The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-20

region, by the car, by weight, by the
yard and by the day. The wages paid
are far from uniform, he said, and he
then went on to describe the changes
which had been made in the size of the
cars from y cubic feet until they now
vary from so to go feet. In moving the
car from the breast OF the mine to the
shaft, Mr.. Roberts said there was a
per cent. shakedOwM.
so that this measurement" inquired
Mr.. Darrow, gives the dishonest miner
the same wages as the miner who load
ed his car carefully?'
Subsequent examination brought out
the fact that the miner who put more
than six inches of topping on his car
received no additional compensation
for it.
Has the question of mining coal and
being paid by the car been a source
of vexation and trouble and dissatis-
faction to the miner?" Mr.. barrow
asked.
The witness answered that it was one
of the complaints that have existed
since 1850.
The first strike, in 1868, he said. was
on a demand for an eight hour day.
Answering a question by Commission
er Watkins, DR.. Roberts said there was
an effort made by the individual opera
tors to import cheap labor into the an
thracite fields. 1T was DONE" said he
through ship agents who got men in
New York to watch vessels coming in
and turned the current of immigration
that is the Slav immigration-into the
coal fields"
Have miners been obtaining homes
to any extent during the last ten
years?" the witness was asked.
This elected the response that they
had been, with the possible exception
of the Italians, who did not settle in the
United States.
| DR.. Roberts here compared the Slav
standard Of living with that of the ma
| tive born American, showing 1t to be
far below the standard of the American
workingman. Very few of the miners
children, he said, after they have pass
ed the age of fourteen, attend school.
The witness declared also that min
ers' occupation is more risky than that
| u HIGH III any oIAACA loL sc liANt0lA
There were more deaths in the mines
than on the railroads, but fewer acci-
| dents.
Have you noticed the effect of sa-
| looms on miners?" was the next ques-
| ton.
1.-THE number of saloons in Schuylkill
county have increased" was the reply,
land the concensus of opinion is that
| 1t is due largely to the miners union"
He said that the social worth and man.
liness and individuality of the Slav had
been greatly inc easea through the
miners union.
do you know what was the result Of
the strike of 1902"
1T decidedly improved conditions by
giving 10 per cent. advance"
With the view Of testing the witness
knowledge of the subjects about which
he was testifying, Mr.. Wolverton on
cross examination inquired what pro-
portion was largely gathered by inquiry
and observation and not from actual
experience. The witness answered that
j on the economic side of the question it
would be by investigation and from the
public reports of the state. The socio
logical side 1t would be from personal
investigation. He. admitted that the
information he had collected was large
ly for use in preparing his book.
| On further cross examination, nm.
Roberts said that of the 147,000 mine
employees in the anthracite fields, $4,000
worked under ground. He admitted
that In some instances, owing to the
impurities the measurement of coal by
weight would be impracticable.
Mr.. Wolvertof inquired If 1t would
be fair to average the work of all the
miners for the day, but the witness
said it would depend on the miner.
1.-THE lazy miner" said Mr.. Wolverton,
would get as much as the Industrious
miner, would he not?"
1.-THE system of docking would come
it," was the answer.
do you think Mr. Wolverton in
quired, 1.-The miners would consent to a
system of docking and dividing 1t UP
equally between themselves according
to the number of cars sent to the
breakers -
IT do not know" was the response.
Where did you receive the informa-
ton you have in this book?" Mr.. VOL
verton asked, after reading several pas
sages in 1t, from Mr.. MITCHELL"
IT do not know Mr.. Mitchell personal
Iy, and never spoke word with him
until about three weeks ago.
Under the conditions you have ex-
planned" Mr.. Wolverton further asked
"can there be uniform standard OF
wages, or where fixed would the wages
apply to the whole coal region or to one
colliery that would do justice to the
employee and employer?''