The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1902-12-05

Scranton. Pa. December THE an
tnracite coal companies and theI- en-
ployes having failed 20 corac TO m
| agreement during the Thanksgiving re-
cess Of the strike commIsN.on the hear
ing of the miners side OF the case was
continued today, as heretofore and ur-
less something is done by the lawyers
on both sides to curtal matters. Its
proceedings will surely run into next
year. With the re-a-se:.,bling of The
commission today, however. there was
a revival of the talk Of settlement
"out of court" Nothing definite has
been done and neither side has ap-
preached the other ds far as can be
learned regarding further negotlntious
but as one prominent attorney express
ed it there is something in the air.
The lawyers on both sides have heard
the rumor, and profess they know
nothing about it. but would not be
surprised if something in the way of
an agreement is rea che before the
hearings are concluded "
Chairman Gray speaking for the
commission, today again oppressed the
hope that efforts wouIi be made by
both sides to agree on as many points
as possible and that the commission
was ready to lend any eCnL iIiatory
help to bring about that end.
Today proceedings were ~ = more
or less desultOry character. Six wit
neSseS were on the stand during the
two sessions. They We're President
Mitchell, two photographers, two prac-
teal miners, one of them q Hungarian.
and the wife of a German miner. Mr.
Mitchell was on the stand for short
time only. and was caiiei to show that
a 20 per cent increase in wages did not
mean a corresponding increase in the
price OF coal per ton. The photographer
produced about a half a hundred pho
tOgraphs they had taken Of The homes
of mine workers in the Hazflton dis
region. which territory was under in
vestigation today. The two miners
testified with referenc. to wages paid
and working conditions at the colliers
of Coke Brothers and Company. an
independent concern IN the HaZelton
region, and the woman, whose hus-
band is employed in the Coke mines
told a story of poverty.
The commissioners at times were
| seemingly impatient ut the way the
proceedings dragged. While they had
half dozen witnesses before them
they did not learn much more than
they already knew. Dn their trip
through the coal fields they saw housees
whose general appearance vas worse
than those pictured today and they
also received much information along
lines presented today from tie men In
| the mines which they visited. TheY
are anxious for the docdTneL tary evi-
dence, such as wage statements and
other data bearing on wages and con-
ditions. This was strongly evidenced
| today when they eagerly ge.zed upon
| the due bills handed up hy the Hun
| garian witness. Every man OF the
| commission examined these and had
| questions to ask abut them. One Of
| the commissioners SAID today il was
| PRINCIPALLY question Of wages. and
| they wanted these facts as quickly az
| they can get them. In this connection
| there was considerable Discussion be-
| tween the attorneys for all sides anl
| the commission regarding The Gocu-
mentary evidence. Both parties TO the
controversy had agreed to Try to agree
| as far as possible on all that the hun
| dreds of accountants eor difernt COM
| panies are computing. but the task is
such a stuDendous one, taking In as IL
| does about las. 600 men md boys, that
neither side is ready 10 60 into that
| feature Of the investigation
The commission has decided TO give
| all companies who have not yet be-
come party to the arbitration COM
| mission until 10 O'Clock tomorrow
morning 10 file their answer 10 Presi-
dent Mitchell's original statement Of
| the miners case.