The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-12-08

meeting at Jeddo, at which President
Mitchell and George p. Markle had a
lengthy discussion, Mr.. Bedford tried to
have the witness admit that President
Mitchell directly urged the men to pay
no attention to their agreement. The
witness said that President Mitchell
was addressing Mr.. Markle and not the
men.
Another Markle & Co. miner. Frank
Ray, was called to the stand just be-
fore adjournment. He told that lie
worked in what is called a. dog hole"
which is somewhat removed from the
main airways, and that after q shot
was fired the air was sitting. He never
saw the mine inspector in his workings,
he said.
During the session, Commissioner
Watkins presented the following addi-
tional request for information to Mr..
Darrow:
After the settlement of the 1900 strike.
which. as every one knows, was settled
through the influence of outside parties
and without the principals getting to-
gether. the companies posted notice
which read about as follows:
This company makes the following an
nouncement to it's mine employees: 1t will
adjust its rate of wages so as to pay its
mine employees on and after Oct. l, a net
increase of 10 per cent on the wages
heretofore received, and will take up
with it's mine employees any grievances
which they may have
AS I remember, it was agreed through
this third party, by both sides, that the
strike should be called off and work re-
sumed if such notice We're posted by all
the anthracite mining companies, which
Ia ion
reads, all grievances will be taken up by
the companies with their own employees,
it would be inferred that there We're
some grievances on the part of the min
ers that We're not covered by the adj
vance in wages.
Attitude of Companies.
Now, what should like to know is,
whether you intend to show, or whether
you think that in taking up these Sriev-
ances there was anything in the atti-
tude of the company officials generally
toward the committees representing
these grievances that prevented their
having a fair and free discussion i'll or
der to arrive at u satisfactory settlement.
And also whether a proper effort or any
effort was made by the mine workers
to take up the grievances in that manner.
As is we'll known. Immediately after re-
sumption of work, n number OF strikes
occurred in different localities, and con-
tinucd to occur, until' the general strike
was ordered, which we are now inVes-
tcating.
The point in my question is this, to
learn whether any efforts We're made
by the companies to get into close and
more harmonious relations with their
own employees, and did the employees try
to get settlement in this manner as
stated in the notice; or was everything
regarding the adjustment of grievances
left to officers of the union, whom the
operators had said they did not wish to
treat with. And If the latter We're the
case, was it one of the reasons FOR the
constantly growing trouble and Irritation
which finally led up to the strike of May
18th.
| am of the opinion that we should
have some further light and evidence OH
the manner OF adjusting grievances in
the past, and while you may have some
witnesses for this matter whom you nave
not brought TO us vet, | am asking tho
question now, rs | think the methodS
and experiences of the past may guide
tho commission and help in finding some
satisfactory way of treating these ques-
tons in the future.
Mr.. barrow said he would endeavor
10 furnish the information wanted.
The commissioners, today, will urge
the companies to put in what statistics
they have in readiness, that they may
examine them and ascertain in what,
If any, features they are not satisfac-
tOry