The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1902-11-19
has property to utilize it and get an in

has property to utilize it and get an in
come from IL.
II think that probably is true" was Mr.
Mltchelfs response.
Judge Gray-If you can imagine all men
ceasinS to work at once. the whole social
machine would stop.
Mr. Mitchell-Yes
Commissioner Wright asked: DO you
consider II justifiable for the employers
In certain district, in order to resist the
demands OF the labor union, 10 paraIyae
that industry, or any group OF industries?
NO. do not think it is proper Mr.
Mitchell replied.
would the same answer be made II
ployers"
II think in either case" answered Mr..
Mitchell, some other avenue of adjust
ment than the paralyZation of the indus
try should be sought"
Mr.. Mitchell. answering commissioners,
said the United Mine Workers did not in
corporate because the step was not neces-
sary. IAN organization, to become finan-
cial!y responsible, he said must have
large fund, and this the working people
did not have. He said that employers who
object to treating or contracting with the
union because 1t is not Incorporated, would
oppose treating with 1t anyhow"
Commissioner Wright asked Mr.. Mitchell
what he meant by recognition of the union,
and the witness replied ut means that
employers shall make agreement regulat-
Ing hours Of labor, wages, etc., with the
union. and that the union, such. would
be held responsible for a rigid compliance
with those agreements"
The cross-examination was next taken I'D
by w. w. Ross, of New York, counsel for
the Delaware. Lackawanna & Western,
VINO had Just begun to question the wit
ness when the noon recess hour arrived.
BITUMINOUS MINERS.
In the afternoon Mr. Ross's line of exam
lining was for time directed toward
testing Mr.. Mitchells knowledge of bitum-
inous mine working, the number of men
employed, the wages paid and comparison
of those with the wages paid in the anthra-
cite fields. Regarding the number of hours
the men work in the hard coal regions, Mr..
Mitchell said that when the breaker runs
ten hours the men usually work seven, eight
or nine hours. When the breaker runs less
the the men work In proportion on the aver aver
age, however, the men worked more
hours than the breakers.
has not your organization stopped the
miners from working on the days when
the breakers were idle?"
Mr.. Mitchell admitted that in this dis
trict the rule Is that the men shall not pre-
pare coal on idle days. This. he said. was
Tor the purpose of preventing favorftism.
do any of these epithets and slurs," in
quired Mr.. Ross, you have made regard
ing the horrible condition of the miners
apply to our company"
"Wiil you tell me particularly what slurs
you refer to?" Mr.. Mitchell asked. Getting
no direct answer, he, with some spirit, re-
pedteu HIS query, saying Wouiu hhe
| you to refer specifically to what you mean
| by slurs. L do not recall having used
| language of that character"
| Mr.. Ross did not take any notice of Mr.
MitcheIs remark. but instead, took up
the line OF his examination. After some
| unimportant testimony as to comparison
| of wages, the social features of the coal
| fields was taken up, and Mr.. Mitchell said
| he could not see any other reason In child
labor than that the families required the
money to live on, the exception being where
| the parents may be inhuman. He then re-
| terated his former statement that the
minimum wage should be $500 year. I'VE
might want to go to the seashore," said
| Mitchell said that the company had some
| employees who had visited Philadelphia
once in twenty-four years and that they
thereby had an important event in their
lives TO relate to their grandchildren
| At this point Mr.. Ross took occasion to
| call attention to the fact that his COM
| pany owned 2S4 houses which were rented
to the miEers on an average of per
month. so you see," remarked Mr. Ross,
I'VE have not very many houses for the
number of employees. upwards of 1900"
You charge enough for the ones you do
have was Mr.. Mitchells dr. response.
| in the courtroom.
! After securing an expression from the
| miners president that the company paid to
the stockholders rs per cent on their cap
| ital stock, Mr.. Ross inquired If he was not
| incorrect.
"I think the figures were that" said Mr.
| Mitchell. There are a good many meth
ods for putting profits away in railroad"
Answering Judge Gray. Mr.. Mitchell ad-
| mitted that about 10 per cent. of the total
| production of anthracite coal was put out
| on the weight basis.
| til 10 o'clock tomorrow, Mr.. Mitchell still
| being on the stand