The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1902-12-16
LIVES GIVEN TO MoLOCK OF GREED.
Little Girls Testify Before the Arbitrators-
Indignation is Aroused.
(By the Associated Press }

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 15.-The mine work.
ers after occupying nineteen days in
presenting about 16O witness, closed
their case before the Anthracite Coal
Strike Commission, late this afternoon,
excepting that they will call one impor-
tant witness tomorrow morning The af-
ternoon session was one of the most inn
portant sittings the commission has yet
held, because the question of whether
the close relationship of the coal-carry-
ing railroads with the mining companies
shall figure in the commissions effort to
adjust the controversy, came squarely
before the arbitrators. The decision of
the commission, if Chairman Grays re-
marks can be so called, was briefly this:
That the commission, in a general way,
is averse to widening the scope of the
investigation beyond the terms of the
submissions of the miners and the opera
tors; that in carrying on the investiga-
tion it assumes the coal companies can
afford to pay fair wages, and that if a
business cannot pay fair wages the en-
ployer ought to get cut of it.
The mine workers depended a great
deal On the evidence they had to present
to show that the coal-carrying railroads
control the coal companies, and that the
railroads charge exorbitant ard discrim-
mating freight rates, thus greatly de-
creasing the revenue of the mining pror-
critics. The miners wanted tot present
this evidence in documentary FORM but
as objection was made to it and sustained
by the commission with the above rulings,
the matter was not pressed.
Several little girls employed in silk
mills were called to the witness stand
during the day, and as a result Chairman
Gray plainly gave his opinion of parents
who send their children to work at a
tender age. Annie Denks, aged 13 years,
said she worked at night from $3.50
o'clock till $50 in the morning. She
had to stand up all night during her
work and received So cents a night.
When the girl said she was employed at
night, every member of the commission
seemed shocked. Judge Gray appeared
especially indignant He asked her
where her father worked, and she told
him in the mines. The girl also told the
number of persons in the family and fin-
ally Judge Gray said he would like to
see the father. II would like to see the
fathers of these girls" he repeated. 1T
may be necessity to send them to the
mills, but don't think a father has a
right to coin the fish and blood of his
children into money. It's an outrage. 1
would like to see what instincts he has. -
The chairman of the commission spoke
with much feeling and his views ap-
parently received the approval of the
other commissioners
Mr.. Darrow, for the miners, said it
was not altogether the fault of the par
ents, but the employers are to blame
for not paying wages enough to permit a
man 10 keep his children in school. Judge
Gray replied THAT may be, but there
are miners who receive enough money to
enable them to keep their children out of
the work house"
Judge Gray inquired as to the law in
Pennsylvania regarding child labor at
night. One statute was found which par
TALLY covered the case and the chairman
remarked that it seemed as though the
statutes of Pennsylvania in this part Of
the State do not seem to bother any
one.