The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-21
DISEASES OF MINERS
DISCUSSED AT LENGTH BEFORE
THE STRIKE COMMISSION.
ARE HEIRS TO MANY ILLS.
MEDICOS TELL OF THE EVILS OF
NINE WORKING.

ures of Coal Mining Brought Out
During the ENamination-Rev. DIR.
| Roberts showed That Ratio Of
LIZ Greater Among Miners Than
Among Railroad Trainmen-E6ect
of Their Employment Upon Miners.
Scranton, Pa. Nov. 2O.-The econom-
ic and sociological features of the an
thracite coal industry and the effect
employment in and about the mines
has upon the health of the mine work.
ers were the principal subjects brought
before the arbitration commission to-
day by the attorneys of each side to
the controversy. While there was an
entire absence of oratory or brilliant
cross-eNamination which marked the
proceedings during the last few days.
the ss-examination, nevertheless.
closely held the attention Of the COM
missioners and they gained much in
formation on the features touched upon
by witnesses.
The afternoon session was particu-
iSrly 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 wiIkesbarre
took the stand for the miners and. in
substance. testified that the occupation
of mine worker was very unhealthfll
and shortened life. one physician, DR..
Frank r. Lenahan of Wilkesbarre. who
says he has had long experience
| min
fully % per cent. of the mep w no work
the mines are anaemic Their blood is
impoverished and their general con-
| dition is below par. thus decreasing
their earning powers.
The Ills of the Miners.
The principal ills suffered by the
miners. the physicians said. were the
miners asthma, rheumatism, lumba-
go and sciataca. The miners asthma
comes from coal dust. powder smoke
and vitiated air. DR.. John O'Maley
OF Scranton, said that at post-mor-
TENS he had seen miners lungs as
black as anthracite itself, and DR..
Lenahan testified he had personal
knowledge Of 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 was also stated that 30 per
cent. of miners who reach the age
of so years, are afflicted with some
form of rheumatism.
The cross-examination of Rev. DR..
Peter Roberts. d. D., OF Mahanoy.
Pa, who had studied the anthracite
coal industry and had written a book
on the subject. ended to-day. and he
left the witness stand shortly after
the noon recess. He began his testi-
mony yesterday. Copious extracts
from his book were read and placed
on record.
Roberts Has to Explain
Ex-Congressman Simon p. Wolver-
ton, counsel for the Reading Company.
read much OF the matter pertaining to
violence In the 1900 Strike, and also
read articles written by DR.. Roberts
during the progress of the late con-
test In which he described in strong
language the acts of violence, intim-
idation and boycotting committed dur
ing the suspension. His articles spoke
OF some of these acts as brutal out
RACES" and he also branded the I'M
ions action in calling out the steam
men in June as "foolhardy -
In explaining his article, DIR. Rob-
erts said that he did not wish to i'm
ply that the organization was respon-
sible for all the lawlessness committed.
The doctor said yesterday that news
paper accounts exaggera ted the
amount of lawlessness in the coal re-
sions, but Mr.. Wolvertons reading OF
DR.. Roberts description of serious
acts of violence and boycotting afford
ed much amusement for the attorneys
for the coal companies.
DR.. Roberts gave 1t as his opinion
that attempts to have non-union men
form separate organization were in
sugated by parties opposed to organ
lied labor.
In attempting to show that careless
ness of the miners contributes mate
rally to the danger of his occupation
Chairman Gray interposed with the re-
mark that margin of carelessness in
cident to human nature must be taken
into account when estimating the dam
gerousness of any hazardous occupa-
ton.
Interested i'm the Work.
Each day hundreds of men line the
streets and watch the arbitra tors walk
from the hotel to the courtroom. Most
of them are idle mine workers and
they give the commissioners a
somewhat critical look as they
pass by. Each session of the
commission finds the hearing room
damned with Interested persons. The
commissioners continue to hold daily
conferences, but what is discussed IS
as a rule, strictly withheld from the
public.
| Answering a question prOpounded by
Judge Gray yesterday afternoon DR..
Roberts said to-day that a comparison
of fatalities on all railroads IN the
! United States with those in the an
| thracite fields show that 25 per 900
railroad employees are killed annually.
while 3.5 per 1000 employees were killed
in the anthracite industry The fatal
tiles, switchmen. fagmen and watch
| men in 1900, he stated to be So per 600
as against SIS per 1000 among miners
and their lahorers working inside the
mines.
The fact was brought out in the
course of the cross-examination that
the Pennsylvania Legislature. in 1891.
passed compulsory education law, ap-
| plying to every child under 16 years.
and that under it's provisions parents
OF delinquents can be punished.
| Answering a question by Commits
sloner Parker. DR. Roberts said that
/ OF sixty-four children employed IN the
Olyphant breaker near this city. 50 per
cent. We're under n years old and had
others dependent on them.
Description Of Diseases.
AZ this luncture Dr. Roberts was
temporarily Withdrawn as a witness
and DR. John q Mnlley ~ Scranton
wns questioned by James ~. Lenehan.
counsel Tor the mine workers
Asked 10 Hinufely describe miners
CONTINUED on Fifth Paeel