The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-12-13
TESTIMONY OF MINERS
EXCESSIVE DOCKING, DISCRIMINA-
TION AND Low WAGES.
Comparative Figures Presented by
John Observation-Disclosures Better
Paid Than Miners.

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 12.-The strike
commission to-day heard cumulative testi-
mony on matters that have already been
touched on by witnesses. This testimony
tended to show that there has been excess
sive docking, that many men have been
Disseminated against because they went
on strike rather than do the work of the
strikers; that they have been paid one
price for mine of all sizes; that they
do not get paid for all the coal mined: that
they should have the eight-hour day be-
cause the mines are unhealthful and dan
gerous, and that they ought to receive
higher wages.
Late In the day President Mitchell was
called to the witness stand and presented
comparative figures which showed that men
paid by the day receive from 40 to so per
cent. higher wages in the bituminous re-
gions than in the anthracite fields. His
figures of the anthracite fields were gath
cred by his own officers, and hurried COM
parison with the figures handed to the COM
mission by the Delaware & Hudson Com
pany. he said. showed that his were gen.
orally higher.
The attorneys for the miners do not ex-
pect to close their case until the early part
yerS for the companies whether they will
be able Immediately to proceed with their
case, and 1t is possible they will ask for
short recess.
Two hod-carriers who were formerly mine
workers were called to the stand in the
afternoon. Hod-carriers in the vicinity of
Wtlkesbarre, they said, received % cents
an hour, time and half for overtime, and
double time for Sunday or holiday work.
Bricklayers received 90 cents an hour, time
and a half for extra work, and double time
for Sunday or holiday work: Stonemasons
hours a day. Both witnesses thought the
miners ought to get s. day.
August Baker, a miner employed by J. s;
Wentz * Co, at HazelbrOok, said he lived
in company house for which he paid $40
per month. The houses are built on stumps.
He said he built cellar under his house,
for which the company allowed him one
months rent. he moved into another house
and dug cellar under that, but the COM
pany would not give him months rent for
the Improvement he made, for the reason
that he should have stayed in the first
house He testified that the houses are very
poorly built He said that undertakers and
tradesmen refuse to go to Hazelbrook be-
He said the superintendent of the colliery
told him that If he expected work he must
deal in the company store Prices for most
charged in Hazleton. He named two arti-
cles. stove polish and shoe polish, that were
high.
Wnen samuel DICKSON, VINO was cross
examining him, asked him what other arti-
cles were expensive, he said he did not
interfere with women's business"
Further cross-examination brought out
the statements from the witness that he
owned a house which brought him SIS a
month. Mr.. Dickson read from the COM
panys pay roll to show that last year he
earned over $500 and that his two sons,
who were also working at the colliery, in
creased these earnings to more than 81, 500
for the year.
announced to the commission that the certi-
fled figures which his company had submit
ted contained many errors and that a cor
later