The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-22

be paid for the 2.24o pounds Of prepared
coal 1t will have to be done, they say.
through the present system of averages.
The proposition Is TO have the mine
workers make the contracts with their en-
ployers only, and not it is done in the
bituminous States. where the operators
recognize the United Mine Workers of
America. The proposed contract with each
company does not carry with 1t recognl-
ton of that union, and on that ground it is
note likely that the two parties Will be
able to settle ii without resort to the ar
bitratfon commission. 1t is not doubted
will be approved by the commission. The
agreement, however, will have to be one
that will provide for a reasonably sure per-
manent settlement. The instructions given
to the commissioners by President Roose-
welt when he handed the case to them to
settle are explicit. In these instructions he
said:
"You will endeavor to establish the rela-
ton between the employers and the wage
workers in the anthracite fields on just
and permanent basis, and. as far as posi-
currence of such difficulties as those which
you have been called in to settle
When one of the commissioners was asked
what the commission would do in case it
thought the agreement would not be per-
manent, he said: I'VE will cross that bridge
when we come to it.
YESTERDAYS TESTIMONY.
DR.. r. H. Gibbons, of Scranton, was ex-
amined to-day. He said that the occupa-
ton of miner subjects a man TO pleurisy,
govt, neuralgia, asthma, bronchitic, sciatica
and other diseases. He believed the day
would come when men would be subjected
to medical examination before they under
take mining. Children, ne said, who have
suffered from any form of disease of the
respiratory passages, bronchitis or pneu-
monia, should never be permitted in the
mines under the age of fifteen years, be-
hnx- chn hox nho 1no tn i'm
mate the predisposing factor in the case
of so-called miners asthma. DIR. Gibbons
then described the surface indications of
miners asthma, his testimony in this re-
spect not differing essentially from that
given by other expert witnesses
DR.. Gibbons was followed by DR.. Eugene
]. Butler a member of the Central Poor
Board of Luzerne county, who testified
that 20 per cent. OF those In one of the
poorhouses in LuZerne county were miners,
and that 40 per cent. were crippled by acct
dents in and about the mines. Many of
these, he said, had become insane through
worry over their afflictior. A man who
works few years as miner, he declared,
is not fit for anything else.
A. McClintock, representing the Lehigh
and Wilkesbarre Coal Company, cross-ex-
amined the witness and asked IL 1t was not
true that a large number of the profession
al men and merchants in Wilkesbarre were
men whose fathers and grandfathers had
been employed in the mines. IF that is
So the witness replied. 1.-The fathers and
grandfathers were the wise fellows who got
out in time. They were not men who worked
for twenty or twenty-five years in the
mines"
DIR. Butler was excused and the Rev Dr.
Robert was called TO the stand, his examin-
alton being conducted by Mr.. barrow for
the mine workers. He reiterated his belief
expressed in his book that an intelligent and
persistent combination among miners for
the maintenance of prices and rates of
wages would secure a just share of the
profit for the workers.
In answer to Commissioner Clark DIR.
Roberts defined the use of the words IAN
thracte syndicate" in his book by saying
he had reached the conclusion that there
was an understanding among the operators
to adjust the prices and regulate the trade.
This conclusion he had reached from per-
sonal investigation.
'In view of the last strike" Mr.. barrow
asked land everything that has occurred
since, have your views as to the desira-
bility of collective bargaining i'm the an
thracite regions been modified or strength
ened, or have they changed at ALL
strengthened decidedly the witness re-
Piled
1t was agreed tonight by the miners
representatives and the attorneys for the
coal companies to ask the commission to
adjourn tomorrow until Wednesday, Dec
g. 1t is likely the request will be granted.