Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1902-11-11
A REPLY TO MITCHELL
STATEMENT OF PRESIDENT BAER
OF THE READING.
Declares That the Demand for 1ncreas-
ed Pay is Unreasonable
and Unjust.

The replv of President Geo. F. Baer Of
the Philadelphia and Reading Coal Com
pany to the charges Of President Mltcheii
of the United Mine Workers, which has
been presented to the anthracite coal strike
commission, was today given to the pup
lie Mr. Baer makes no reference to Mr
Mitchell as the president of the miners or
ganization but refers to him simply as an
individual
Taking up the specifications In Mr..
MitchelPs charges seriatim, Mr.. Baer first
admits that his company owns thfrty-seVen
collieries and that before the strike 1t en-
ployed 26 $40 people. Following is a brief
summary of the response to Mr.. Mitchell s
other specifications:
Second The demand for 20 per cent in
crease in wages on piece work Is denounced
| as arbitrary, unreasonable and unjust
| The company contends that after max ng
all nece cessary allowance for different concl-
tions, the rate of wages paid for the mining
of anthracite coal is as high as that paid
in the bituminous coal fields.
Third The company denies that the pres
ent ra tie of wages is lower than is paid in
other occupations in the same locality and
controlled by like conditions.
Fourth and fifth. Mr.. Baer denies that
| the earnings of the anthracite workers are
| less than average earnings for other occu-
| pations requiring skill and training, and
| also the charge that the earnings are in
| suficient because of the dangerous char
acter of work in the anthracite mines.
| Sixth. This specification made by Mr..
| Mitchell is referred to as vague for specific
| answer but in a general way it is stated
! that the anthracite regions are among the
most prosperous in the United States.
Proposed Reduction of Hours.
| Seventh. The company pronounces as un-
| just and inequitable the demand for a re-
| duction Of 20 per cent in hours Of labor
| without a reduction of earnings for time
| employees, and this demand is pronounced
| inpracticable. In this connection the fol
| lowing statement is made: Because o1
| the injury to the mines by the strike of the
| United Mine Workers the cost of producing
| coal has been greatly increa Sed and tenn
| porary advance in price was made by this
| company, but 1t will be impracticable to
| continue such increase when mining opera
| tions become normal"
Eighth. Mr.. Baer says that his COM
| pany has no disagreement with any of its
! employees about the weighing of coal, be-
! cause the quantity is usually determined
| by measurement and not by weight.
Ninth. Replying to the fourth demand by
! Mr.. Mitchell. Mr.. Baer said since the ad-
vent of the United Mine Workers organiza-
| tion into the anthracite fields business con-
! ditions there have been intolerable: that
the output of the mines has decreased; that
| discipline has been destroyed; that strikes
| have been of almost daily occurrence: that
men have worked when and as they please
| and that the cost of mining has been great
| ly increased.
| He also takes the position that the juris-
| diction of the commission is limited to the
| conditions named by the coal company
| presidents. which excludes the United Mine
| workers from any recognition in the pro-
ceedings. He says, however that "when a
| labor organization limited to anthracite
| mine workers Is created which shall obey
| the law, respect the right of every man to
| work and honestly cooperate with employ
| ers' trade agreement may become practica-
| BILE"