinued from Page IL

lIoIl IuSe l.l
ed records and he believed them to be
correct. If they were incorrect, he said,
he would be glad to know it.
Regarding the testimony of Deputy
Factory Inspector IIss w. Bishop, it was
decided to defer calling him until Mr..
Darrow could have time to prepare to
cross examine him.
The testimony of John c. Huddock,
. independent operator. was then re-
ceived. In calling him to the stand,
MIR. Darrow said he thought it was
only fair, to his side, to say that under
a strict hearing of the case he might
not present Mr.. Haddock. Although T
think, in the main." said he, that his
testimony will be favorable to us. he
is coal operator and a party to this
case, and ] know that the inferences
that might, ordinarily, be drawn. would
not be drawn in this particular in
stance: that is, it would not be fair to
say he is a hostile witness"
"He might turn states evidence"
suggested Judge Gray, which provoked
general laughter.
II want the information, whatever it
is" said Mr. DarrOw. Il simply make
this explanation to have it understood
by it, in the same sense that ] would
ordinarily by one of my own wit
nesses."
AIr. Haddock began his testimony by
stating that he was president of the
plymouth Coal company, which uper-
atcd two collferes in Luzerne borough
lie began to operate in 1873 and con-
tinued in business until last March,
when the company went into the hands
of a receiver, and later into the hands
of a trustee.
Have the Best Market.
He told' that small sizes, which We're
formerly discarded. now bring the best
market: that there has been a decided
1luctuation in output during the past
ten years: that there is at present
market for all the coal that can pos
sibly be mined: that coal is being sold
in New York for Sll and $l2 ton, al
though the list price is $3.50, and that
1t is likely high price for coal will
be maintained for another year ut least,
because of the present shortage and
the assurance that consumers will buy
heavily during the summer to stock up
for next winter.
He could not say there had been any
utors to regulate the coal supply, but
lie admitted that there was apparently
some regulation of the tonnage. 1t took
him year and a half, he said, to es-
tahliSh his right to mine and ship AS
much coal as he wanted TO. The Della
ware, Lackawanna and Western COM
pany, he said! showed disposition to
try to regulate it for him.
Simpson & Watkins. he said, was the
first firm to go to the Interstate COM
merce commission TO secure better
treatment in the way of car service
from the coal carriers. Coke Bros &
co. also complained. He, himself, had
to have recourse to the commission.
He declared his belief that a labor
union was beneficial to the men and to
the community: that he has dealt
directly with mine workers unions:
that an eght-hour day for miners and
firemen and nine hours for others was
cnoush that the condition of the mar
ket warranted AN advance i'm wages,
and that where coal can be paid for by
weight it should be done, as it is the
only fair way,
On ross-eXaminaton. Mr.. Torrey
tried to have it appear that because OF
the fact that Mr. Haddock had allowed
the union TO help him run his business
the property had gone into the hands
of receiver. Mr.. Haddocli declared
this was not the case at all: that
fire which caused extensive damages,