The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1902-12-16
MINERS DESIRE CHILD LABOR.
HLS MADE TO WORK All NIGHT
NJ WELL-PAID PARENTS.
some Miners Making High Wages Force
Their Little Girls TO work In silk
Mills for q Mere Pittance -Indig natiOn
Of the Strike Commissioner s Aroused.

UuIs TOT u were ptttanee gna lion
Of the Strike Commissioners Aroused.
SCRANTON, Pa. Dec IS after reserving
the right to call President Samuel Com
pers OF the Federation of Labor, should he
appear here tomorrow, Mr.. barrow. Coun-
sel Tor the United Miners. at a few minutes
after o'clock this evening. closed his
case beiofe the anthracite strike com
mission
The last hours of the miners presenta-
ton of evidence were made interest ing
10y an almost continuous wrangle among
counsel over some statistical documentary
evidence that was presented by Henry
ID. Lloyd, Of counsel for the miners. bear
ing upon the alleged consolidation of the
big mining companies and the coal-csrrying
railroads, the profits of the compa MES.
the freight rate. Republication. and.
in fact all the matters that the so-cal He'd
-ociologists have been complaining about
for many years. At times there were
vigorous protests on the part Of Mr.. VOL
verton and Mr.. Torrey for the operat ors.
and at one time Mr. wolverton called out
why, that refers to sonnet hing that took
place forty years ago"
Judge Gray said that the commission
worth II might be two hours well spent
in deciding that the evidence was not
wanted He rejected, however. testimony
relating TO freight rates and the profits of
the coal companies.
During the reading OF this mass of matter
Gen. Wilson interrupted to ask lMr Lloyd
how long he had been collecting. The
witness answered,
We'll" said the General. we can't be
twenty wears in hearing il "
The introduce ion by the miners during
the morning of the testimony of silk
mill girls proved a boomerang for Mr.
barrow. He succeeded in proving that
the children of the miners go To work in
the mills before they are ~ years old. but
this testimony proved a serious reflection
on the coal miners whose children were
affected and in no way compromised the
coal operators. Judge GRAY was very
emphatic in his expression of opinion con
corning parents who would treat their
children in the manner that the miners
referred to had done and when he found
that these miners had pcrjured themselves
10 get work for their little girls, and owned
the homes they lived in, the indignation
of the Judge was increased.
The introduction of the girls As witnesses
developed these facts that aid the cause
Of the operators:
John Denko, miner AT the Gypsy Grove
colliery, Pennsylvania. Coal Company.
worked from Aug Is, 1901 to April 1902.
inclusive, eight and one-half months His
net earnings were 81 400 A. OF this one
third went to his laborer leaving him with
all expenses ia ken out 1894 90. His daughter
testified that she worked twelve hours each
night for 5ia cents an hour.
Peter SchisChak, miner ar the No / col
liery of the Pennsylvania Coal Company
worked from April /, 1901, to April, 1902.
his earnings. clear of the amount paid his
laborer and all other expenses. being 81 1915
His daughter test fled that she earned three.
cents an hour and worked all night, a
twelve-hour shift.
William Huser miner AZ No / colliarv
Of the ennsylania Coal Company worked
from October, 1901 to March, 1902. He
had no laborer and his ne, earnings were
A4e?s. for six months. His daughter
worked twelve-hour shift mig, Is for 81
cents an hour.
When the commission met { l. ironing
the question of ad; ournment was taken up
Judge Gray said that the Commissioners
wished to adjourn on Saturday until after
the holidays. Then II will I've necessary for
the commission to meet at some other place
because the superior Court will I've sitting
here after the holidays and will need to use
the courtroom in which the commission
is now sitting, Philadelphia is the place
decided upon. The commission will adj
Journ on saturday until the first Monday
following New Years, when they will meet
in Philadelphia TO conclude the taking of
testimony.
The mine workers are not prepared TO go
TO any such expense and Mr.. Darrow
said that they would probably ask the
commission to come back here 10 hear
the testimony that they will have TO offer
in rebuttal. Judge Gray informed him
q hat they would probably accommodate
them to that extent.
James McGrady, a former shipper for
the Reading Company, the first witness
Of the morning, said that he was laid off
during the strike and had had no employ
ment since. 1t turned out that there was
nothing to ship, there being no coal mined
and that was why he lost his place
John Macgarrah. an employee of the
Reading. Company, former fire boss esaid
that he failed to get his place back. He
admitted on cross examination by Mr.
Wolverton that when, a. an official of the
company, he was asked to go into the engine
house and help run pumps that he refused
In consequence of the pumps not being run
the mine was drowned out
A. ii. Mcdonald, an employee OF the
Pennsylvania Coal Company in Old Forge.
said that he had been told by the super
lntendent hat he was not wanted because
he had talked too much during the strike.
he taid that once for no reason whatever
Supt. Mcmillan had drawn up his horse
on the street and struck him across the back
with whip.
Michael Steinbracher, an employee of
the Hillside Coal and Iron Company, a
peace officer and a blacksmith, testified
that when he went back to work after the
strike he was told that there was anot her
man in his place. He denied that he refused
TO shoe mules, even when the union gave
him permission TO do 30.
Then the ELK mill girls were called The
first was Theresa McDermott aged II
years, of Dunmorc, who said thai her
father was miner AZ the collery Of the
Hayaug Coal Company at No. o. The girl
said that she had worked at the Dunn0re
silk mill for four months, ten hours n day
at 81 a week. Her father was hurt AZ he
time that she went To work There are
four children in the family and the monthly |
rental for a siN-room house il s. This Girl |
had gone to school recently.
Annie Denko, aged IA, test fled that her |
father is an employee Of the Gypsy Grove |
colery Of the Pennsylvania Coal Com
pany, al Dunmore, The girl said that She |
goes to work at $40 o'clock i'm the evening |