Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-12-11
J.L,CRAWFORDCALLED.
Miners Attorneys Spring
Surprise on Operators.
ASK PRICE OF COAL
THE OPERATOR HESTTATEs TO.
GIVE INFORMATION.
Finally Acknowledges the Railroads
Pay Him $3.50 Ton at
the Mine.
ASK PRICE OF COAL

SCRANTON, Pa, December n.-Lawyers
for the miners sprung a surprise on the
coal companies at the opening Of today s
proceedings by calling to the witness stand
]. L. Crawford, one Of the prominent inde-
pendent operators. He is president Of the
Peoples Coal Company, which operates
the Oxford colliery of Scranton. Mr..
Crawford who has been attending the ses-
sions each day, was surprised to be called,
and he remarked as he took the stand:
This is new turn of AFFAIRS
when did you ship coal last?" said Mr..
Darrow.
Yesterday
What are you getting for it?'
81 don't know exactly"
"Can you come near it?'
II can if 1 want to-"
Don't you want tor
mo. SIR
'You are a party to this commission and
dents?''
"Yes, SIR
Then you refuse to give this commits
sion that information?'
II don't think l am compelled to tell.
(which road do you sell to?'
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
What do you get for it?'
about 65 per cent Of what the Delaware,
Attorneys Raise Objection.
At this point attorneys for the operators
objected to the inquiry proceeding any
further along the lines of what a company S
profits were.
Mr. Darrow said he called the witness to
show that the coal companies were able to
pay the advance in wages asked for Wayne
MacVeagh in his cross-eXamination of Mr..
ha iQtim1ted n
crease If granted would ultimately be placed
on the bowed backs of the poor and he
wanted to show that the companies are we'll
able to give the increase asked for without
putting 1t on the poor.
Mr. Darrow then continued the examina-
ton.
How many tons do you produce day?'
Nine hundred to 900 tons
And you don't know how much you get
for it?''
Il can give an estimate "
well, what is it?'
About $50 a ton"
On further examination Mr.. Crawford
said that during the latter part of the strike
his colliery was In operation and he got $40
a ton for his coal.
Chairman Gray here stopped the examina-
prices during the strike were not pertinent
to the inquiry
Conditions at Pardee Colliery.
Inc miners attorneys CaleQ several W.T.
nesses who told Of conditions at the col
lieries Of the A. Pardee Company In the
Hazleton region. One Of the witnesses was
boy who said he lost leg In the mines,
received nothing for its loss. but instead
when he returned to work the company
took off his wages his fathers debt
Mr.. Darrow here announced that the
miners expect to close their case this week,
and now gave notice for the other side to
be ready next week.
The companies attorneys said they desir-
ed a recess for a short time after the miners
close, to complete the preparation Of their
case.
Chairman Gray said he hoped there would
be no interruption in the sessions.
Size Of Cars Increased.
Three witnesses who are employed In the
mines Of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western were called to testify to the sizes
of the cars at the companys collieries.
They claimed their size was increased with
out a corresponding increase in pay. The
company maintained that the car grievance
was adjusted, but this the men deny.
Rev. ]. ]. O'Donnell priest of Oliphant.
testified that the mine workers Of his town
were, generally speaking law abiding and
that there was very little violence. He
sympathized with the men, he said, be-
cause he believed their cause was just and
that they had done every thing honorable
to avoid the strike.