Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1902-11-13
NITGHE[[ IS
ANSWERED
!. BY BAER
fs ecli AHN
..
PRESIDENT OF PHILADELPHIA
AND READING COAL C0MPA-
NY ANSWERS SPECIFICALLY
THE CLAIMS OF MITCHELL.

d WASHINGTON, Nov. 1.-THE reply Of
George F. sBaer, of the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal company, to the charges
of President Mitchell, of the United Mine
workers, which has been presented to the
anthracite coal strike commission, was
today given to the public.
Mr.. Baer makes no reference to Mr..
Mitchell as the president of the miners
organization, but refers to him simply
as an individual
Taking up the specifications in Mr..
MitchelIs charges seriatim, Mr.. Baer
first admits that his company owns thir-
ty-seven collieries and that before the
strike IT employed $3.50 people. Follow
ing Is a brief summary of the response
to Mr.. Mitchells other propositions:
Second, The demand for 20 per cent in
wages on piece work is denounced as
"arbitrary unreasonable and unjust.
The company contends that after making
AN necessary allowance for different con-
ditions. that the rate of wages paid for
mining anthracite coal is as high as
that paid in the bituminous coal fields.
Third, the company denies that the
present scale of wages is lower than is
paid in other occupations in the same
locality and controlled by like conditions.
Fourth and fifth, Mr.. Baer denies that
the earnings of the anthracite workers
are less than average earnings for other
occupations requiring skill and training
and also the charge that the earnings
are insufficient because of the dangerous
character of the work in the. anthracite
mines.
sixth. this specification made by Mr..
Mitchell IS referred to as too vague for
specific answer but in general way II
Is stated that the anthracite regions are
among the most prosperous in the United
States.
Seventh. the company pronounces as
amjust and inequitable the demand Tor
a reduction of twenty per cent in hours
of labor without a reduction OF earnings
for time employed and this demand Is
pronounced impracticable. In this con-
nection the following statement is made:
Because of the injury to the mines
by the strike of the United Mine WORK
ers of America, the cost Of producing coal
has been greatly increased, and tenn
porary advance in price was made Dy TINS
company. but It win De Impracticable to
continue such increase when mining OPP
erations become normal"
Eighth. Mr.. Baer says his company
has no disagreement with any OF its en-
ployes about the Weighing of coal, be-
cause the quantity is usually determines
by measurement and not by. weight.
X Ninth, replying to the fourth demand
made by Mr. Mitchell, Mr.. Baer says
since the advent of the United Mine
Workers organization into the anthracite
fields business conditions there have been
intolerable;. that the output of the mines
has decreased; that discipline has been
destroyed: that strikes have been OF al
most daily, occurrence; that men have
worked when and as they, pleased, ana
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 exclude
the United Mine workers from any recog-
milton in the proceedings. He says. how
ever. that when labor organization
alimited to anthracite, mine workers is
created which shall obey the law, respect
the right of every man to work ana non
eetlI, -co.operate with employers, trade
agreementsg may become practicable.