Evening journal., 1902-11-19
LABOR LEADER
GROWING WEARY
From the Strain Of Cross-ex-
animation by Lawyers for
Operators
HAS A TILT WITH LAWYER ROSS

fourth successive day occupied the
witness stand during the two sessions
OF the strike commission. and was
cross-examined by three attorneys foI
as many coal companies. The arbitro-
tors are growing restless in conse
quence Of she long cross-examination.
which apparently docs not bring out
the facts as quickly as the commits.
sion would like to have them present
ed. Several times during the course
of yesterdays session Chairman Gray
reminded the attorneys of the value
OF time and suggested that cross-exam,
ination be limited to new features Of
those questions that have already
been gone over. The lawyers assured
the commission that they, too were
anxious to expedite matters, and would
do everything possible to hurry mat
ters along without inIuring their own
case.
Mr. Mitchell has been on the stand
since last Friday morning and is show
ing signs OF wearlness from the strain
OF four days cross-examination. Thus
far his attorney, c. S. Darrow, and
David Wilcox. for the Delaware and
Hudson; Wayne MacVeagh. for the
Erie; Francis l. Gowen, for the Le-
high Valley, and w. w Ross, for the
Delaware. Lackawanna and Western
Company, have examined the miners
president. The commissioners yester-
day for the first time entered into the
discussion with the lawyers and the
witness over disputed points which
arose from time TO time. Mr.. Mitchell
was stlil on the stand when the com
mission adjourned.
Mr.. MacVeagh. who began his cross
examination of Mr.. Mitchell on Sat
urday, concluded yesterday morning
The recognition of the union is looked
upon as the most important question
before the commission, and it is quite
evident from the trend of the proceed
ings thus far that the companies will
oppose Il to their utmost ability.
Mr. Ross line of examination was
for some time directed toward testing
Mr.. Mitchells knowledge of bitumln-
GUS mine working the number OF men
employed, the wages paid and com
parison of these with the wages paid
In the anthracite fields. Regarding
the number of hours the men work in
the hard coal regions. Mr.. Mitchell
said that when the breaker runs 10
hours, the men usually work seven,
eight or nine hours. When the
breaker runs less the men work IN
proportion. On the average, however,
the men worked more hours than the
breakers.
"As a matter Of fact" said Mr. Ross,
has not your organization stopped
the miners from working on the days
when the breakers we're idle?"
Mr.. Mitchell admitted that I'm this
district the rule is that the men shall
not prepare coal on idle days This
he said was for the purpose OF pre-
venting favoritism.
"Do any of these epithets and slurs. "
Inquired Mr. Ross. "you have made re-
garding the horrible condition OF the
miners apply TO our company"
"Will you tell me particularly what
slurs you refer TOT" Mr.. Mitchell
asked. Il do not recall having used
Language of that character"
Mr.. Ross did not take any notice of
Mr. Mitchell's remark, but instead took
up the line of his examination.
"You have spoken of the existence
Of favoritism for one thing" Mr.. Ross
said, "and you referred TO the exces-
sive system Of docking. Do they exist
in our mines?"
"That is my information" was the
reply.
After some unimportant testimony
as TO a comparison OF wages, the so
cial features of the coal fields was
taken up, and Mr.. Mitchell said he
could not see any other reason in
child labor than that the families re
Quire the money to live on, the excep
tion being where the parents may bC
inhuman. He then reiterated his for
mer statement that the minimum wage
J should be 5000 a year.
q I'VE might want 70 go 70 the sea
shore" said he Speaking with III
tie sarcasm, Mr.. Mitchell said tha
the company had some employees witt
had visited Philadelphia once in 2
years. and that they thereby had al
important event in their lives to relat
, to their grandchildren.
At this point Mr.. Ross took occasion
to call attention TO the fact that hi
company owned 2s4 houses, whic
were rented to the miners on an avei
age Of IS a month.
80 you see" remarked Mr.. Rosi
I'VE haven't very many houses for tn
number of employees. upward Of II
o00."
"You charge enough for the one
you do have" was Mr.. MitcheIl's dr.
4 response. which caused merrimer
Z among the miners in the court room.