The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1903-01-10
GOAL OPERATORS
BEGIN DEFENCE,
Counsel TorreyMakeS a Long Open
ing Statement to Anthracite Strike
Commission WhatWill BePrOved

Pnf1adelphja, Jan. 1o.-The non-union
men having closed their case, the coal
companies opened their side OF the con-
troversy today before the strike commits
sion.
Chairman Gray Is stin confined TO his
home In Wilmington, by a cold and Gen
eraI Wilson again presided
The proceedings wero opened today by
the Delaware and Hudson company
through its counsel, Jsmes II. Torrey OF
Scranton. In presenting the case OF the
company. Mr.. Torrey first delivered an
address indicating what the company
would try to prove. He spoke In part as
xoilows:
MIR. ToRREYs STATEMENT.
Mr.. Torrey said: "A general opening
Of the case on behalf OF the respondents
having already been made. / shall at this
time confine myself as far practicable
to a brief statement OF the particular
matters which IL Is expected to prove, es-
pectally relating 10 the case OF the Del
aware and Hudson company. We shall
prove the charter powers Of the company
as set forth in It's answer already Med
aver that this was the first company to
enter upon the business OF mining ana
transporting out OF the state its anthra-
We shall show that for many years, up
10 the beginning OF the 1900 strike, the
Relations between the company and It's
employees had been friendly and harmo-
nious. and that the inception OF such do
gree OF hostility as has since marked
those relations was coincident with tho
entry into the anthracite field OF the or
GAnixation OF the United Mine workers.
$50 far as relates to the formal de-
nands pending before this commission 1t
~ cniy fair TO this respondent TO state
fl.at it IS IN the position unusual even In
debate, and practically inadmissible In
\ legal proceedings OF being compelled 10
prove a negative. After spending weexs
, of valuable time. the case upon the part
of the miners was closed without the
production Of any material evidence TO
substant ntfate any OF their claims.
NO MERIT IN DEMAND.
with almost Infinite labor and pains
and by ths aid OF an army OF clerks and
accountants, vast array OF Information
has been accumulated for the use OF the
commission, with reference TO tho wages
and conditions OF employment OF our ena-
pioyes. BY these statements and from
other testimony which will be offered, II
will be demonstrated that there Is no
snerit in the first demand for n 20 per
esnt increase upon the prices paid during
The year OF 1901 to employees performing
contract work.
"It will be shown that both tho rates
paid and the annual earnings upon this
kind OF work are larger than are paid In
the bltuminous coal fields for similar
work. and the wages paid for occupations
4 requiring skill and training IN the region.
We are satisfied the commission will find
there In no manual employment requir-
ing so little training or skill the exposure
TO so little risk OF health or life. and the
occupation OF so small a portion OF the
work OF the anthracite miner.
NOT ExTRA-HAZARDoUs
'Tn this connection we shall show that
q the employment IS not extra-hazardous
and is more than ordinarily healthfuL We
shall show that since the last increase
of wages there has been no material ad-
vance In the cost OF living.
I'VE shall negative the unsupported
4 claim that the children OF the miners are
forced 10 work at an early age by sub
mitting list or our einployes whose
( )ngs OF the parents. which average about
.'To the second demand for an s-hour
dny for company men. the evidence which
has already been outlined will 10 large
extent apply. In addition thereto we
shall submit statements which will show
that even during the period when coal
was IN most demand and the coheries
were operated 10 the limit OF their ca-
pacity the breakers operated an average
of less than hours per day, for reasons
rsartiv duo 10 the voluntary action of the
men. and partly 10 causes beyond tue
control either OF the company or the men.
AVERAGE OF WAGES
1--WE have prepared = schedule show
ing the wages. the number OF days work
ed and tho annual wages ~ All company
men and boys. the general average being
A for men s5lS.s5. and for boys s~"a3. which
. Is D higher average than obtained In oth-
er similar employmsnts.
I'm this connection we shall show that
the only tabulated statement offered In
evidence BY the mine workers purportnr
40 give comparison OF the earnings of
The company men IN the bituminous and
anthracite fields f. misleading in ns
scope. fun Of inaccuracies in detail. and
false and misleading IN conclusion
''Bcaring upon the third demand of the
miners for weighing OF coal and .iSo pave
menf by the ton FOR mining we shall
show that for many years this company
has paid at sorce % It's mines by weight
and M others by tho car. We shall show
the actual product In marketable coal Of
units of weight and per car and that
: practical uniformity of wages results
from both systems We shall show that
90 far az concerns our own employees no
complaint has ever been made Directly %
: The company that either system was un-
fair or resulted IN inadequate or unequal