The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1902-11-12

ers and mills instead of being supported
and educated upon the earnings of their
parents because of low wages OF sucn
parents, or that such wages are below the
fair and Just earnings OF mine workers
in this industry"
1t AYERS that the state of PENNSYLVANIA
| makes large annual appropriations to
schools and that school districts levy To-
cal funds ana that the laws provide Tor
| compulsory attendance at public schools.
In the county of Schuylkill this company
paid for school taxes in the year 1901 $50
Co.,
The local school boards are elected by
| the qualified voters of the townships, bo-
| roughS and cities. The means of educa-
| ton provided by the state, through its
| system of free schools and compulsory at
| tendance, are not fully utilized. because
of the failure of the local school boards
to enforce compulsory attendance, but
| the wages paid are ample to insure a good
common school education for all children
| in the coal regions desiring to attend
school.
| No boys are employed in and about the
mines and breakers in violation of the
| statutes fixing the ages of employment.
| In addition to provisions for education,
ample hospitals are provided for the sick
| and injured in the anthracite coal re-
| gions.
anywhere else in the world a mining re-
Sion where the workmen have so many
| comforts, facilities for education, general
| advantages and such profitable employ
| mcnt
Scventh-This company denies that the
second demand. for reduction of 20 per
| cent. in hours of abor without any reCuc-
ton of earnings for all employees engaged
by the hour, day or week. is neither just
or equitable and AYERS that the reasons
assigned in support of the demand are inn
practicable, in so far as they relate to the
| mining of anthracite coal. The certified
| miners. under present conditions, seldom
work eight hours a day. The greater
cost in the production and preparation of
anthracite coal for market is not the
cutting of the coal. Many employees are
paid by the month, the pumping continues
day and night. the machinery is eXpen-
siVc, and the cost of coal is largely con,
ditonal on the collieries running fun
| time. The output. is entirely dependent
on the quantity of coal Il certified miner
Is willing to cut daily, and because of this
1t Is seldom practicable to work the break
er full time.
Shorter Hours.
In general, We deny that insofar as they
relate to anthracite mining, the ten
hour day is detrimental to the health. lite,
safety and well-being of the mine work
ers'; that Shorter hours improve the
physical. mental and moral conditions of
the workers.; that Shorter hours in
crease the intensity and efficiency of la
bor"
1t admits that the tendency of national
and state governments and of labor or
ganizations is toward shorter hours bur
denies that a working day of less than
ten hours is too long, but there is no eX-
workmen engaged In and about the an
thracite mines and colleries. In some
exceptionally eNhausting work a day of
ten hours is tool ong, but there Is no eX-
hausting labor which justiiies reduction
of hours of work in the anthracite coal
operations.
Any increase in wages will necessarily
increase the price of coal to the public
restrict Its use, and seriously affect the
ability of the industries using il as fuel
TO compete with the industries using bit
luminous coal; 1t will bear neayily ON the
workmen and necessarily Cypress the yNn-
eral public and injure the general busi-
ness of the country. Because of the in
jury to the mines by the strike of the
United Mine Workers of America, the
cost of producing coal has been greatly
increased and a temporary advance in
price was made by this company, but It
will be impracticable to continue such in
crease when mining operations become
normal.
EiShth-This company replying to the
third demand, says: That it has had no
disagreements with any of its employees
about the weighing OF coal. The guam
uty is usually determined by measure
ment; that when coal is mined by the ton
1t Is customary and paIeSSarY To noaka al