Barre evening telegram. (Barre, Vt.) 1898-19??, 1902-11-15

| jntendents or nninine companies and
other officials and representatives q
| the mine workers.
Among the attorneys sitting around
the operators table were Francis ].
Gowan. Philadelphia, general counsel
for the Lehigh Valley Coal. company
A. II. McClintock Of Wilkesbarre foi
the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre company
ex-C Congressman Simon T.. WOlverton'
sunbury. Pa, for the Philadelphia and
Reading Coal and Iron company; David
Wilcox. New York. general counsel OF
the Delaware and Hudson:, w. w. Ross
of New York for the Delaware, Lack
awanna and Western, and Wayne Mac
veagh for Pennsylvania Coal company.
President Mitchell sat at the head OF
the table provided for the representa-
tives of the miners. His principal al
yisers were Clarence s. barrow of Chi
cago, James L.. Lenahan Of Wilkes.
barre and John j. Murphy of Scranton,
The Proceedings Open.
Shortly after 10 o'clock the members
OF the commission filed in. Mr.. Moaely.
one Of the recorders, announced the
commissioners approach, and as he did
so every one in the courtroom stood up.
Judge Gray brought his gavel down.
and the proceedings were opened.
Judge Gray announced that a sufti
cient time had been given for the par
ties to the controversy to prepare for
the hearing and that'the commission
woufti hear the representatives OF the
miners first. Mr.. Mitchell said that. he
would file a further statement on Mon.
day in answer to some OF the allega-
tons of the operators. John L. Lena
han Of Wilkesbarre on behalf of the
nonunion men. inquired Of the COM
mission what course the proceedings
would take with respect to them. Judge
Gray answered that that was a ques-
ton which would have to be considered.
Mr.. Wolverton asked the other side
to give the operators at least one days
notice as to which collieries the wit
nesses it will call are employed, so that
the mine owners can be prepared to ex-
anime them. Mr.. barrow. for the min
ers. agreed to the suggestion.
Mr.. barrow called for the regular
procedure, and Mr.. Wolverton asked
that the miners present their case. The
request was Immediately carried out,
and President Mitchell arose and ad-
dressed the commission. His statement
contained 5000 words
n,,r;nO tho ding NJ hic o1drace
Mr. Mitchell was followed with the
closest attention. This was particular
" SO with the score or more represent
atives of the operators, who bent for
ward to catch every word and who
made numerous notes Of the principal
features Of his remarks.
What MI. Mitchell Said.
In the course of his statement Mr..
Mitchell, after reciting the demands
for increased pay for the miner. q short.
er workday for the laborer, the weigh
ing Of the coal and an industrial agree
ment, the refusal of all of which led to
the strike, spoke as follows on the
question Of higher wages
vi tuc j7f,VNV men anu UOyS emDIOXeU
in and around the mines. strippings.
washeries and breakers in the anthracite
coalfields S,072. or 43 per cent, are en-
pl0yed on contract or piece work. The re-
naming $1,000, or 81 per cent, are en-
ployed by the hour, day, week or month.
OF the N,072 contract men 37,S4 are min
ers and 26,2ss are miners laborers.
The work Of a miner and a miners la
borer 10 extremely hazardous In fact. il
ir than -
any other important industry in the
world. The number Of persons killed and
injured 10 greater than in any other in
dustry. Each day the anthracite coal
mines are in operation 26-10 persons lose
their lives and three times as many are
and yet these men receive less
wages annually than are received by men
performing precisely similar work in other
helds under more favorable and less haz-
RADIUS conditions. The number Of years
q man can retain his health and strength
In this occupation Is limited. II he es-
capes death or injury by falls Of rock or
coal, he cannot escape attacks Of miners
asthma. There is scarcely mine worker
who has not contracted this malady. The
miners are compelled to work in powder
smoke, in foul air, many Of them In wa
ter and their work is difficult and ex-
Reputable insurance companies
Will not issue policies to this class of
Workmen, The risks are SO great that the
premiums would be prohibitive to men
whose earnings are SC low. The entire 2t
per cent which they demand as an in
crease in their wages would not suffice tc
carry an insurance Of 81 600.
1t seems bu, fair and lust that wages
paid these classes of workmen should be
as nigh, II not higher, than wages paid
to skilled artisans in other industries II
ID certainly not unjust to ask that these
miners should receive as high wages as
are paid to miners In the bituminous coal
helds, IN the silver and gold mines or in
the iron ore and copper mines all OF
which work is less hazardous freer from
LIABILITY to disease, requiring less expert
ence and less skill and IL better paid than
labor in the anthracite coalfields