The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1902-11-12
.BAER ANSWERS MITCHELL
OPERATORS STATEMENT TO
STRIKE COMMISSION.

Coal MInera' Demand for Increase OF
Wages and Reduction in Working
Hours Denounced as Arbitrary aud
Observation-Disclosures Bad Com
ditiOns Following the Advent OF the
United MIne-wOrkers' Organization.
Washington, Nov. 1.-THE reply of
President George f. Baer. of the Pnila-
delphia and Reading Coal company, to
the charges of President Mitchell, pre-
sented in behalf of the United Mine
Workers, which has been presented to
the anthracite strike arbitration COM
mission, was given to the public to-
day. Mr.. Baer makes no reference to
MIR. Mitchell as the president of the
miners organization, but reforS to him
simply as an individual. Taking up the
specifications in Mitchelrs statements
in order, Mr.. Baer first admits that his
company owns thirty-seven collieries,
and that before the strike it employed
26,S29 persons. Following is a brief
summary of the response to Mitchells
other specifications:
Second-The demand for 20 per cent.
increase in wages on piece work is de-
nounced as arbitrary, unreasonable
and unjust The company contends
that, after making all necessary allow
ance for different conditions, the rate
of wages paid for the mining of anthra-
cite 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 condt-
tons.
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 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 it
is stated that the anthracite regions are
among the most prosperous in the
United States.
.Seventh-The company pronounces as
unjust and inequitable the demand for
a reduction of 20 per cent. in hours OF
labor without a reduction of earnings
for time employees, and this demand is
pronounced impracticabie. 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 the cost of producing coal has been
greatly increased, and temporary ad-
vance in price was made by this COM
pany, but it will be impracticable to
continue such increase when mining OPP
erations become normal"
Eighth--Mr Baer says that his COM
pany has no disagreement with any of
it's employees about the weighing of
coal, because the quantity is usually
determined 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 Unit
ed Mine Workers organization into the
anthracite ISluS buSlItoo SphalIioiiS
there have been intolerable; that the
output of the mines has decreased; that
discipline has been destroyed; that
strikes have been of almost daily occur
renee; that men have worked when and
as they please, and that the cost of
mining has been greatly increased. He
also takes the position that the juris-
diction of the commission is limited to
the conditions named by the coal COM
pany presidents, which excludes the
United Mine Workers from any recog-
milton in the proceedings. He says,
however, that when a labor organiza-
ton, limited to anthracite mine work.
ers, is created which shall obey the
law, respect the rights of every man to
work and honestly cooperate with en-
ployers, trade agreements may become
practicable"
Colonel Carroll D. Wright, of the
commission, has now received the re-
plies of all the six signatory parties
representing the coal operators to the
statement of John Mitchell. filed with
the commission. These replies will be
sent to Mr.. Mitchell and made public
tomorrow, except that of President
Baer, made public to-day