Evening journal., 1903-01-31
coal OPERATORS
CLOSE THEIR CASE
Miners Are Expected to Call
Numerous Witnesses in
Rebuttal
NEARLY 500 HAVE BEEN HEARD

Philadelphia, Jan. 31.--With the ex-
ception of the presentation of statis-
tics the coal operators closed their
case before the coal strike commits.
sion yesterday, and it is expected the
striking miners will begin calling wit
nesses in rebuttal on Monday. No ses-
sion was held today. The miners will
take up three or four days in rebuttal
next week. after which the commits
sion will adjourn to the following Mon
day. The arguments will consume the
greater part of the week beginning
February 8. Up to date the commits
sion has heard 490 witnesses.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company occupied all Of
yesterdays sessions. Counsel for the
miners and the paymaster Of the Read
ing company differed in their views as
TO the reliability Of averages shown in
the wages statements handed to the
commission by the company.
John E. Davis, foreman of the Potts
colliery, was asked if it we're true that
James T. Clark, a miner, had been
discharged for having testified at
Scranton. Davis replied that it was
not true; that he knows Clark, and
that the latter had lost his position
because he was absent from work too
often. Clark's partner had complained
that his absence injured him.
Mr.. Darrow then asked the witness
If it were not true that Clark had been
discharged on the day he returned
from Scranton. Davis replied that it
was, but that the man had not told
him that he was going to Scranton,
and had said nothing until his return.
The fact that Clark had been to Scran-
ton, said Davis, made no difference.
Judge Gray, however, did not see it
that way. 1--WE are very sorry, Mr..
Davis" said the judge, that a man
should lose his place because he testi'
fed before the commission. 1 hope
Mr. Veith will put him back"
Il think this commission ought to
request that this man be reinstated, "
Mr.. Darrow said.
This commission does make the
request" replied Judge Gray. "Mr
Neith," he added, addressing the com
panys superintendent of mining, will
you see that he is reinstated?"
Il will see to it, your honor
promptly replied Superintendent
Veith. I'VE mean to do what is hon
orable"
Patrick E. Brennan, of Shamokin, a
division superintendent of the Read
ing company, testified to the violence
committed during the strike at the
Henry Clay colliery, near Shamokin
Prior to the strike Of 1900, he said, the
market regulated the output of coal
Since then. however, the men have
been regulating the production.
When the late strike began, the wit
ness continued, there were 100 fee
of water in the Henry Clay mine. Thi:
was due to an accident The meI
struck, and as a result 500 feet of wa
ter accumulated in the mine. 1t vii
take several months to get some o
the levels into condition to work, h
said, and six to eight months before
the lower level is cleared of water.
Inc tuElnttAS dN Tic AldAAg SAd.
colliery were working eight hours /
day when the strike began, and thu
fremen were on duty longer. The fire
men quit, and the engineers refused t.
handle so-called "scab" steam, AM
also stopped work.
Edward Morgan, engineer; Irwin Ed
wards, watchman, and John Colsou
employed at the Henry Clay eolliery
corroborated portions OF the testimon,
given by Mr.. Brennan.
Baird Halberstadt. of Pottsville, al
engineer and geologist, explained {
the commission the formation of tn
coal beds in the anthracite region:
aNa presented to the commission map
hearing on this subject. The witnes
had several years experience in tn
bituminous fields. He said the al
thracite miners are better of socially
and that soft coal mining is more Il
borious.
The remainder of the session wa
taken I'D in the examination Of wi
uesses to show the wages paid labo
ers and other workmen who are en-
ployed in the coal regions at occup'
tions other than mining coal. tn
wages were generally lower than thos
paid to mine workers. i. c. Brow
of Patton, Cambria county Pa, supe
intendent Of the Beech Creek Coz
and Coke Company. testified that II
soft coal miners earn an average
from $500 to 5000 a year.
Counsel for the Reading compar
announced that the company had
number of district superintendent
and other bosses ready to testify, b.
as the company did not wish to pi
M cumulative evidence, it wou
there rest its case.