The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-11-25

Scranton, Pa, November 2O.-The
economic and sociological eatur OF
the anthracite coal industry and the
employment in and about the mines and
upon the health of the mine workers
were the principal subjects brought
before the arbitration committee today,
by the attorneys OF each side to the
controversy. While there was an entire
absence of OratOry or brilliant cross
examination which marked the pro-
cecdings during the last few days, the
cToss-examinatiOn nevertheless closely
held the attention of the commissioners
and they gained much information on
the features touched upon by wit
nesses.
The afternoon session was particu-
larly interesting because it brought out
much expert testimony on the question
of the health of the mine workers.
Three physicians who have practiced
in ; rantOn and Wilkesbarre. took the
stan. Tor the miners and in substance
testif that the occupation of a mine
wOrke- was very u~nhealthful," and
shOTteT. his life. One physician. DR..
Frank /. Lenahan. of Wilkesbarre, who
.ays h. has had a long experience
SmOng mine workers, testified tina
fully 80 per cent. of the men who work
IL the mines are anaemic. Then
hath is impoverished. and their gen
eral condition is below par, thus de-
CseaSing their earning powers. The
principal ills suffered by the miners.
/ nhH-ciaFa. nc cold 1r-1-. a. -:z---
asthma, rheumatism, lumbago and
sC9atica. The miners asthma comes
fr.m coal dust, powder smoke and Wit
lated air. DR.. John O'Malley, of Scron.
ton. said that at postmOrtems, he had
seen miners lungs as black as antbra-
cite itself. and Dr.. Lenahan testified he
had personal knowledge of a man
coughing up Goa dust nine years after
he left the mines. He said he had in
formation that Il man had cOughed up
coal dust fifteen years after he had
eft the mines. 1t was also stated that
ninety per cent. of miners who reach
the age of so years are affiliated with
-sCnA form of rheumatism.
'rhe crOSS-eXaminatiOn of Rev. DR..
liter Roberts. d. D., of Mahaney
4 y, Pa, who has studied the anthra-
= = GAL industry and written a book
{ the subjSt ended today and he left
? e witness stand shortly after the
?on reCes.
He began his testimony yesterday.
Copious extracts from his book were
read and placed on record. EN-COn~
gresham Simon 2. WOlVertOn, cOun-
sci for the Reading Company, read
much of the matter pertaining to vic
Ience in the 1900 strike, and also read
articles written by DIR. Roberts during
the progress of the late contest in
which he described in strong language,
the acts of violence, intimidation ana
~boycOtting committed during that sus-
pension. His articles spoke of some or
these acts as brutal Outrages" and
he also branded the unions action in
calling out the steam men in June as
'~foOlhardy.'
In explaining his articles. DR.. Roberts
said hat he did not wish to infer that
the organization was responsible for
all the lawlesSness committed. The
doctor said yesterday that newspaper
accounts exaggerate the amount of
lawlessnesS in the coal regions, bur
Mr.. WOlVertOn'S reading of DR. ROD
ert's description of serious acts OF Vlo-
lence and ~boyCOtting afforded much
amusement for the attorneys for the
coal companies.
DIR. Roberts gave it as his opinion
that attempts to have men
form 9 separate organization were IN
stigated by parties opposed to organ
lied labor.
III ~ 1AAON NANAN
ness of the miners contributes material
IL to the danger of his occupation,
Chairman Gray interpOSed with the re-
mark that a margin of CarelessnesS in
cident to human nature must be taken
into account when estimating the dan
ge~rOusneSS of another hazardous oCcu-
patton.
The interest in the commissioners
and their investigation has not de
creased. Each day hundreds of men
line the streets and watch the arbitra-
tors walk from the hotel to the our
room Most of them are idle mine
workers and they give the commission
ers q somewhat critical look as they
pass by
Each session of the commission finds
the hearing room damned with inter
ested persons. The commissioners con-
Time to hold daily conferences, but
what is discussed is as a rule strictly
withheld from the public.
Answering a question ~PlCpounded by
Judge Gray yesterday afternoon. DR..
Roberts said today that a comparison
of fatalities on all railroads IN the
TTnited States. with those IN the anthra-
cite fields show that 2.5 e 1000 rail
road employees are killed annually.
while 3.5 per 1000 employees were killed
In the anthracite industry. The fatan-
ties, switchmen, fagnen and Watch-
men. in 1900. he stated to be 5.3 per 1OOt
as against 5.5 per LOGO among miners
and their laborers working inside the
mines. The fact was brought out in
the course of the cross-examinatior
that the Pennsylvania legislature In
1891 passed a compulsory education law
applying to child labor Under 16 years
and that Under its provisions parents
of deIinouents AN be punished.
Answering a question by Commission
er Parker. DR.. Roberts SAID that of six.
ty-four children employed in the Oil.