The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-09
THEIR STATEMENTS
60 UNCHALLENOED
Continued from Page l.)

mine whom Markle e. Co. refused to
reinstate. He Is president of the Jeddo
local and was a member OF the joint ar
bitration committee. He denied having
been indicted for any crime Or OF
having used any physical force to pre-
vent anyone from going to work
He Was Evicted.
Paul Dunleavy, another Jeddo EN-
ploye OF Markle & Co., told of being
cvicted from company house on Mo-
vember g. He knew of no reason for
his eviction other than that he was
treasurer of the local. The company
refused him unemployment. Mr.. Mar
kle told him he could never work for
that company again. The witness told
that he. his wife, seven children and
his wife's parents, eleven in all, lived in
four rooms. When the sheriff was
about to evict him, the witness told
him of the old folks being invalids and
one of them, his father-in-law. very Ill
In bed, and asked him to give him until
the next day to find a house. Sheriff
Jacobs said he would see about it. The
sheriff went away, but returned shortly
and said: paul. you'll have to get out
in five minutes" The sheriff and his
deputies carried out the furniture and
put 1t in the street The witness got
shelter for his wifes parents in the
home of the neXt-door neighbor The
rest Of the family went to other friends
houses
4 number of the set questions being
propounded by the miners side were
then put to the witness. His average
earnings were $3.50 a year: the air Is
very poor in his working place; he
never saw mine inspector in his life:
a man considered himself lucky IL he
could pass a day in the mine without
receiving cut on the hands or face.
On one Of the pay checks he fur
nished for testimony, Judge Gray saw
charge of seventy-five cents for doc
tors fee. The judge expressed surprise
at learning that every married man
pays seventy-five cents and every
single man over 81 years of age fifty
cents a month to pay for the company
doctor. The Judge figured that $1,000 a
month would be collected from the
company's 5000 employees. Attorney
Mccarthy explained that 1t is neces-
sary to have from FIVE to seven doc.
tors. Judge Gray remarked that the
company doctor system might be
good thing If properly managed
Medicine and Nurses.
On cross-examination by Mr.. Torrey,
the witness admitted that the company
furnishes for this doctors fee, in addi-
tion to medical attendance, medicine
and professional nurses. MI. Torrey
also brought out that since the COM
pany store went on q cash basis the
witness went to trade in another place
where he could get credit
Mr.. Reynolds asked the witness il he
would be surprised to know that 35 per
cent. of the material that comes from
the mine goes to the dump. and thai
ten per cent of this loss is chargeable
TO negligent loading on the part of the
miner. The witness did not think it |
was that high.
Henry Shovelin another of the thir-
teen Jeddo men refused unemployment
by Markle & Co.. told Of being eyicted |
and refused unemployment. He sup
posed this resulted from his having |
taken a. prominent part in union affairs
as a member of the grievance COM
mittee Of his local.
The witness was then examined at
some length regarding the adjustment |
ot local grievances between the COM
pany and employees. since the close |
of the 1900 strike. This was in line !!
with the suggestion of the commission |
AS contained in Commissioner Watkins |
communication to Mr.. DarroW, Satur- I
day. The witness said the grievance |
committee Of the miners often went to |
the company officials with complaints |
but only once did they get any salts
faction. That was in the case of a
miner who was discharged for refusing
to take bad place. After three
months effort the committee succeeded |
in having him rcinstated and given II
better place.
To Invite Inspectors.
Just before the noon adjournment
Judge Gray brought up the matter OF
inviting mine inspectors to come be-
fore the commission and give their side
of the story about their alleged failure
to visit workings and invariable Gus
tom OF being accompanied by mine
boss when making inspection tours. Mr.
Torrey suggested that it would he well
to wait till the miners concluded their
testimony that it might be known
what inspectors to summon. He also
advised that the commission extend the
invitation direct to the inspectors in
stead Of through the counsel of one side
or the other, as it might be embarras-
sing to an inspector to go on the stand
AS the witness of either the companies
or the miners. Judge Gray rejoined
that IT the attorneys would agree on
what inspectors would give testimony
rertinent to the company, the commits
sion would invite them. I'VE will have
them called as our witnesses" said the
Judge.
The hearing was resumed in the af-
ternoon with Mr.. Shovein still undert
direct examination by Mr.. Mccarthy.
The witness told that the Jeddo ear
contains 1853 SO cubic feet A ron of
coal measures 40 cubic feet, plus the
required topping. Roughly speaking
there are more than three tons of coal
IN car. The company allows the min
er 3-4 tons per car. 1t was contend
ed by the witness that there should not
he any docking. as allowance is made
in the size of the car for impurities.
Under the present system, the witness
averred. the miner is docked twice.
4 discussion of The powder question
was engendered by the statement of
the witness that Markle & Co, did not
Follow the general plan of applying the ,
ten per cent. increase in 1900, but in i
stead gave the men . 1-2 per cent in
crease In wages and made the reduc- s
t'on IN the price of powder from S270I
10 sl.Oo keg represent 1-a per cent. J
increase. If miner does not use the
average amount of powder ne does not
gel the fun benefit OF the ten per cent