Evening journal., 1902-12-05
COAL M|HEERRS IMH|||H|EERS
ON THE STAND
They Tell Members of Strike
Commission Conditions
in Coal Regions
MINE INSPECTORS TO Be CALLED

Scranton, Pa, Dec. 5.-At yester-
days session of the anthracite strike
commission the representatives Of the
mine workers continued TO call wit
nesses, mostly practical miners, who
told their story of conditions as they
exist in the Hazleton or middle coal
'ields. The miners tried to show by
these witnesses that the Coke and 9th
er companies had violated the agree
ment entered into by both sides when
the commission was appointed, that
the strikers should return to work and
be given their old places back where
they had not already been filed. Some
of the witnesses called testified that
they were not given back their old
placed and maintained that men
prominent in the union in the various
localities during the strike were dis
eliminated against. The commission
has decided to invite the mine inspeo-
tors to appear before them, because
the miners claim that the workmen
fear to inform the mine inspectors of
dangerous or unhealthy places in the
mines, because the inspectors are
usually accompanied by some repre-
sentative of the company, who may
cause the mans dismissal. This is a
new point before the commission.
Rumors OF possible negotiations
looking towards a settlement outside
the commission continue to be heard.
Lawyers admit that they have heard
such rumors, but say they know moth
ing about a possible settlement What
ever is done will be first decided upon
in New York, where those in authority
to act are located. Several attorneys,
among them w. W..Ross, of-the Dela-
ware. Lackawanna and Western Com
pany, have returned to the metropolis.
Whether or not it is in connection
with peace negotiations cannot be
learned here. The opinion still pre-
walls here, and rather strongly, too
that the operators and the miners will
agree on some points before the com
mission concludes its hearings.
Jackson Ansbach, of the Hazleton
region, was an interesting witness, be-
cause he Is the first fireman TO appear
before the commission. He said he
received s1.57 for day of IL hours.
and his assistant s126. On every other
Sunday, when he and his assistant
shifted from day to night work, they
r we're compelled TO work "a hours
s lstraight without relief. This state.
b ment caused buzz through the court
+ room, and every commissioner
= Strengthened up and become more in
> terested. In answer TO a question put
by the commission, he said he was off
: duty one day every two weeks, thus
working six days one week and eight
days the following week.
: "Supposing you should fall asleep
n when you work in the long shift of "a
hours, what would happen" asked Mr.
Darrow.
"Well," he replied, 'if slept long
enough the fans would stop gas would
a accumulate in the mines. and If an OK
d lplosion took place some men might be
d killed; that's ALL"
The Rev. James V. Hussie, rector OF
ii lSt. Gabriel's Roman Catholic Church
lHazleton, was the next witness. Wher
asked to explain the general conditions
- as he found them, Father Hussie said
he had lived in the coal regions practi
lcally all his life. 1.-THE conditions II
this region" he said. "are deplorable
The mine workers are barely able L
exist. / say this without any coloring
knowing that I am under oath. real
ze that what / say is going to tn,
American people, and want to tall
cautiously. have been IN their homes
They are not homes, but merely
habtation. a resting place. They ar,
frugal, conservative, reasonable and
God-fearing people We have eigh
Catholic churches in Hazleton, an,
they are crowded every Sunday Will
worshippers. and this is no doubt tru,
Of the churches whose faith is oppose,
to ours" He also said II took on
man six years to pay of a funeral deb
of 5000.
Andrew Msttey, who was on tn
stand al the morning session, was rC
called to give more information rs
garding the alleged importation O
Slavonians TO the Coke mines. He toll
how he had been paid to go TO Hail,
ton and meet the green horns" VIII
! had been shipped" by his mothe
from Europe at the request of hin
self. who had been asked to do so b
"a a foreman employed at the Cox
] mines. Judge Gray, evidently thinl
l ing that the alien laws were being vi,
lated. became greatly interested, ant
leaning toward the witness, he said
D when was this?"
3 Seventeen years ago" replied Ii
Hungarian.