The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-17

There has been differences between
on rare occasions on account of other
matters, but they have always been ad-
justed amicably. q. And those We're rare
occasions, as you say? a. Ies, sin. q.
And were slight matters? y. Very few
serious differences.
@. Not going at all TO the effective
working of the mines, or the discipline of
them? a. think that the discipline in
the mines hase been very satisfactory in
the soft coal fields.
@. In what states have these agreements
been most successfully carried out, in
your Judgment? A. Well. ] think tHat
they have been more successful. because
they have been more complete, in the
states of Iowa. Illinois, Indiana and Ohio.
| think there they have been more COM
plete.
Q. Would you be surprised to learn that
the bituminous operators or a consider
able number of them reported that as a
result of those agreements, so far from
any Improvement being noticeable in con-
sequence of them (reading): ION the
contrary, in many mines there has been
a considerable Increase in the proportion
of fine coal (wastc). We have reports
from nearly all the larger operators in
the mine scale districts of the state and
the burden of their testimony is that there
is no Improvement in the methods OF min
ing, and consequently no decrease in the
proportion of fine coal and no improve
ment whatever in the quality of the lump
coal. Things have grown worse instead Of
better.' Would you be surprised at such
IA statement at that from one of the best
states, one of the states YOU have named
as the best. Would YOU be surprised TO
learn that a considerable body of the
bituminous coal operators in the state of
Illinois made that statement?
a. No. | would not be surprised that
they made the statement, for | can cN-
plain the conditions under which they
made it,
c. l wish YOU would?
"A, understand that they were about to
enter Il convention with the miners in
which they We're going to ask for changes
in their prices, and We're preparing an ar
gument in favor of Il change in conditions
OF work. However, the very statement
they make is not sustained by the Off
cal reports of the mine inspection bu-
reau of Illinois. In fact the contrary is
true, showing that there has been "A very
decided improvement,
O. But We have discarded the reports of
the mine inspection bureau, Your friends
i'm the rear of the room laughed and
jeered at it? A. They We're men that
worked more than three hours Mr.. Mae
Neagh.
c. Mine inspection bureau reports in
Illinois are very good; mine inspection re-
ports in Pennsylvania are worthless.
Now would you be surprised 10 learn that
these operators declare: "ln the shoot
ing there is still the same tendency TO
over-shoot the coal that prevailed under
our previous agreements You need not
be reminded that the operators complain
of this excessive use of powder at our
several state conventions, and i'm all of
our joint meetings that have taken place
since the interstate movement was inaug-
urated In many instances the reports
To this office show clearly that large con-
sumers of coal have complained as never
before of the inferior quality of coal pro-
duced in the state of Illinois,
@. Would you be surprised to learn that
their commissioner said, II have myself
visited every scale district in the state,
and while there Is less friction than for
merly prevailed between the coal opera
tors and coal miners, and while | am sat-
istied that the relations between the em-
ployer and employe are more cordia. than
ever before. still l find that everywhere
the complaint is made that the quality OF
coal produced under the mine run sys-