Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1902-12-13

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 11.-The most in.
teresting, If not important, testimony
brought out ut yesterdays sessions of
the coal strike commission was TO the
effect that All alleged attempt was
made by Il former mine foreman to
bride two presidents of local unions of
the miners to have 10 men in each local
use their influence to have Il resolution
passed sending tie men to work, thus
making serious break in the solid
ranks OF the strikers. Each of the
presidents were to receive $500 and n
good position as mine foreman and
each OF the 10 men were to get from 500
to $500 each. The name of no corIpary
was mentioned in connection with the
bribery scheme and none of the law.
ycrs cross-eXamined the witness.
The large coal companies have taken
notice of the testimony which has been
presented against the Coke and Markle
companies. During the afternoon scs.
sion, David WILCOX. vice president of
the Delaware and Hudson, protested
vigorously against the commission hold
ing his company responsible for condi.
| tons that may exist at the t,oyr or
Markle mines. He was quickly stopped
by Chairman Gray, who said that tlic
commission did not intend to hold any
company responsible for whatever spe-
clal conditions may exist i'm other parts
OF the coal fields. While none of tho f.
toriiefs for the other coal-carryiny roads
said anything TO the commission thcy
stated privately that Mr.. WicoX's nt.
tlttldc in the matter had their endorse
ment.
"A large amount of technical tcsti-
inohy was heard on various phases OF
the questions at issue. Two check
Welghlnen produced figures which
tented to show that at two Delaware
ana Hudson c0llicries the miners ,,ro.
dlced 1lG,S39 tons OF coal more thnn
they were paid for. The miners must
brihg up "1"G pounds of coal ant, dirt
TO make Il ton of 224O pounds II mlrr
cohi' ana the union claims that the com.
pany gets more than 224Opo,nds of coal
out of each miners" ton of 313i and
produced official figures to prove it.
The Delaware and Hudson componv
presented its figures. through Mr..
/ lorreE, TO tile commission yesterday.
tlley being the first certified statistics
10 he handed IN. They show the aver.
age earnings of the miner i'm 1901 TO have
been SG22.GS. and his lahorer SI047
When Mr.. Mitchell was on the ston,, h.
said that $500 should be the minimum of
American living wages
The figures presented by Mr.. Torrcv
iurthcr showed the average hours
worked per day of 10 hours by miners
to be . 81 and laborars 81; average
miners earnings per day, $3.o5; and Ia.
borers, sob. The company also in.
tends to present statements showing
that the dockage in 1901 averaged 3Ol
percent and that 30 percent of It's min.
crs own real estate.
There was colloqly between ,ow.
Ecrs and the commission over tho pre-.
scntation of statistics bearing on wages.
hours, etc, and Chairman Gray finally
said that he hoped the companies would
all do their best to present them rs
early as they can. The commission, lie
said, can compel nothing and the com
were relying on the good
sense and good will of both sides TO
expedite matters. The entire question,
he said, is largely one Of wages. and
the commission desired to study figures
while other testimony is being prc.
scnted
The answer of General Superntcn-
dent Luther of the Reading company to |
the question whether the company I'd |
the miners had complied with the ayre,-
mcnt which ended the 1900 strike, to |
make some effort to establish har-
relations, was presented, to the
effect that all grievances reported TO
the company by its men have bcea
amicably adjusted.
The miners desired to place on the
stand witnesses employed at the nine
Of G. Pardce Il Co. of the Hazlcton re-
rion. but Francis |. GOwen. for the Ic-
high company, argued that since counsel
for the Par1ce company was not present
these witnesses should not he per.
mittcd to testify. The commission de.
rdcd that ample notice had been givcn
lnd the witnesses were permitted to
testify. One of them said the air in
he mine was good, that he was not
'frnid to complain to the mine inspector
IN the presence of tho boss, and that
ne was not dockcd. all of which vas
liscomforting to the miners attorneys
md created a laugh at their expense.
The commission then adjourned.