Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-29
MINERS ACCUSE OPERATORS
Wish Baer and Colleagues Called to Fix
Famine Responsibility.
ALICE OWNERS RESTRICT COAL OUTPUT
Strike CommissiOn Takes Request Int
Consideration and May d
Railroad Presidents to
Give Evidence.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 2S.-The alleged
Limitation of production was again dis
cussed before the coal strike commission
today. The matter was brought up by Mr..
barrow for the miners, who requested the
commission to summon the presidents OF
the coal-carrying roads as witnesses.
The demand resulted in a lengthy discus
sion between Judge Gray, MIR. Dickson and
Mr.. barrow; finally Judge Gray said the
commission would consider the matter and
If they regarded the issue as being before
them they would grant the miners request.
Counsel for the miners also announc I'd
that he had received numerous letters from
large operators and governors of states in
the bituminous coal regions and desired to-
have representatives OF those districts give
evidence concerning trade agreements. II
this could not be done he wanted to read
the letters in question. The chairman said
the subject was being considered by the
commission.
Says Operators Limit Output.
In asking the commission to request the
attendance Of the coal road presidents, Mr..
barrow said:
There has been evidence offered here, on
the part OF the operators, designed TO show
that the miners have limited production In
- SNSss w NANf NS Hs -
that the coal roads have placed a limit on
production for years. SO long as this
charge is made to this commission for the
purpose of influencing its decision l want
to examine the presidents of the roads so
that we may ascertain the exact situation.
do you claim" said Judge Gray, that
there has been a limitation by the presi-
dents Of the coal roads other than the linn
itation that the demand of the market
creates? OF course there is a natural linn
itation. II would be a most lamentable
waste to keep on mining coal for which
there was no demand.
Continuing, he said the deposit OF hard
coal should be conserved for the benefit OF
those who com after, and a wasteful, com
petitive output was a serious thing. He
did not know but what in some crude way
the consolidation of interests had tended
to a more economic management OF this
storehouse that Providence has given us in
this region"
Mr.. barrow said in reply: 81 do not see
| that anybody could intelligently consider
this case without considering that ques-
tion. But this is the aspect. l say 1t IL
unfair TO charge up to the miners that they
have been restricting the output when II
has been done by somebody else. Tn
operator has the right to conserve the Goa
field. so has the mine worker, and he has
the same right to conserve himself anc
his family and those who are to como
after him as has the mine operator. Fol
my part, l have never believed that
reasonable Limitation OF work or produc
! tiOn was a bad thing. All l do claim Il
that It is unfair to charge us with a lin
itation OF production over a series OF year
and say the miners do not earn NOR
money because they are lazy and hav,
been limiting the supply, when, in fact
the operators have done it."
THE only question / have In advers