Gilpin observer., 1902-11-20

SrduOn COmmfSblOu 0V6SA Ato ACoAAA6
here this morning. 1t is meeting In
the County Court room with the seven
members seated on the bench. In
front of them are three long tables,
one for President Mitchell and his at
torneys, one for the lawyers OF the
coal companies and the third for the
attorneys Of the independent operat-
ors. The arrangement for the hear
lngs are admirable, and 1t is likely that
the commission will hear all the evi-
dence in this city.
As early - o'clock the corridors
were crowded with people of all classes
and conditions eager to gain admit
tance. Only few Of them, however,
got through the door. as almost every
seat was occupied by general superin-
tendsnts, superintendents of mining
companies and other officials and rep
resentatives of the mine workers.
Among the attorneys around the op-
orators tables at the opening to-day
were Wayne Macveagh for the Penn
sylvania Coal Company and the Hill
side Coal Company; Francis I. Gowan
pf Philadelphia, general counsel for
the Lehigh Valley Coal Company; A.
N. McClintock of Wilkesbarre, for the
tehigh and Wilkesbarre company; ex-
Congressman Simon P. Wolverton,
Sunbury, Pennsylvania, for the Phil
adelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
Company; David Wilcox of New York,
general counsel for the Delaware Il
Hudson, and w. w. Ross of New York.
tor the Delaware, Lackawanna &
| Western.
President Mitchell's principal advis-
ers are Clarence S. Darrow of Chicago,
James L. Lenaha of Wilkesbarre, and
John J. Murphy of Scranton.
The proceedings opened shortly after
10 o'clock, when Judge Gray an
bounced that a sufficient time had been
given for the parties to the contro-
kersy to prepare for the hearing, and
that the commission would hear the
representatives of the miners first.
Mr.. Mitchell said he would file fur
ther statement on Monday in answer
to some of the allegations of the oper-
ptors.
Mr.. Wolverton asked the other side
to give the operators at least one days
/ notice, indicating the collieries from
which employees would be called as
witnesses, so that the mine owners
could be prepared to examine them.
Mr.. Darrow, for the miners, agreed
to the suggestion, and then called for
the regular procedure. and Mr.. VOL
verton asked that the miners present
their case. The request was tmmedi-
ately carried out, and President Nit
chell arose and addressed the commits
sion.
Mr.. Mitchell then began to call wit
pesses to be examined by his attor-
heys, by those representing the coal
Companies and also by the commits
sioners. Most of the witnesses will be
practical miners, and they will give
testimony in support of the demands
formally laid before the commission in
Mr.. Mitchelrs preliminary statement
of last week. About twenty-five or
thirty miners will take the witness
stand. After the workmen have con-
tluded their case the operators will
make their defense. 1t is expected
that more than two weeks will be TAX
en- up in hearing both sides.
President Mitchell, who was himself
the first witness. said that ninety per
cent. of the anthracite miners were
members of the union and that the
president Of the executive board never
ordered a strike except upon the af-
frmative vote of the miners them
selves He explained the relations be-
tween the union and the bituminous
operators and said that by reason of
the contracts entered into by them
there had been no strikes. Where no
contracts were made. there had been
strikes of considerable magnitude.
Through the amicable relations with
the bituminous operators wages had
been increased since 1898 an average
of nifty per cent. and there had been a
reduction in hours Of from ten to eight
and also in the number of children
employed. The price of fuel. both BIZ
luminous and anthracite, had gradually
increased.
The work of mining Mr.. Mitchell
characterized as the most hazardous
in the world. Last year 513 men were
killed in the mines and 1000 injured.
Most life insurance companies refused
TO take employees of mines. The num-
in PROPORTION to the number of men
employed was not SO great as in the
anthracite regions.
Mr.. Mitchell, comparing the rates OF
wages paid in the bituminous fields
with those paid in the anthracite re-
gion, said they were from forty to If
ty per cent. higher In the bituminous
country in some classes OF work and
from twenty to thirty per cent. in
others.
He prefaced his statement with the
hope that the commission will sue
ceed in establishing q relationship be-
tween the operators and miners that
will insure peace and stability in the
industry for an indefinite period" AZ
ter reciting the demands for increased
pay for the miner. a shorter working
day for the laborer, the Weighing OF
the coal. and an industrial agreement,
the refusal of all of which led to the
ctrtkq he snOka aa fOtlOwa m tho uuaa-
tion of higher wages:
"Of the $4,000 men and boys en-
ployed in and around ,lie mines strip
pings, washeries and breakers In the
anthracite coal ae.d5. 6i.072, or forty
three per cent, are employed on con-
tract or piece work; the remaining 49,
lnn or hffy-seYnn nar cnnt ara er,-