New-York tribune., 1903-01-16
MINERS LAND OWNERS.
N4ID TO BE PROSPEhOUo.
Wnnesses Tell Coal Commission that
This Tocaf,on Is HeattJW.

PHILADELPHIA Jan l5--Mcst of the testimony pre-
sented TO the Anthracite Coal Strike Commissien
to-day was of a corroborative nature, the Erie
oompany. which has not yet concluded its case
nroducing numerous witnesses to prove that the
miners, union is responsible for the alleged re-
striction of the hard coal production Inc Erie
company controls the Hillside Coal ana iron tonh-
many and the Pennsylvania Coal Company In tue
course of the examination of Edward Hutton a
foreman employed by the latter company the iaot
was adduced that the practice OF restricting the
number Of cars to be loaded daily by one man haa
been in operation far back as 1888, long peio'e
the United Mine Workers OF America entered tie
anthracite region. The unions responsibility rests
with the enforcement of this rule and not with i's
inception.
Chairman Gray OF the commission VINO mas neeii
i'll at his home In Wilmington. Del for several
days was present at to-day's sessions.
The majority of the witnesses were mine fore
men who testified that the union was detrimental
70 discipline at the coliieries tnat mining is a COM
paratively healthy occupation, anu to acts OF ia"
lessness committed during the recent strike. ohe
witness William Zorn, of Dunmore, a conlFac'
miner testified that he had been prevented by the
,,,,o, fros,, performng a certain contract, the
driver refusing TO furnish him with sufficient
number of cars
President Mitchell explained to the commission
that the union regarded with dlstavor the pracuce
of miners securing certain work by proposal In
the first place. he said, the lowest bidder always
secured the contract, and he employs as many
helpers as he deems necessary, paying them smaller
wages than they would otherwise receive. In
many one contract miner employed from
twelve TO fifteen laborers TO do the work While he
! would act as Superintendent, performing no part
of the actual mining. This the union considers
unjust the other men. besides increasing the ha-
bility of accidents. the contract miner coulo
not nav proper attention to so many different jobs
Mr. Mitchell stated also that he had been Informed
that saloonkeepers sometimes secure these con-
tracts and never enter the mines, but leave the
work to the laborers.
NJ p BlauYelt auditor Of the Hillside Coal and
Iron Company and of the Pennsylvania Coal Com
pany offered numerous statistics showing the aver
age earnings of the men in the companies employ
and produced figures TO show what the earnings
would be if the coleres worked full time at the
rate of ten hours day for year Counsel 1or
the miners objected to this evidence. but Char-
man Gray decided that the statements We're COM
puted from Office records they were admissible
At the afternoon session William Robertson, OF
Scranton assistant foreman at No . colliery or
the Pennsylvania Coal Company, testified that be-
fore the strike of 1900 the made no objection
TO loading ten cars in day. but since that time
they would not load more than six or eight cars.
He said the miners told him the union would not
permit them TO load as many cars as formerly. lie
cited the case OF miner who had received TWO
cars more than the other miners. The additional
cars were taken from him by the driver and the
latter was discharged for the act. As a result
the drivers struck for the reinstatement Of the dis
charged boy. Robertson said he was opposed 10
unions because they destroy discipline. He said
he knew of only two cases of the disease known as
miners asthma" in the mine at which ne was en- en-
ployed. and expressed the opinion that mining was
not unhealthy occupation ~,
William Zorn, miner OF Dunmore, Sa1o on tIle
stand that he positive that the president OF
the local union would not permit him TO nave
enough cars to work.
Mr.. Mitchell asked the witness if he had done
any of the actual mining under the contract, ana
Zorn replied that he directed the operations.
Then you were a small operator, said Mr..
Mitchell.
Yes" replied the witness.
At this point President Mitchell explained that
the union opposed to such contract work, for
| the reasons stated above.
r. II. Beyea, land agent of the companies, was
called to testify concerning the prosperity OF the
employees. OF the Pennsylvania Coal Company s
employees the witness said that 9S9, H.S per cent
! of the whole number. are assessed as property
! holders, and Sal Is cent, or the Hillside
company similarly assessed The COM
panfes. Mr. Beyea said. own bulldng lots. and sell
/ the same to their employees five year terms.
The Erie company will probably finish its case
Tor