The San Francisco call., 1903-01-16
COMPANIES ADD
To THE EVIDENCE
Try to Show That Min
ers' Union Restricts
Output.
President Mitchell Explains
Opposition to Contract
Mining.

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 15.-MOst Of
the testimony prestilted to the anthra
cite coal strike commission to-day was
OF corroborative nature. the Erie com
pany which has not yet concluded ita
case. producing numerous witnesses to
prove that the Miners Union is re-
sponsible for the alleged restriction OF
the hard coal production. The EriA
company controls the Hillside Coal and
Iron Company and the Pennsylvania
Coal Company During the examination
OF Edward Button. foreman employed
by the latter company. the fact was ad-
duced that the practice OF restricting
the number of cars to be loaded daily
by one man had been in operation an
far back as 1895. long before the United
Mine-WOrksrs OF America entered the
anthracite region The unions respOnsl-
bility rests with the enforcement OF thiN
rule and not with its inception Chair
man Gray OF the commission. who has
been III at his home in Wilmington
Del, for several days, was present at
tO-day's sessions
The majority OF the witnesses ties
titled that the union was detrimental TO
discipline at the coIlieries; that mining is
a comparatively healthy occupation, and
to acts OF Iawlessness committed during
the recent strike William ZOrn. con-
tract miner, testified at the afternoon
session that he had been prevented by
the union from performing certain con-
tract, the driver refusing TO furnish him
with a sufficient number of cars. Presi-
dent Mitchell explained TO the commission
that the union regarded with disfavor the
practice OF miners securing certain work
by proposal In the first place. be said.
the lowest bidder always secured the con-
tract. and he employs as many helpers
as he deems necessary, paying them
smaller wages than they would otherwise
receive. In many cases one contract
miner has employed from twelve 70 n
teen labOrers 10 do the work, while he
would act as a superintendent, perform
ing no part in the actual mining.
This the union considered unjust TO the
other men. besides increasing the HabiI-
ity of accidents. as the contract miner
could not pay proper attention 10 so many
different Jobs. Mitchell stated also that
he had been informed that salOon-keepers
sometimes secure these contracts and
never enter the mines. but leave the work
TO the Iaborers.
NJ P Blauvelt, auditor OF the Hillside
Coal and Iron Company and of the Penn
syIvaaia Coal Company, offered numerous
statistics showing the average earnings
of the men in the company's employ and
produced figures 70 show what the earn
ings would be il the collieries worked fun
time at the rate OF ten hours a day for
a year. Counsel for the miners objected
to this as evidence, but Chairman Gray
decided as the statements were compiled
from Office records they were admissible
E NJ Beyea, land agent Of the COM
pany. was called 10 testify concerning the
prosperity OF the employees OF the Penn
syIvania Coal Company's employees the
witness said ses. or q $40 per cent Of the
whole number. are assessed as property
holders. and 341, or 13 per cent Of the Hill
side COmpany's men, are similarly as
sessed- The companies. Beyea said, own
building lots and sell the same to their
employees on fve-year terms.
The Erie Company viii probably finish
its case tomorrow.