The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1902-11-15
BAER'S REPLYTOMINERS
Says Demand For 20 Per Cent In
crease is Arbitrary and Unjust.
NO ILLEGAL CHILD LABOR
Readings President Maintains That
Rate Of Wages Paid For Mining An
thracite Is As High As That Paid
Enr Riturninnnr

thracite Is As High As That Paid
For Bituminous.
Washington. Nov. ~. President
Baer. of the Philadelphia and Reading
Coal and Iron Company. has filed with
the anthracite coal strike commission
the reply OF that company to the de-
mands made by John Mitchell, presi-
dent of the Mine Workers OF America
concerning The points involved in the
anthracite coal strike. Mr.. Baer makes
no reference to Mr.. Mitchell as the
president of the miners organization.
but refers to him simply as an individ-
ual. Taking up the specifications in
Mr.. Mitchelrs charges seriatim. Mr..
Baer first admits that his company
owns 81 oollieries. and that before the
strike it employed 26.S29 people Fol-
lowing is a brief summary of the re-
Spouse to Mr.. Mitchell's other specif-
cations:
Second-The demand for 20 per cent.
increase in wages on piece work is
denounced as arbitrary, unreasonable
and unjust" The company contends
that after making all necessary allow
ance for different conditions that the
rate of wages paid for the mining Of an
thracite coal is as high as that paid in
the bituminous coal fields.
Third-The company denies that the
present rate Of wages is lower than Is
paid in other occupations in the same
locality and controlled by like condi-
tons.
Fourth and fifth-Mr. Baer denies
that the earnings of the anthracite
workers are less than theaverage earn
ings of other occupations requiring
skill and training. and also the charg,
that the earnings are insufficient be
cause OF the dangerous character o
work in the anthracite mines.
Sixth--This specification made by
Mr.. Mitchell is referred to as toe
vague for specific answer. but in a gen
eral way it is stated that the anthracite
regions are among the most prosper
Gus in the United States.
This company denies that the chill
dren of the anthracite mine work--y are
prematurely forced into the breakers
and mills instead OF being supported
and educated upon the earnings Of their
parents because of low wages OF such
parents. or that such wages are below
the fair and just earnings OF mine
workers in this industry. No boys are
employed in and about the mines and
breakers in violation OF the statutes
fixing the ages of employment.
Seventh - The company pronounces
as unjust and ineQuitable the demand
for reduction OF 90 per cent. in the
hours OF labor without a reduction OF
earnings for time employees. and this
demand is pronounced as being i'm
practicable. In this connection the fol-
lowing statement is made. Because OF
the injury to the mines by the strike
of the United Mine Workers the cost
of producing coal has been greatly In
creased and a temporary advance in
price was made by this company. but il
will be impracticable to continue such
increase when mining operations be.
come normal"
Eighth-Mr. Baer says that his com
pany has no disagreement with any OF
Its employees about the weighing of coal
because the quantity is usually deter
mined by measurement and not by
weight.
Ninth-Replying to the fourth de-
mand made by Mr.. Mitchell, Mr.. Baer
says that since the advent of the
United-Mine Workers organization in
to the anthracite fields business condi-
lions there have been intoierable; that
the output Of the mines has decreased:
that discipline has been destroyed; that
men have worked when and as they
pleased, and that the cost of mining
has been greatly increased. He also
takes the position that the Jurisdiction
OF the commission is limited to the
conditions named by the coal company
presidents, which excludes the United
Mine Workers from any recognition in
the proceedings. He says, however
that when labor organization limited
to anthracite mine workers is created
which shall obey the law, respect the
right OF every man to work and honest
ly cooperate with employers, trade
agreements may become practicable"
Tammany Controls N. Y. Aldermen.
New York, Nov. 12.-Tammany Hall
yesterday secured control of the board
of aldermen, which had been controlled