The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-11-12
BAER SUBMITS REPLY
PRESIDENT or COAL ROAD AN
SWERS PRESIDENT MITCHELL.
TAKES CHARGES SERIATIM
AND MAKES Specific ANSWER TO
EACH ONE,

Admits That His Company owns
Thirty-seven Galleries, and That
before the strike 1t Employed
Nearly 25,OOO People specifica-
tiOns Are Nine in Number and
Comprise n General Denial of All
of the Charges Brought by the
extraordinarily OmciaI Posi-
ton Ignored in the Reply.
Washington, Nov. 1.-THE reply of
President George f. Baer of the Phil
adelphia 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 to-day given
to the public. Mr.. Baer makes no ref
erence to Mr.. Mitchell as the president
of the miners organization, but refers
to him simply as an individual. Taking
up the specifications in Mr.. Mitchelfs
charge seriatim, Mr. Baer first admits
that his company owns thirty-seven
collieries, and that before the strike it
employed 26.S29 people.
Following is a brief summary of the
response to MIR. Mitchells other specif-
cations:
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, that the
rate of wages paid for the mining of
anthracite 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 condi-
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 the work
in the anthracite mines.
Sixth. This specification made by
| Mr.. Mitchell is referred to as vague
for specific answer, but in a general
| way it is stated that the anthracite re-
gions are among the most prosperous
in the United States.
Seventh The company pronounces
for a reduction of 20 per cent in hours
of labor without a reduction of earn
ings for time employees. and this de-
mand is denounced as impracticable. In
this connection 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 a temper
airy advance in price was made by this
company. but it will be impractical BILE
to continue such increase when mining
operations become normal"
Eighth. Mr.. Baer says that his COM
pany has no disagreement with any of
its 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 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 almost daily occurrences; that
men have worked when and as they
pleased, and that the cost of mining
has been greatly increased He also
takes the position that the jurisdiction
of the commission is limited to the
condition named by the coal company
presidents which excludes the United
Mine Workers from any recognition in
the proceedings. He says, however,
that when labor organization limit
ed to anthracite mine workers is Gre
ated which shall obey the law, respect
the right of every man to work and
honestly cooperate with employees,
trade agreement may become practi-
| cahIe