The Savannah morning news., 1902-11-19

enable them to weigh coal, but he did
not think the expense of equipping
them would be great.
Mr.. Mitchell, answering further
questions by Mr.. Gowan. reiterated his
former statement that one of the prin>
cipal grievances of the men was the
amount of topping" required on each
car.
For the first time during the session
the members of the commission then
entered into a general eross-examina-
ton of the witness on points which
the previous testimony had not brought
out.
Discussion of Economics.
Replying to Bishop Spalding. Mr..
Mitchell said that operators could form
a coalition and stop the mining of
coal throughout the United States.
Commissioner Watkins thought the
law would prevent the operators doing
that by reason of their Incorporation,
but Mr.. Mitchell said they had the
right to shut down their mines.
Judge Gray asked the witness If his
society did not depend, after all. on
the old economic truth that all great
forces which tend td uDlift and carry
on social Advancement and civilization
depend upon the average desire of the
individual to better his own condition
desire of man who has property to
utilize and get an income from it.
Il think that probably is true" was
Mr. MitchelFs response.
Judge Gray-"If you can imagine all
men ceasing to work at once, the
whole social machine would stop"
Mr.. Mitchell-"Yes."
Commissioner Wright asked:
DO you consider it iustifiable for
the employers in a certain district, in
order to resist the demands of the
labor union, to paralyze that indus
try or any group of industries"
mo, 1 do not think it is proper"
Mr.. Mitchell replied.
would the same answer be made IL
l should substitute unions instead of
employers -,
Mr.. Mitchell. some other avenue OF
adjustment than the paralyzation of
the industry should be sought"
wouldn't Notice Corporation.
Mr.. Mitchell, answering commission
ers, said the United Mine. Workers
did not incorporate because the step
was not necessary. An organization to
become financially 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 I'M
ion because it is not incorporated would
oppose treating with it. anyhow.
Commissioner Wright asked Mr..
Mitchell what he meant by recognition
of the union. and Mr. Mitchell said:
1T means that the employers shall
make agreements regulating hours OF
| labor, wages, ETC., with the union and
that the union. as suth. would be held
responsible for a rigid compliance with
those agreements.
| The cross-examination was mex
| taken up by w. w. Hoss of New York
counsel for the Delaware, Lackawanns
and Western, who examined Mr. Mitch
ell at great length on bituminous min
ing in and about Spring Valley, Ill.
where Mr.. Mitchell dug coal for doz
| en- years
Mr.. Ross passed to the hours worked
| by miners, and in the course of a Ions
line of questions. Mr.. Mitchell sale
that on the days the breakers arr
worked ten hours the miners are in the
mines seven, eight and nine hours The
attorney then took up the questions o.
| increase in wages, and the witnes.
stood by the reasons given in his pre-.
liminary statement of the miners case
| to the commission.