Omaha daily bee., 1902-12-17
Little Ones Misery Deeply Touches Jurist'S
Big Heart
HEARS FATHERS EARN LARGE SALARIES
One Makes Thousand and Another Nine
Hundred in Year.
INDEPENDENT OWNER FAvoRs BETTER PAY
Thinks Labor Has Right 60 Combine
and should Receive bigger Per-
centaee of Heavy Profits
Made by Operators.
PROPOSAL RESULT OF GIRLS EVIDENCE

SCRANTON, Pa, Dec. 16.-Notwith-
standing that the mine workers announced
yesterday that they had closed their case
with the exception Of one witness, the
whole Of today was taken up in hearing
three witnesses for the men. They were
John G. Haddock an individual operator;
the Rev. DR.. Peter Roberts, who is assist
ing the miners, and Samuel Gompers, pres
ident of the American Federation OF La
bor Mr. Haddock favored giving the mine
workers better wages, and agreed with
their organization. Mr.. Gompers spoke as
an expert on the trade union movement,
and created a stir when he strongly inn
piled that the coal companies were bring
ing immigrants to the coal regions.
One Of the operators lawyers asked II he
knew that from personal knowledge.
He offered to prove 1t II necessary.
The miners made another attempt to
get In evidence tending to show that the
anthracite roads charge extortionate and
discriminating freight rates, and that
monopoly exists in the anthracite mining
industry which keeps the wages Of men
at an unnaturally low level.
The commission again decided that the
evidence must be limited to the scope Of
the inquiry, and pointed out that II 1t did
take up this matter the men would still
have to show the reasonableness of their
demands.
Impressed by Little Girls.
When the strike commission met Judge
Gray opened the proceedings by saying that
the commissioners were impressed with the
spectacle Of the little girls who were before
them yesterday.
He said the people OF the community and
citizens of the commonwealth should not
let the incident pass without taking some
steps to have the legislature OF Pennsyl-
vania seriously consider the enactment OF a
law to forbid the employment Of children
at night.
At the suggestion Of the commission the
statement OF the wages Of the fathers OF
the two little girls were presented. One
earned more than 81 900 last year and the
other over 5000,
Then the miners sprang another surprise
by calling another individual operator. He
was John O. Haddoek Of wikesbarre. pres
ident Of the Plymouth Coal company.
He said he had been in the coal business
thirty-hve years. His company operated
the Black Diamond and Dodson mines near
Wilkesbarre. till March IA, when they
went into the hands of receivers. On No
vember IA trustees took hold Of the prop
erty.
miners tor, which runs from 2.700 to 5000
pounds, was nxed years ago SO that the en-
ployer could get 2240 pounds Of pure coal
above the size of pea. Pea coal and all
sizes below that was waste. The waste
was now being utilized. Regarding the
prices OF coal Mr.. Haddock said the middle
man in New York was paying S11 and Sl2
a ton.
Judge Gray: "pO they pay the operators
that price7'
Possibly"
Lackawanna Tries Regulation.
Continuing, Mr.. Haddock said the Lack
awanna company wanted TO regulate the
tonnage of his company some years ago
He postponed the arrangement for a year
and a half. and finally obtained the right
TO mine and ship coal as he pleased.
He said he believed in the combination
Of capital and labor, and had no objection
TO dealing with labor unions II properly
conducted. He believed the mine work
0rs because OF the market for coal were
Justified In asking for an increase IN
wages.
On cross examination, Mr.. Haddock said
he did not know Of any operator who was
charging prices above the schedule list
Samuel Gompers occupied the witness
stand throughout the afternoon. He gav'
a brief sketch OF the progress and influence
of organized labor and said the hours o
workmen throughout the country had beer
materially reduced.
Trade agreements had always been ad
vantageous both to workmen and employ
ers
Justice Gray asked his usual question
concerning boyeotts, and witness replied
he would boycott any person who was un
fair to his workmeD, but would not boy
-. -. IL
that employer.
The question OF recognizing unions wa
then taken up and MIR. Gompers said EN-
ployers made a mistake when they refuse
20 recognize organized labor. The EN-
ployer, he said. has no moral right to re
fuse to confer with a committee OF hi
employees.
In reply TO Bishop spalding he said h
would not favor incorporating a union.
Companies Import Men.
Mr.. Gompers was then cross examined b
James Torrey. counsel OF the Delaware
Hudson. who asked II he did not believ
members OF the union should be 2i year
OF age and able to read and write.
YES" responded witness with alacrit!
ten years from now. when the companie
stop bringing illiterate foreigners to thi
country. They are brought here by tn
companies and the labor union must pre-
teet them and see that they get thei
rights"
Mr.. Torrey asked him II he could prov
that the coal companies were guilty G
such a thing. and Mr.. Gompers said b
felt certain IL was true, because he ha
seen copies OF circulars distributed /
southern Europe asking people to com
to Pennsylvania, and stating that theT
was plenty Of money to be earned in tn
mines
Mr.. Torrey asked him n steamship CON
panies were not the authors Of those cir
culars. TO which Mr.. Gompers replied tina
he had seen ten. twenty and thirty me
huddled together In huts In the antkraeil
coal helds. and he noted that II was nc
long after they arrived that they weT
= given employment in the mines.
He offered TO give the commission th
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