The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1902-12-04
Miners Side Of the Case Con-
tinued Before ArbihatOTs
SIX WITNESSES EXAMINED
Lawyers Say They Would Not BE Sur
prlsed If Something In the Way
Of an Agreement Is Reached
Before Hearing Concludes.

Scranton, Pa, December s.-The anthra-
cite coal companies and their employees
having failed to come to an agreement
during the Thanksgiving recess of the
strike commission, the hearing of the
miners" side of the case was continued
today, as heretofore, and unless some
thing is done by the lawyers on both
sides to curtail matters, its progress will
surely run into next year. With the re-
assemblage of the commission today.
however, there was a revival Of the talk
of settlement ''out of court" Nothing
definite has been done and neither side
has approached the other, so far as can
be learned, regarding further negotiations,
but as one prominent attorney expressed
it, there is something In the air." The
lawyers on both sides have heard the
rumor and profess they know nothing
about it, but would not be surprised II
something in the way of an agreement
is reached before the hearings are con-
cluded."
Chairman Gray, speaking for the COM
mission, today again expressed the hope
that efforts would be made by both sides
to agree on as many points as possible.
and that the commission was ready to
lend any conciliatory help toward bring
ing about that end
Six witnesses were on the stand during
the two sessions today. They were Pres
ident MITCHELL two photographers, two
practical miners, and the wife of Ger
man miner Mr.. Mitchell was called to
show that 20 per cent increase in wages
did not mean a corresponding increase in
the price per ton of coal.
Commissioners Impatient.
The commissioners at times were SEEM
ingly impatient at the way the proceed
ings dragged. While they had half
dozen witnesses before them they did not
learn much more than they already know.
They are anxious for the documentary
evidence, such as wage statements and
other data bearing on wages and eondi-
tions This was strongly evidenced today
when they eagerly seized upon the due
bills handed up by the Hungarian witness
Every member of the commission examin-
ed these and had questions to ask about
them One of the commissioners said to-
day it was princpallya question OF wages
and they wanted these facts as quickly
as they can get them. In this connec-
ton there was considerable discussion be-
tween the attorneys for all sides, and the
commission, regarding the documentary
evidence Both parties to the controversy
| had agreed to try to agree as far as pos
sible on a summary of the great mass OF
figures that the hundreds Of accountants
! for the defendant companies are comput-
! ing But the task Is such stupendous
one taking in, as it does. about l46,0OO
men and boys, that neither side Is yet
ready to go into that feature OF the inves-
tigation.
To Agree on Figures and Data.
At the beginning of the afternoon ses-
sion Mr.. Dickson brought before the
commission the matter of both sides
agreeing on figures and other data re-
garding wages for submission to the COM
missioners. He knew 1t was difficult
problem, aud he assured the commission
that the companies he represented would
present their figures as soon as they
could be computed. After some further
discussion. Chairman Gray. speaking for
the commission, said that both sides
would have to come to some agreement
regarding this character of testimony or
the commission will be obliged TO take
the matter in their own hands and pre-
scribe some rule to facilitate the work
of the investigation.
During the afternoon the examination
of Dottrey. who was on the stand when
Mr.. Darrow brought out the statement
that the Coke company has refused to
re-elnplOy uDWdfQS VI foV Au1H dAtci ttsS
strike was declared off by the Wilkes
barre convention. This number was sub
seuuently reduced by the company con-
senting to take back some cf the men
at first barred. The witness ntimated
that this was violation Of the arbitra-
tion agreement under which the ccm-
mission was appointed.
The company the witness said paid
the laborer when he is working Tor the
company 80 cents to A.20 day, while
the company insists that the miner pays
the same laborer when he Is working for
the miner 81 .62 to 81 "a day. Mr.. Dot
trey said the most dangerous wcrk In
the mines is fighting fire. and that mon
do not receive one cent extra pay for
the hazardous work. He was followed on
the witness stand by Mike Middlicie,
Hungarian. who has been employed In
the Coke mines as a practical miner for
four years. lie said he earned about $3.50
last year.
Complain Of Docking System.
He also complained OF the docking sys-
tenn and said he had been docked about
eight cars in about two weeks. He SUBJ
mitted the wage statements for the last
year or more. which showed the largest
amount Of money he received for any
two weeks to have been a little more
than SIS. One statement showed that he
made less than $s for two weeks, but he
could not tell whether he worked full
time during that period
In the Coke mines he said the mine
workers were paid much less than the
men employed by other companies in the
vicinity. He said that in six years he had
seen the mine inspector of the Hazelton
region only twice, and In both instances
he was not up in the breasts where men
| were at work.
On cross-examination the witness SAID
that he had been refused work. and that
the company would not take him back
until he left the town of Eclk1y, in which
he resided. The next nearest was Free
land. four miles away. and he could not
walk eight miles and perform q good
days work. When asked why he did not
apply to other companies II they were
paying more than the Coxes. he said he
did apply to the Markles at Jeddo. but
they had 10 work for him. He did not
earn enough money, he said, to permit