Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-18

weigh coal. but he did not think the ex-
pense of eauipping them would be very
great. Mr.. Mitchell. answering further
questions by Mr.. Gowen, reiterated his for
mer statement that one of the principal
grievances of the men was the amount of
topping required on each car.
Mr.. Mitchell added that he had heard
of cases where the men had "cribbed''
their cars to make 1T appear that there was
more coal in them than actually was the
case. discussion followed on the question
of weighing COAL In answer to a question
from Mr.. Watkins. Mr.. Mitchell said that
the present system is not fair to all men.
For instance. where two men are work.
ing at adjoining breasts he said, where
the conditions are similar, one man loads
car of pure coal and the other man sends
out car half of which contains impurities.
The first one under the present system suf-
fers the same as the other. / believe a
man should be docked for impurities but
1t is not right to penalize the man who
sends up the pure product" 49,
General Cross-Examination.
For the first time during the session the
members Of the commission then entered
into general cross examination of the
witness on the point which the previous
testimony had not brought out.
Replying to Bishop, Spaulding Mr.. Mitch
ell said that operators could form a coali-
tion and stop the mining of coal throughout
the United States
-Iney COuiQ 90 the same as we COulQ,
said he, land especially now, when the coal
fields of the country are passing into the
hands of few men,.
Commissioner Watkins thought the law
would prevent the operators doing that, by
reason of their Incorporation, but Mr..
Mitchell said that they had the right to
shut down their mines
Judge Gray asked the witness If his So
ciety did not depend, after all, the old
economic truth that all great forces which
tend to uplift and carry on social advance
ment and civilization depend upon the aver
age desire of the individual to better his
own condition and to work for wages, and
upon the desire of a man who has prop
erty to utilize it and get an income from
it. II think that probably is true" was
Mr.. MitchelPS response.
Judge Gray: eff you can imagine all men
ceasing to work at once the whole social
machine would STOP
Mr. Mitchell said: yes
Commissioner Wright asked: ''Do you
consider it justitiable for the employers in
a certain district, in order to resist the de-
mands of the labor union, to paralyze that
industry or any group of industries?"
mo, 1 do not think it is proper" Mr..
Mitchell replied.
Would the same answer be made if I
should substitute unions instead of en-
'I think in either case" answered Mr..
Mitchell, some other avenue of adjustment
than the paralyzation of the industry
should be sought"
why Union Does NOT incorporate.
Mr. Mitchell, answering the commission
ers, said the United Mine Workers did not
incorporate because the step was not neces-
sary. An organization to become finan-
cially responsible, he said, must have a
large fund, and this the working people did
not have He said that employers who object
to treating or contracting with the union
because 1t is not incorporated would oppose
treating with it anyhow.
Commissioner Wright asked Mr. Mitchell
what he meant by recognition Of the union,
and the witness replied: "It means that the
employers shall make agreements reguat-.
ing hours of labor, wages, ETC., with the
union, and that the union. as such, would
be held responsible for rigid compliance
with those agreements. t
The cross examination was next taken up
by w. w. Ross of New York, counsel for
the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western.
who had just begun to question tie wit
ness when the noon recess hour arrived,