New-York tribune., 1902-12-05
JUDGE GRAY SURPRISED.
STRANGE. HE THINKS. THAT MINERS
WANT THE INSPECTORS ELECTED.
WORKER TELLS COMMISSION THAT HE
ONCE HAD SD N HIS PocKET-PRoS-
PECT OF A SETTLEMENT.
fly rrIEGaApH TO THE TsIBUSE.I ]

fBY TrLB6RAPH TO THE TBJBUSE.I
Scranton, Penn. Dec 1.-The Strike Aroitra-
ton Commission to-day heard a number OF W.T.
,lesses from the Bazleton region and two from
tie upper coal field. II not until the latter
came to the stand that the attorneys for the big
operators took part in the proceedings Then
Major Warren for the Delaware, Lackawanna
snl Western Joined in the questioning. Before
that Mr.. Lenehan. for the non-union men, and
the attorneys for the independent operators
had done the cross-exam mining. The evidence
was as to conditions of wages, work and black
listing. It developed an important discussion
however on the tIIre of the mine inspectors
work and the commission decided that this
should be inquired into. The inspectors will be
invited to give their views
The mine workers say that while the mine in
spectors may be fair enough. they are accom-
panied in their inspections by the mine foreman
and the workers who may have some complaint
10 make do not feel liberty TO do so. owing
10 the fear of discrimination afterward. The
complaint might show that the mine foreman
had been derelict in his duty and arouse his
entagonisn. Judge Gray said that the COM
mission synapa thized with the mine workers,
and be desired to have the mine inspectors ex-
anined to see if it We're moi possible for them TO
70 about the mime without the escort Of officials.
He was surprised when he was told that by a
bin which the rnine workers helped 10 get
through the legislature the mine inspectors are
elected TO office h1stead of being appointed on
the recommendation of a board Of three miners
snd two mining engineers. formerly
10 you mean elected by the whole people,
whether they are miners or not he exclaimed
He was told that this
7 am surprised" he said. THAT is all can
say should ti,5nk that Of sIl things in the
world the mine workers would oppose it IT is
dragging this important Office into politics
President Mitchell explained that the mine
workers believed that if the inspector We're
elected he would dc his work better
PRETTY THEORY.
THAT is very PRETTY Theoretically said Judge
Gray but my experience has been different
The principal question ROW is. is he good
s1iner and has he z knowledge of mining? 1t
will in the future. I should judge from my ex-
7erience III practical politics. be- Is he a Repub-
licsn or a Democrat?
The position Of The Pennsylvania Railroad
Company is not clear to the commission II
has received letter from Vice-President Isaac
II Nistar of PHILADELPHIA agreeing TO accept
the finding Of the commission for the COM
Ianies ile represents. The commission has no
official knowledge of what companies these are
The PENNSYLVANIA controls the Susquehanna
coal Company. the Mineral Spring Company
and Union Coal Company. When an employe
discharged by the Susquehanna Coal Company
went on the stand this afternoon MI Burns,
for the Independent operators, objected to his
evidence on the ground that the company was
not before the commission Mr.. Wistar's letter
was read. but. as it ambiguous. the wit
ness dismissed.
Andrew Matey, vice president of the Hazleton
district was the first witness this morning. He
IS an intelligent Hungarian who has been in
this country nearly twenty years. During that
time he has made about $3.50 year, and, when
asked how much money he had saved, proudly
said that once he had as much $50 In his
pocket. He works for Coke Bros. & Co.
John Ferrara made a point on which the N
EMISSION expressed the wish to inquire further.
He said that while he had 20 pay laborer IN
Coke Brothers mines 81 6e or 81 "a for breast
sr gsngway work, the company took the same
5nan as q Ialporer for only 81 % Ferrara said
that from 1855 To the last strike he had saved
TIE WORK OF THE FIREMEN.
The first description of the work of a fireman
was given when Jacob Ansbach. also a Coke
Brothers elnpIoye, took the stand He said that
he worked one week from a. ~ to 4: 30 p.
and the next reversed these hours His pay
was 81 90 a DAY. Every other Sunday he
worked twenty-four hours at stretch In the
six years he had had his place, ne paid between
500 and $500 house which he had bought
for $500.
Father J. y Hussie, pastor Of ST Gabriel's
Church Of Hazleton who has been a close friend
Of the mine workers. said, Of the living condl-
1ions- There has not been much change in the
last six years The condition IN and about
TTazleton is deporabe- say il without any col
o-ing The people are barely able to exist
understand that am under oath. and that L am
presenting this 10 the entire American people,
and 1 am careful and cautious in what say
The homes merely hahitations-
The deplora bic condition is most striklngly
evident in cases nf sickness the sick being 1l-
bic TO. secure bare necessities. Markle & 20.
have burial fund. because their people cannot
save enough money insure them burial The
foreigners have burial societies 1t is impossl-
bile TO keep families together- The children have
O leave their homes and get work The average
age when the miners children leave school IS
little over eleven years
Joh1, Price a check weighrnan. who was be
fore the strike employed by the miners Of the
Susquehanna Coal Company, testified that be-
fore check weigh1nen We're employed the dock
ing amounted 70 between = and 10 per cent, out
since he went 10 the mine where he worked ii
had been only IL per cent. After the strike the
eoInranz h declared. refused to re-employ the
check weighFner and said that tney would not
he allowed IN the breaker until the commission
had announced its findings. It was al this point
the objection was made. the ground that the
Susquehanns Coal Company was not a party 10
the agreement
A number Of other mine workers are TO be
heard Tomorrow, particularly with regard to
alleged alacklisting.
STILL WORKING FOR SETTLEMENT
Tho outlook for a settlement similar to the one
prevented by the independent operators is again
bright There are now under way negotiations
which mas within a week end in the submission
10 the commission Of an agreement on the chief
questions in dispute Tonight Wayne Mac
Neagh and President Mitchell had short con-
ference. about which each declined TO speak,
and then Mr. Mitchell spent some time IN con-
sultation with MesSrs- Darrow and Lloyd. His
attorneys express the opinion that If will not be