The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-11-21
Disease and Suffering Attend
Their Toll.
so TESTIFY THE DOCTORS
Economic and Sociological Features of the An
thracite Coal Industry Unfulded Before
the Commissioners, They Confer
Behind Closed Doors.
(By the Associated Press.)


Scranton, Pa, Nov. 2O.-The economic
and sociological features of the anthra-
cite coal industry and the effect employ
ment in and about the mines has upon
the health of the mine workers, were
the principal subjects brought before the
arbitration commission today, by the at
torneys of each side to the controversy.
While there was an entire absence of
oratory or brilliant cross-examination
which marked the proceedings during the
last few days, the cross examination,
nevertheless, closely held the attention
of the commissioners and they gained
much inormation the eatures touched
upon by witnesses.
The afternoon session was particularly
interesting because it brought out much
expert testimony on the question of the
health of the mine workers Three ply
sicians who have practiced in Scranton
and Wilkesbarre, took the stand for the
miners and in substance testified that
the occupation of mine worker was
"very unhealthful," and shortened his
life. One physician, DR.. Frank P. Lena
han, of Wilkesbarre, who says he has had
long experience among mine workers.
testified that fully SO per cent of the
men who work in the mines are anaemic,
Their health is impoverished, and their
general condition is below par. this de-
creasing their earning powers. The prin-
cipal ills suffered by the miners, the
physicians said, were the miners astham.
rheumatism, lumbago and sciatica The
miners asthma comes from coal dust.
powder smoke and vitiated air. DIR. John
O'Malley, of Scranton, said that at post
mortems he had seen miners lungs as
black as anthracite itself, and Dr. Lena
han testified he had personal knowledge
of a man coughing up coal dust nine
years after he left the mines He said
he had information that man had
coughed up coal dust fifteen years after
he had left the mines. 1t also was stated
that ninety per cent of miners who reach
the age of fifty years are afflicted with
some form of rheumatism.
The cross examination of Rev. Dr. Pc
ter Roberts, D. D., of Mahanoy City, Pa,
who has studied the anthracite coal in
dustry and written book on the sub
ject, ended today, and he left the wit
ness stand shortly after the noon re-
cess. He began his testimony yesterday.
Copious extracts from his book were read
and placed on record. Ex-Congressman
Simon p. Wolverton, counsel for the
Reading Company, read much of the mat
ter pertaining to violence in the 1900
strike, and also read articles written
by DR.. Roberts during the progress OF
the late contest in which he described
in strong language the acts of violence
intimidation and boycotting committed
during that suspension. His articles
spoke of some Of these acts as brutal
outrages," and he also branded the
unions action in calling out the steam
men in June as "foolhardy." In explain
ing his articles, DR.. Roberts said that
he did not wish to infer that the ,organi-
zation was responsible for all the law
lessness committed. The Doctor said
yesterday that newspaper accounts ex-
aggerate the amount of lawlessness in the
coal regions, but Mr. Wolvertons reading
of DR.. Roberts description of serious
acts of violence and boycotting AFFORDED
much amusement for the attorneys for
the coal companies.
DR.. Roberts gave it as his opinion that
attempts to have non-union men form a
separate organization were instigated by
PARTIES opposed to organized labor. In
attempting to show that earelesSness OF
the miners contributes materially to the
danger of his occupation, Chairman Gray
interposed with the remrah that mar
gin of carelessnesS incident to human ma
ture must be taken into account when
estimating the dangerousGess OF any
hazardous occupation.
The interest in the commissioners and
their investigation has not decreased.
Each day. hundreds of men line the
streets and watch the arbitrators walk
from the hotel to the court room. Most
of them are idle mine workers, and they
give the commissioners somewhat crit
ical look as they pass by. Each session
of the commission finds the hearing room
jammed with interested persons. The
commissioners continue to hold daily
conferences, but what is discussed is, as
q rule, strictly withheld from the pub
lie.
Answering a question propounded by
Judge Gray yesterday afternoon, DR..
Roberts said today that comparison OF
fatalities on all railroads in the United
States with those in the anthracite fields
show that 25 per 1000 railroad employees
are killed annually, while 3.5 per 1,0Ot
employees were killed in the anthracite
industry. The fatalities, switchmen
fagmen and watchmen, in 1900, he stated
to be 5S per 1000 as against 80 per 1,OOC
among miners and their laborers work
ing inside the mines.
The fact was brought out in the course
of the cross-examination that the Penn
sylvania Legislature in 1891 passed
cOmuulSorv education law applying tt
every child under 16 years, and tha'