The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-14
ONE CENT FOR MONTH"; WORK
 ,S
  Wages oos. Pennsylvania E ,aker Boy. MINF NEARLY THROUGH
They Will Conclude Their
 Testimony Monday.
George F. Baer's Company Under Fire, But No Stories of Very Bad Treatment by It are
 Told by Witnesses.

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 13.-Witnesses be- fore the Anthracite Coal Strike Comnis- sion today testified to the condition exist ing at the collieries of the Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company. These were the first witnesses to appear against the company of which George F. Baer Is the head, and considerable inter- est was manifested as to the chara cter of the evidence the miners would present against that company. Eight witnesses were called and the principal grievance presented was that some men who went on strike have been discriminated against. There was a large number of other wit nesses called during the two sessions, but most of the testimony heard was of a cumulative nature. relating mostly to al- legged unfair local conditions. Among the witnesses heard was President Mitchell His testimony related principally to the manner Tn which he computed the aver ages he gave yesterday in which he show ed that bituminous men received from 40 to 50 per cent more wages than the an- thracite miners. Counsel for the Delaware and Hudson disputed MitchelIs method of arriving at the avera ges.
 The miners will close their case prob ably Monday when the operators will open their side. The coal companies have decided to present only one opening argp- ment and former Congressman simon P. Wolyerton. leading counsel for the Reading Company, will make the joint opening statement.
 A breaker boy, 10 years of age, who was called this afternoon, said that he re- ceived 65 cents day. Last month he re- ceived only 25 cents. the remainder being kept for rent by the Delaware and Hud- son Company He said he knew of one UVh hn
 month. When he applied for work he misrepresented his age but his mother has since given the company his correct age. He Is still employed by the com pany.
 Practically the entire afternoon ses sion was taken up with testimony of men who are or have been employed by the Philadelphia and Reading Company. The principal grievance complained of by the witnesses examined was that of dis continuation. On cross-exa imitation it was brought out that the general treat hent of the witnesses by the company was good except in the instances com plained of and that there was some fric- ton between the men and the colliery superintendent of which John Keith as general mining superintendent had no kowledge.
 James Torrey. counsel for the Delaware and Hudson Company, presented the cor rected summary of that company's figures to the commission The figures handed in several days ago were found to contain errors made while clerks un- der great pressure, were transcribing them. The corrected figures according to MT. Torrey show that the Delaware and Hudson wages are considerably higher than those paid In the bituminous region. The Delaware and Hudson books and exhibits are absolutely correct They are the official records and the exhibit are those to be filed with the commission.
 The last witness of the day was a 15- year-old boy who lost a leg while work ing in a breaker owned by the Penn sylvania Railroad Company. He said he received nothing for the loss of the limb.
 Adjournment was taken until Monday morning.