Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-14
CAPT, MAY ON STAND
Superintendent of Erie COL
lieries Recalled Today.
OPPOSED TO UNION
BUT ALWAYS READY TO HEAR
GRIEVANCES.
Advent of Union, He Declared, Had
Bad Effect on Men and
Business.
OPPOSED TO UNION

PHILADELPHIA, January 14.-There
was no time lost by the coal strike COM
mission today in getting down to WORK.
When the session opened counsel for the
Erie Company, which operates the colliercs
of the Hillside Coal and Iron Company and
the Pennsylvania Coal Company, contin-
ued the presentation of it's case. Capt. W.
A. May, general superintendent of the coal
department of the company, who was Oh
the witness stand yesterday continued his
story of the conditions in and about the
companys collieries. Mr. May said he was
always willing to meet grievance commit
tees of his own men or any one man, an1
where there was real grievance it was
always adjusted
Bishop Spalding asked the witness If the
men do not feel timid about making COM
plants, and the witness replied that the
men may possibly have been timd. The
instructions to the BOSSES he said were
that foremen must listen to the men, and
that complaints will not count against the
men.
Company Has No Blacklist
The superintendent said the company has
black list and he never heard of one
being in existence In the coal regions.
There was no objection to the men in its
employ organizing for the purpose of malk-
ing complaints. but it did object to the
union as now organized because it brought
between the men and the company, whose
relations should be cordial, persons who
were not interested in the company and only
indirectly with the men.
The entrance of the union into the mines,
he said had the effect of making the work
men less efficient, caused lack of disci-
pline, interfered with authority, caused
tyranny to prevail against other workmen
and limited the earning capacity of the
employees.
Captain May produced notice issued by
the union miners. which stated that any
man placing more than twelve inches of
topping on the mine cars would be fined s.
by the union for the first offense and $40 for
the second offense.
Between the strike of 1900 and the late
strike there was an average of one petty
strike a month at the company's collieries.
Reverting to the discipline of the men, the
witness said a miner fatty refused to obey
the orders of foreman. and that the latter
did not dismiss him because he was afraid
the union would tie up the colliery by
striking for the reinstatement of the man.
Effect on Discipline.
Commissioner Clark wanted to know if
the action of the foreman in not dismissins
the offender did not affect the discipline of
the men. and the witness said it undoubt-
e6ly did.
Capt. May said the employment OF coal
and iron police was absolutely necessary in
time of strikes. Deputy sheriffs sympa-
thized with the strikers and the sheriff was
unreliable. Counsel asked about the dock
ing and weighing system, and the witness
said the men were docked for the purpose
OK disciplning them.
In answer to counsel for the miners, Capt
May said that two years ago he did not
think the miners deserving of a 10 per cent
increase, but he had since changed his
U.ind.
Witness said he was personally acQuaint-
ed with President Mitchell, but he would
object to meeting him the agent for the
men in the employ of the Erie COMPANY
because 1t would bring in an outside ele-
ment which had no Interest in the business
lie said the company and it's men could
reach an agreement without the interfer-
ence of agent. Witness said in reply
to Commissioner Clark, that in case the
men and the company failed to agree he
thought an agent could be called in
Mr.. Clark wanted to know if the witness
did not think such an arrangement would
result in much good. and Capt May said
he thought it would
A recess was taken until 2:15 pm.