New-York tribune., 1902-12-18

requiring the pumpmen. frenen and engineers 10
only left their posts under this order but Other
men were prevented by violence. threats and all
consequences some mines mines te1 were p5s absndoned
paTty ed 70 TedrH mi M1t the ats a1d many Of them
deal Of money and loss of time for the miner so
could not obtain work in their old positions Some
e1 me mines are even yet flooded and will not be
not been for the most strenuous efforts the part
keep many of the mines in condftio5 to work but w
few miners would have been able to obtain en-
ployment after the resumption.
FLOODING WOULD PREVENT RESUMPTION
Nor could there have been general resumption
o. mining until next spring and possibly not even
attempt prevent running the pumps little or no
coal could have been furnished 10 the public dur
The respondents concede the right Of labor TO
ditions of the isboreT bnt + fee, 80 @ n ' he sIh
ject TO any control of a bitumnous coal organiza-
the yo1ngest boys S5 O are ented to S ha Of n Roe
and many of them to full votes. covering the whole
which fifteen are in the bituulinous regions and
Of the anthracite coal business in Pennsylvania
The steps that were taken which led 70 the ap-
The rst question Of impoTtan1ee to 2 be determined
alton and decision?
It is powerless to consider or take any action
upon any other questions. 1t has been conceded
during the progress of this hearing that the basis
or foundation Of the appointment of the commits
public signed by the presidents Of the coal mining
October -,
ceptance OF the terms OF this letter by the
ZION of the striking mine workers and that the
questions affecting the rates of wages paid and
the reduction of the hours of labor and in no way
ing into any agreement with that organization, as
The respondents will also show that after the
settlement OF the strike of 1900 there was an ap-
Iarently concerted effort the part Of the miners
to restrict the output OF the mines and to load
fewer wagons or cars for shift instead or SIX or
eight as before. and that this resulted in reduc-
thst the miners by an apparent UNDERSTANDING;
left their work after certain amount of coal had
thTougb the breakers during the last two hours Of
each day although the machinery running
the fun time This restriction was for the evf-
scoumnatng Stock of coal on hand to meet
ernergen lies. such as foods and strikes. and when
one months supply of coal in the market. show
a long time beforehand and carried out without
the slightest regard for the interests of the public
before this commission. in the first claim for in
crease Of 20 per cent upon the price paid during
between the mining Of biturninous coal anG an
thracite coal so as to make the wages paid to the
bitumirouS miners a standard for the payment of
ing of coal in the anthracite region is not similar
work to the mining OF bituuinous coal. and that
the rate OF wages in the mines operated through
lower than is paid TO miners in the btuminous
region. but is actually higher.
MINERS GET GOOD WAGES.
That. as a rule contract miners in the anthra-
cite field earn $500 per annum or more, and that
that all laborers are paid higher wages than those
employed in other occupations Of equal skill aud
That according to the most reliable statistics
taken from the FeP2Et Of the BqTeap e ,S St re3aS
of the Twelfth Census OF the United states. bulle-
S sonrces Ss ' it vii be show2 D1 that the earn
ings of all employees Of manufacturing establish
classes. skilled and unskiled labor. are much below
sus reports of the United States it appears that
the average earnings during the last census year
below the average earnings Of the miner in the
anthracite coal region From the report of the
labor in Pennsylvania is about one-half Of the
fners & anf pen fb 1f5s ' From se the annual
reports OF industrial statistics of Pennsylvania it
manufacturing Industries in 1901 were s. 50 day
S4.S - From the Teports OF the twelfth Census
OF the United States it appears that the average
in Pennsylvania in the counties of Car
Sn sehR and sHHan are ab6Gt
s466, Of all male employees from sixteen years OF
That the average earnings OF this class Of en-
pioyes in Lackawanra County are $9os; IN LII
s408; in Schuylkin County, s452. These cover all
industries From the report OF the
Twelfth Census Of the United States the average
earnings OF wage workers of all manufacturing |
near the anthracite region are below $50 and that
IN but three towns do they exceed 500 From the !
dustriaI Statistics of Pennsylvania, requiring |
skilled labor Of higher character than that re-
quired Of miners. il appears that the average |
rate Of wages paid the employees for the year |
1901 is s449 45 that among the industries the
Steel castings .-------..-... S4s7 OF
Steel bridges abs boous Il |
IRON and steel forgings 500 Al
ron snecialtIes ---.....--.............
bs iron
;2oIrs and nu-s
Wire nails nd rive Ga |
racks and small 800 |
Iyira 0n |
Wagons and carriage and sprngs.---.- 4S6 -