The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-23
Who, 1t Is Asserted, Have Not Obeyed
President Mitchells Request to
Produce More Anthracite.
DENIAL BY LAWYER BARROW
RESPONSIBILITY RESTS WITH THE
OPERATORS, HE SAYS.
IL He Does Not Prove His Assertion He
Will Ask the Commission to
Find Against the Miners.

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 22.-The question
of who is responsible for the shortage in
the supply of anthracite coal was the sub
ject of considerable debate to-day by the
attorneys representing the parties before
the strike commission. 1t was testified to
that miners were not obeying President
Mitchells request to make extra efforts TO
produce more coal TO relieve the situation.
James H. Torrey and Everett Warren, who
represent several of the large companies,
challenged the correctness of Mitchells
statement that 5000 men were idle and
ready to go to work. c. S. Darrow, for the
miners, replied that he would show that the
operators and not the men were responsible
for the shortage. IF 1 don't" he said, II
will ask the commission to find against u.s."
The Lehigh Valley Coal Company closed
it's case to-day and the Lehigh and Wilkes
barre Company consumed few hours in
presenting its evidence. This company
closed shortly before adjournment. and the
Independent operators of the upper region
then took up the operators side of the
controversy. 1t is expected the hearings
will last ten more days. The commission
informed the attorneys on both sides this
afternoon that it would like them to confine
their final arguments to about four or five
days The lawyers will agree among them
selves as to the division Of time. The
miners want half the time allowed by the
commission.
Warren C. Johnson. general auditor Of the
Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Company, present
ed the wage statement Of contract miners
and the company's men for 1901.
F. c. Mason, land agent of thescompany,
presented statistics which showed the So
Geological side of the mine workers life.
During the afternoon session the attor-
neys for the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre Com
pany called to the witness stand w. j.
Richards, of Wilkesbarre, the general su-
perintendent of the company; Morgan K.
tendent; Thomas Rule. of Wanimie, fire
boss; NJ ]. Flaherty, of Wilkesbarre. out
side foreman, and DR.; Frank L; Mckee :. a
physician, OF fiymoutn. AN ,; .neir ,es.i,
opening statement made by Attorney Nc
Clintock Superintendent Morgan said that
the output of coal had not increased since
President Mitchell requested the miners to
cut as much coal as possible in order to re-
lieye the coal famine. Vital statistics pro-
duced by Dr. Mckee, of Plymouth, showed
the men on account of the strike were out
of the mine for more than five months, was
eleven in each LOCO, while in other years it
ran from fifteen to nineteen a thousand
The independent operators of the upper
Wyoming and Lackawanna regions fol-
lowed the Lehigh and Wflkesbarre Com
pany in presenting their case. There are
about thirty of these concerns in the upper
territory represented before the commits
sion and an opening statement on behalf
of all of them was made by II. G. Reynolds
of Scranton. one Of the attorneys. Among
other things he said: For the most part
our product has been sold directly to the
various auxiliary companies of the rail-
roads, We have had nothing to do with
fixing the price at which our coal should
be sold, and have been obliged to accept
such part of the price obtained at tide
water, where the coal brings less upon
the average than at any other place, We
were able to secure We have suffered the
losses incident to an Oversupply upon the
market and have sought compensation
which would minimize competitive advan-
tages of our rivals in the trade who have
enjoyed substantial privileges not necessary
to discuss here, but appreciated by the OBJ
server. We believe an advance In wages
at this time Is unwarranted, and that to
do so will at once encourage exorbitant
demands in other directions, which, il
granted, would place a new burden upon
the shoulders of the consumer.
I'VE hope to prove that the hours Of labor
at the mines are now too brief and we con-
tend that the compensation has been and
now is fixed by an economical law which
serves to secure them wages which have
been and in the future will be favorable
to their interests. We expect to show that
the union has limited production in many
ways and that in consequence of this there
has followed a decrease in the wages Of
the men. That unjustifiabe strikes in con-
siderable numbers have occurred, thus linn
iting the production.
The statement alleges that had the ex-
ecutive authorities afforded that measure
of protection they were bound to accord all
citizens the anthracite coal producers of
Pennsylvania would have furnished the
usual quota of coal and the strike would
have been a failure"