The Montgomery advertiser., 1902-12-07
EVIDENCE OF AN FRESHMAN
Says He Worked 17 Years
 and Got $50 in Money.
Breaker Boys 4 Cents an Hour Goes to Pay Company Amount Owed by Father Who Was
 Killed in Mine.

Scranton, Pa., Dec. 6.-The miners hay ing finished their attack on the Coxe mines in the Hazleton region, today turn ed the attention of the coal commission to the collieries of c. B. Markle and Company in the same locality.
 The witnesses for the mine workers scored what appeared to be telling points
 with regard to wages and other condi- tions prevailing in the mines of this in dependent. company. The attorney for the company was not prepared to cross examine the witnesses on all things they testified to. and the commission has granted the company the privilege of re- calling the witnesses to the stand for the purpose of cross questioning them on some of the statements made today.
 The principal witness called against the Markles was James Gallagher who work ed in the Markle mines for thirty years. He claimed the wages were so low that he was always in debt to the company and that in seventeen years he had only once received money in wages and that was $50 He further testified that he had t' at tht NONipduy 6tOAC, lhS OHig place where the miners could get credit and the prices were from 10 to 20 per cent. higher than in other places.
 Would Give Him Bad Work.
 He said he had made large wages. as much as $7O month, and wiped out his debt, but the company would then give him such bad work that he would im- mediately go in debt again. He was evicted from his house and refused work, but he did not know why employment was not given him.
 The xlsnsas, who Is about 60 years of age and native of Ireland, kept the court constantly in good humor by his wit and sharp answers to thrusts by the lawyers. He said q man Is never called hurt in the mines until he Is half killed. He was half killed twice he said, which brought the remark from Chairman Gray that If he was twice half killed then he was now dead. This caused much merri- ment but 1t was turned Into roar of laughter when the witness replied that the first half was healed before the other half was injured
 A twelve year breaker boy was called to the stand and gave testimony to show that he was working at the Markle mines to pay off the debt incurred by his father who was killed in the mines eighteen months ago. He received no pay, but was given due bills showing how much his mother owed the company. The due bills also showed that the debt his mother was mourning. such as house rent, etc. was growing faster than he could reduce, it, as he was only getting cents an hour.
 A Contract Miner.
 The last witness was Frank Ray. a contract miner. He was explaining con- ditions in the mines with reference to the impure air and was still on the stand when the commission at 1 o'clock ad- journed until 10 a. m. Monday.
 The condition prevailing at the Lehigh Valley Company's mines will be taken up next. The miners have large number of witnesses they desire to call and there is at this time no indication when the hearings will be concluded. Some or the opeIhtors desire to place witnesses on the stand in their defense.
 Unless some agreement Is reached on many of the points at issue, 1t is likely the hearings will run into next month.
 While settlement talk Is still heard here, nothing of an authoritative nature has come to the surface. There Is still be- lief prevalent that A settlement on some points will be reached before the com mission is ready to make it's award.
 Charles S. Darrow. attorney for the miners. and Congressman John J. I.entz of Ohio left here this afternoon for Buffalo. and Henry D. Lloyd, one of MT. Nitchers advisers and Dudley Boyce of Boston departed for Boston. Their busi- ness in those cities is said to be Of private character. President Mitchell will leave here tomorrow night for New York to attend the regular meeting of the exec utive committee of the Civic Federation there Monday.