The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-11-21
MINERS LIFE
 DANGEROUS Physicians Tell of Their
 Experiences. COAL WORKERS ASTHMA
Peculiar Form of Pneumonia
 Sometimes Brought On.
Rev. Peter Roberts Concludes His Nsstimony Before the Board
 of Arbitration and Others are Heard at Scranton.

Scranton, Pa, Nov 2o-The economic and sociological features of the anthra- cite coal industry and the effect that en- ploymtnt in and about the mines has upon the health of the mine workers were the principal subjects brought before the arbitration commission today.
 While there was an entire absence of the brilliant cross-examination which marked the proceedings during the last few days. the cross-exanination, never theless, held the attention of the heay- CTS The afternoon session was particu- larly interesting. because 1t brought out much expert testimony on the question of the health of the mine workers.
 Three physicians who have practiced in Scranton or wilkesbarre took the stand for the miners, and in substance testified that the occupation of a mine worker was very unhealthful and shortened his life.
 Dr. Frank P. Lenahan of Wilkesbarre, who says he has had long experience among the mine workers. testified that fully s9 per cent of the men who work in the mines are anameic. Their health Is impoverished and their condition Is be- 
 powers. The miners asthma comes from coal dust, powder smoke and vitiated air.
 Lungs Black as Coal. -
 Dr. John OMalley of Scranton said that at post mortems he had seen miners lungs as black as anthracite itself. and Dr. Lanahan testified that he had per- sonal knowledge of a man coughing up coal dust nine years after he had left the mines. He said he had information that a man had coughed up coal dust ff- teen years after he had left the mines IL was also stated that 90 per cent of min- eYs who reach the age of 5o years are afflicted with some .fofn of rheunatisrn. The cross-exanination of the Rev. Pe- ter Roberts ended shortly after the noon recess. Coplous extracts from his book were read and placed on record
 Simon P. Woiverton, counsel for the Reading Company, read much of the mat ter pertaining to violence in the 1900 strike and also read articles written by Roberts during the progress of the late contest during which he described in strong lan- guaRe the acts of violence, intimidation and boycotting committed during that suspension. His articles spoke of some of these facts as "brutal outrages," and he als0 branded the unions actions in calling out the steam men in June as 
 Mir. Roberts said that he did not wish tc imply that the organization was respon- sible for all the lawlessness committed. The preacher said yesterday that news paper accounts exaggerated the amount of lawlessness in the coal region so that Mir woIverton's reading of MT. Roberts's description of serious acts of violence as boycotting afforded much amusement.
 Enemies of the Union.
 to iat0 hat attempts to have non-union men form separate organizations were instigated by parties opposed to organized labor.
 In attempting to show that carelessness of the miners contributes materially to the danger of his occupation, Chairman Cray interposed with the remark that a margin of carelessness incident to human nature must be taken into account when estimating the dangerousness of any ha- zardous 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 q somewhat criti- cal look as they pass by. Each session of the commission finds the hearing room eAmmed with interested persons. The commissioners continue to hold daily nnferencess but what Is discussed Is, as rule, strictly withheld from the pub
 Mr. wilcox consumed the greater part If the afternoon session in reading ex- tracts from the book of Rev. MT. Rob erts on the anthracite coal industry. Occasionally he asked a question and raplytng to one MT. Roberts said that an established minimum wage would nessa- rilv enable a man to live. Answering question by Commj ssioner Parker, Rob- erts said that of the sixty-four chidren employed in the Olyphant breaker, near this city 50 per cent. were under IA wears of age and had others dependent upon them At this juncture Roberts was temporarily withdrawn as a witness and pr. John O'Malley of Scranton. was questioned by James L. Lenahan, coun- sel for the mine workers
 Dr. o'Malley Tsstifies.
 He said he had occupied various off, cial positions which. in connection with his private practice, had given an oppor- tunItv to carefully study the afflictions of miners due directly to the work in 1ybich they are engaged. His experience had been that cataarh, asthma, rheunna- tJsm stomach troubles. pneumonia. sci aHca. Iumbago. anaemia, etc. were the diseases from which miners usually suf- tered. Asked as to whether or not the anaeuia was curable, the doctor said tbat the fatalities resulting from it were sIIght. but that 1t was likely to produce some fatal disease.
 On cross examination by Mir. Torrey, ot +be Delaware and Hudson Company. pr O'Malley said he was not speaking fror official records but from memory. rrue asthma, he said. is neurosis. but miners asthma was que to some irritent ii,,n coal dust. He did not know of any tloor which technically defined the diff Ssrence between ordinary asthma and .rsinsrs' asthma. But said he felt himself canahIe to define 1t by reason of his long experience. ,
 On further cross examination he ad- ,,ittad that whooping cough patients ..ars Sreouently taken into the mines for rsIisf and that asthmatic patients are usually long lived.