Omaha daily bee., 1902-11-22
SETTLE OUT OF COURT


Of prepared coal. 1t would have to be
done through the present system Of aver
ages.
The proposition is to have the mine work
ers make contracts with their employers
only and not as is done in the bituminous
states. where there are district organiza-
tions which recognize the. United Mine
Workers Of America. The proposed. con-
tract with each company does not carry
with 1t the consideration Of the eonven-
ton, and on that ground 1t is not likely
that the two parties will be able to settle
II without reference to the arbitration COM
mission. 1t is not doubted that any agree
ment reached will be approved by the COM
mission. It will have TO be one, however.
that will provide for a reasonably perma-
nent settlement.
Occupation IL Unhealthy.
The examination Of Or. r. H. Glib
bons of Scranton was Immediately re-
sumed when the Anthracite Coal Strike
commission met today, He said that
the occupation Of a miner subjects a
man to pleurisy, govt, neuralgia, asthma,
bronchitis, s~ciatica and other diseases. He
believed the day would come when men
would be subjected to medical examination
before commencing mining.
~ ~ ~ ~ NaN hoNS
any form Of disease Of the respiratory pas
sages, bronchitis or pneumonia should never
be permitted in the mines under the age Of
Is, because they should have a chance
to eliminate the predisposing factor in the
case OF so-called miners asthma.
On further examination he said he did not
mean that miners formed an unhealthy
class, but that they debilitated and run
down. He spoke Of the necessity for i'm
proved ambulance service at the different
collieries.
Witness was cross-examined by James
H. Torrey, for the Delaware & Hudson COM
pany, and said he did not believe there
was an ambulance in the entire coal regions
that had sterilized blankets.
I'm fact said the doctor, "they are a
bunch Of infection. Every ambulance car
ries death and disease to every unfortunate
miner who is placed in It,"
DR.. Gibbons was followed by DR.. Eugene
Butler. a member Of the Central Poor board
of Luzerne county, who testified that 70
per cent Of those in one of the poor houses
of Luzerne county were miners and 40
per cent were crippled by accidents IN and
about the mines. Many Of these, he said,
had become insane through worry over their
Affections. A man who worked a few years
40 q. hAANAt AZ NSNASA Noo ~ $500
thing else.
All. M~cClintock,. representing the tehigh
G wilkesbarre Coal company. cross-exam-
ined the witness and asked II 1t was not
true that q large number Of the professional
men and merchants. in Wilkesbarre were
men whose fathers and grandfathers had
been employed In the mines.
"If that is So" the witness replied, "the
fathers and grandfStheTS we're the wise fels
lows who, got out in time, They were not
men who worked for. twenty or twenty-five
years in the mines" q..' ~.
just Share of PROFITS.
DR.. Butler was excused and Rev. DR..
Roberts was called to the stand. his ex-
animation being conducted by Mr.. barrow
for the mine workers. He reiterated his
belief, expressed in his book that an in
telligent and persistent combination among
miners for the maintenance Of prices and
rates OF wages would secure a just share
OF the profit for the workers.
In answer to Mr.. Clark, Or. Roberts
defined the use Of the words Anthracite
syndicate" in his book, by saying he had
reached the conclusion that there was an
understanding among the operators to In
crease the price and regulate the trade.
This information he had received from
personal investigation. .
In view Of the last strike" Mr.. barrow
asked, IAN everything that has occurred
since, have your views as to the desirability
Of collective bargaining in the anthracite
regions been modified or strengthened OF
have they changed at all?"
Strengthened. decidedly" the witness
replied.
After reading abstracts from an article
in a MAGAZINE supposed to have been
written by DR.. Roberts, Mr.. Darrow asked
what was the temper of both parties during
the ave months of the strike. The witness
replied that It was a condition OF war and
that both sides we're incorporate. DR.
Roberts In reply TO a question as to whai
wages a man should receive to maintain
the American standard Of living, said thai
he would place the poverty hne at se7b pei
annum. Under that amount, he said, the
miner and his family would suffer physic'
ally, intellectually and mentally.