The Washington times., 1902-12-11
MINERS CALL ON COAL
OPERATORS TO TESTIFY
President Crawford Objects
TO Answering Questions.
JUDGE GRAYS DECISION
Prices at Which Coal Is Sold in the
Past and at Present Pertinent
to Investigation.

SCRANTON. Pa, Dec. 11-Attorney
Samuel p. Dickson OF Philadelphia. rep
9esenung the independent operators Of
the Hazleton district. was in court be
fore the strike commission this morning
to take up the cross-examinatiOn Of wit
nesses.
Miners from the Coxes and MaTkles
collieries had been examined without
cross examination. Mr.. Dickson desired
to examine those employed at the Par
dees, whom the mine workers had prom
ised TO put on the stand today.
When the morning session opened, At
tornev Darrow caused surprise by call
ing j. L. Crawford, president Of the In
dependent Coal Operators Association,
from his seat at the operators table.
A New Turn Of Affairs.
This is a new turn Of affairs saio
Mr.. Crawford. Il had no intimation /
was to be a witness" He took the stand.
When did you sell coal last?' as6ed
Attorney Dar-ow.
Yesterday"
What did YOU get for it?"
"I don't know. 1 could tell very nearly
about how much, if I cared, but I do
not"
you are a party here?" said Attorney
barrow You went down TO New York
TO see the presidents Of the coal roads
and you want a fun hearing and inves-
/ tigation2 And yet you viii not tell what
you are getting
Yes. I do not know. The last re-
turns 1 got we're in October. get 65 pei
cent Of the selling price at tidewater
I also sell at retail"
Mr.. Crawford Objects.
Mr.. Crawford at this point objected t,
answering any more questions. asking
the commission If they were pertinent.
/ I'VE expect to show" said Mr. Darrow
the ability Of the operators TO pay the
/ 20 per cent increase we ask. Attorney
MacVeagh said they were making nc
profits and paying no dividends, and we
! expect to show they are
Attorney Burns. Of the independents
also objected. In the midst Of his argu-
ment Mr.. Crawford motioned to Burns to
sit down.
III answer his questions" be said.
Attorney Darrow said:
81 take II, the selling price Of coal Is
relevant in this inquiry. We are, We
think, entitled 10 know about the pros
Iperity Of this gentleman. Mr. MacYeagt
said any increase would rest on IN,
bowed backs OF the poor.
''They have told US what they hay,
been getting in the past. We expect u
show they arc now getting far more and
will continue TO do so.
"ln part. these workers are partners
and II the operators are getting large
amounts Tor their coal. then why should
we not share in these prohts?"
The Operators Attitude.
Operator Connell, Of the independents
explained TO the commission:
Mr.. Darrow viii find in no part of thD
independent operators submission th'
statement that we cannot afford to pa
/ the increase. We contend that we ar
paying q fair wage fer a fair amount o
labor We are not here 90 show Mr.
Darrow our profits. and we contend tha
profits DO not fix the rate Of wages"
Chairman Gray. in making his decision
on the objection. said,
Il do not think the profits Of the op
orators should be considered a criterion
NOT the sole criterion-of the measur
Of wages to be paid the miners And ye
1t has a bearing on the situation. 7 d
not see how the exceptional price Of coa
due to the famine has bearing on thi
general question.
"The question before US is. What is fai
/ In profit taking? We would not be abb
20 shut our eyes entirely 10 the marke
price Of coal. though the question q
wages is not to be settled by the profits q
employers"
Attorney Warren said that the seal
Of selling prices al tidewster could b
submitted to the commission and thu
save time.
Call Unexpected.
Mr.. Crawford again explained:
4 This call was unexpected ! has
been absorbed in this controversy an
have not followed prices"
Mr.. Darrow resumed his oxaminatio
and asked.
z How much coal do you miner
Nine hundred 10 one thousand TOT
month"
=, And you mean 10 say you DO not knO
q how much you are getting for this coal
. Il do not know I shipped the co,
q 10 the Delaware. LackaWanna, and Wes