The Daily Ardmoreite. [volume] (Ardmore, Okla.) 1893-current, 1902-12-05
THE STRIKE COMMISSION
SAY THE QUESTION OF WAGES is
THE CHIEF ISSUE.
Lawyers on Goth Sides Intimate 'here
May be a Settlement "out OF
court'-Miners Are Giving Tes-
timony on Poor Pay.

cite coal companies anu lhcll e'"P'''
oa having failed 10 come TO an agree
ment during the Thanksgiving recess
of tho strike commission the hearing
of the miners side Of the case was
continued today as heretofore, ana I'M
less something is done by the lawyers
on both sides to curtail matters It's
proceedings will surely run into next
wear. with the Resembling oil the
commission today however. there
was a revival Of tie talk OF
settlement "out Of court" Nothing
definite has been done and neither
aide has approached the other. 80 far
as can be learned regarding further
negotiations, but as one prominent at
torney expressed It, There Is some
thing in the air" The lawyers on both
aides have heard the rumor and pro-
fess they know nothing about but
would not be surprised If something
in the way of an agreement is reached
before the hearings are concluded
Chairman Gray. speaking for the
commission today, again expressed the
hope that efforts would be made by
both sides TO agree on as many points
as possible and that the commission
was ready to lend any conciliatory
help toward bringing about that end.
Six witnesses were on the stand dur
ing the two sessions today Mr.
Mitchell was called to show that a
twenty per cent increase in
wages did not mean a corresponding
Increase in the price per ton of coal
The commissioners at times were
seemingly impatient at the way the
proceedings dragged. While they had
half a dozen witnesses before them,
they did not learn much more than
they already knew. They are anxious
for the documentary evidence, such as
wage statements and other data bear
ing on wages and conditions. This
was strongly evidenced today wher
they eagerly seized upon the due bills
handed up by the Hungarian witness
Every member Of the commission eX
amined these and had questions to ash
about them One OF the commission
ers said today II was principally q
question Of wages. and they wanted
these facts as quickly as they coult
get them. In this connection ther,
was considerable discussion between
the attorneys for all sides and the com
mission regarding the documentary ev
idence. Both parties TO the contro
Yersy had agreed 10 try 10 agree a.
far as possible on summary Of th'
great mass OF figures that hundred
OF accountant for the different com
psnies are computing. but the task q
such a stupendous one. taking in, a
Il does. about $4,000 men and boys
that neither side Is yet ready 10 &
into that feature OF the Investigation
During the afternoon in the exam
nation OF Mr. Dottery. Mr.. Darro'
brought out the statement that tn
Coke company had refused to 're-en
ploy upward OF 400 men after tn
strike was declared on by the wilkes
barre convention. This number wa
subsequently reduced by the compan
consenting 10 take back some of m
men at first deharred. The witnes
intimated that this was a violation
the arbitration agreement upon whic
the commission was appointed.
The company, witness said. pays n
laborer, when he is working fcg Il
company soc to $l.2O a day while n
company insists that the L-iner p,
the same laborer when he Is workir
for the miner $l.6e to sl.94 da
MIR. Dottery said the most dangerol
work in the mines is lighting FIRE. al
that the men do not receive one ce
extra pay for the hazardous work
He was followed on the witne
stand by Mike Middick. Hungaris
German miner employed by the Co
mines as a practical miner for 10
years. He said he earned about 81
last year. He also complained OF I
{" docking system and said he had be
docked about eight cars in about L
weeks. He submitted his wage sta
ments for the last year or MOI
which showed the largest amount
money he received for any two wee
TO have been little more than 5
One statement showed that he ms
less than 81 for two weeks. but
could not tell whether he worked
time during that period
Mrs Mary Boland. the wife of
German miner employed the c,
company. said the money earned
her husband was not sufficient
a.