The morning Astorian. [volume] (Astoria, Oregon) 1899-1930, 1902-11-21
STRIKE COMMISSION
OBTAINS FIGURES
Resident Physicians Testify for
Benefit OF Workers in
the Mines.
VIOLENCE IS EXAGGERATED
Parents of Children Under 10
Years Employed In the Mines
Can BE Punished as
Law Breakers.

SCRANTON. Nov. 20. When today's
session OF the strike commission be-
gan. Rev. Dr. Peter Roberts was put
| on the stand again. when the commits
sion adjourned yesterday. ex-congress-
man Simon p. Wolycrton. counsel for
the Philadelphia Il Reading Coal and
, Iron company, was crossexnmlning DR..
Roberts. Answering a question pro-
hnunded by Judge Gray yesterday, DR..
Roberts said today that n comparison
Of fatalities on all railroads In the
United States with those in the anthra-
cite fields show that 2.5 per 1900 rail-
road employees are killed, while 3.h per
1000 mine employees are killed, The ia
talities to switchmen, ilagmen and
watchmcn IN 1900, he stated 70 be Ga
per 1000, as against SIS per 1000 among
miners and their laborers working in
aide the mines,
The question Of arriving at n fair
price On rock in connection with coal
mining, Or. Roberts said, was one that
conli be adjusted only by the mine EN-
ploycs and the companies. He said II
was far from the truth to characterize
the operators az hard hearted and un-
Just. and as seeking constantly to grind
men down 10 he last penny Of wages
as had been charged.
After reading from lengthy article
by Or, Rob sr:s In the Yale Review on
the labor situation In the hard coal
fields prior to the strike, witness said
in elaboration OF what he bad written
that By investigation regarding the
movement forming an independent or
gani1atlon. he found that movement
was chiefly u rising by the nonunion
men.
II DO not know what was the motive
OF their action" said he, but 1t seems
that they were instlgated to move
ments of this kind by parties opposed
to the organization of labor"
III the conditions in the bituminous
regions" inquired MIR, Wolverton. ARE
better than In the anthracite fields.
why did the men who leIt the hard
coal regions during the strike return
to the anthracite fields after the
striker
The response was that they did so
because OF social and family ties.
DR.. Roberts In his examination, said
the newspaper reports Of violence had
been greatly exaggerated.
They grew hungry in the struggle
he said "and hungry man Is danES--
ous."
The fact was brought out In the
course of the ross-examination that |
the Pennsylvania Legislature In 1891, |
passed u compulsory education law, APP |
plying to every child under 16 years,
lIlh ltitk hHNil llS IAONiaiNlle
Of dcllnQuents can he punished.
The question of the extra hazardous
character of the miners occupation
vas then referred to by Everett War
'cn, counsel for the Erie company. who
asked the witness II II were true hat
,vel 80 percent Of the accidents are at
rbutable to the anxiety of the miner
o get out OF the mine at n much earlier
lour than noon. The witness was not
prepared to say that that was the per-
entage.
David Wilcox, counsel for the Della
ware \ Hudson company next took Dr.
Roberts in hand, and was cross-exam
ming him on the inequality of wages
md the life insurance risks when the
took the usual recess.
The afternoon session brought out
much expert testimony ON the question
{ the health Of the mineworkers.
'hree physicians who have practiced
n Scranton or wilkesharre took the
tand for the miners and testified that
he occupation of mlneworker was
very unhealthful' and shortened life,
II. Lenahan of Wllkesbarre, who has
ad long experience among minework-
RS ,tstlhed that fully 30 percent of the
len who work In the mines suffer in
,useuuence, Their health is impov-
,lshed and their general condition Is
,low par, thus decreasing their earn
IS powers. The principal Ills suffer-
! hv miners, the physicians said, were
iners' asthma, rheumatism and lum-
lgo,