The McCook tribune. (McCook, Neb.) 1886-1936, 1902-11-21
ANSWER TO SAER.
Has Been Presented to the Commits

WASHINGTON, D. C.-The reply Of
President George F. Baer Of the Phil
adelphia G. Reading Coal company TO
the charges OF President Mitchell of
United Mine Workers, which has been
presented to the anthracite coal strike
commission, was on Tuesday given to
the public.
Mr.. Baer makes no reference to Mr..
Mitchell as the president of the min
ers' organization, but refers to him
simply as an individual.
Taking up the specifications of Mr..
Mitoheil's charges, seriatim, Mr.. Baer
first admits that his company owns
thirty-seven colleries and that before
the strike it employed 26,5S9 people.
Following is brief summary Of the
response to Mr. Mitchell's other speci-
fications:
Second-The demand for 20 per cent
increase in wages on piece work is
denounced as arbitrary, unreasonable
that, after making all necessary al
lowance for different conditions, the
rate of wages paid for the mining of
anthracite coal is as high as that paid
in the bituminous coal fields.
Third-The company denies that the
present scale Of wages is lower than
hot in n hn
same locality and controlled by like
conditions.
Fourth and Fifth-Mr. Baer denies
that the earnings of the anthracite
workers are less than average earn
ings for other occupations requiring
skill and training and also that the
earnings are insufficient because Of the
dangerous character of work in the an
thracite mines.
SiXth-This specification is referred
to as too vague for specific answer,
but in a general way it is stated that
the anthracite regions are among the
most prosperous in the United States.
Seventh-The company pronounces
as unjust and inequitable the demand
for a reduction of 20 per cent in hours
of labor without q reduction of earn
ings for time employed and this de-
mand is pronounced impracticable. In
this connection, the following state
ment is made:
Because of the injury to the mines
by the strike of the United Mine Work
ers, the cost of producing coal has
been greatly increased and a tempor-
ary advance in price was made by
this company, but it will be imprac-
ticable to continue such increase when
mining operations become normal"
Eighth-Mr. Baer says that his CON-
pany has no disagreement with any OF
its employees about the weighing OF
coal, because the quantity is usually
determined by measurement and not
by weight.
Ninth-Replying to the fourth de-
mand made by Mr.. Mitchell, Mr.. Baer
says that since the advent Of the |
United Mine Workers organization |
into the anthracite fields, business con-
ditions there have been intolerable; |
that the output of the mines has de- |
creased, that discipline has been de- |
that strikes have been Of al |
most daily occurrence; that men have |
worked when and as they pleased, |
and that the cost of mining has been |
greatly increased. He also takes the |
position that the jurisdiction of the |
commission is limited to the condi-
tions named by the coal company |
presidents, which excludes the CDited |
Mine Workers from any recognition
in the proceedings. He says, however.
that when a labor organization linn
tied to anthracite mine workers is
created which shall. obey the law, re-
spect the rights of every man to work
and honestly cooperate with employ
ers, trade agreements may become