Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-01-13
THE STRIKE COMMISSION
Has More Evidence Of Wrongdoing by
the Strikers.

Philadelphia, Jan. 12.-The proceedings
before the anthracite coal strike COM
mission, today, consisted principally Of
the calling of witnesses by the Delaware
d Hudson Co. to tell of the conditions ex-
listing in and around its colieries and to
refute certain testimony presented aga INST
the company when the miners side of the
case was being heard. In the absence of
Chairman Gray, Brig. Gen. Wilson again
assumed the duties of chairman.
The first witness. today was Abel l.
Culver of New York, controller of the
Delaware e Hudson Co. His direct exam
ination brought out nothing new beyond
what he had stated, Saturday.
On cross-eAamination by c. S. Darrow
counsel for the miners, Mr.. Culver said
that the Delaware & Hudson Co. was sell
ing coal to middlenlen at tide water 1t Sc
4 ton for prepared sizes.
c. G. Rose of Scranton, superintendent
OF the coal department. of the Delaware
q Hudson Co., who testified, Saturday
was recalled. He stated that several of
the company's collieries were flooded as a
result of the strike of the steam men,
June g
in the coal department of the company
presented numerous statistics bearing
upon the issues before the commission.
One of the statements showed that 1856
of the companyS 1928 employees have
been working in or about the mines from
10 to ~ years. He produced data show
ing the workings of the company's relief
fund with which more than 5000 of the
cOmpanyS employees are connected. The
workers pay to the fund one days pay
each year, the company contributing an
equal amount. Men who are injured re-
cetve S. week for three months, and in
..fI ,, +t,R,- ct
funeral expenses. The widows receive So
a week for one year and 81 a week FOL
one year for each child under IL years OF
age. The company fixed s2.1S as The
amount q contract miner should contrib
ute as a days pay.
Mr. Anderson also presented a state
ment showing that the IS collieries of the
company lost 36S 10-hour days in 1901, fol-
these 115 were lost on account of pcnics
| and other holidays mot including lega
holidays; 50 days on account of mitchell
| day and other union days, and 1874 days
| on account of strikes and suspensions
| Another statement offered by the witness
showed that since the strike ended in the
| latter part of October the rs collieries
lost 40 days. reducing the coal produc.
ton of the company 92,5S1 tons.
Thomas r. Thomas. outside foreman
at the Jermyn collery of the company
told of the difficulty he had in inducing
the men to mine more coal. He produced
l
| local Union 1925. which stated that any
man loading more cars in the heading!
| than are loaded in the chambers woult
| be expelled from the union. Two men
| he said, violat ted this alleged rule of tn,
| union and their tools We're destroyed an
| enc of their houses was dynamited as
| result of not restricting their daily out
put. The two miners referred to, Michae
McHale and Harry Gilbert. were put Of
| the witness stand and cOrroborat ted tn,
! testimony of Mr. Thomas.
| On redirect examination he said tn
| contract miners averaged about fou
hours a day and that he had talked witt
| union men who said they were not ia
vorably inclined toward the organization
but they were compelled to belong to it
Henry Birkbeck. inside foreman of tn
Vonstorch coliery, told of the injury o
boy in the mines and of his discharg
ing the man who was responsible for tn
accident. The union men in the collery
he said, struck for the reinstatement o
the dismissed man, but he refused to TAX
him back. The injured boy conoborate
the testimony of Mr.. Birkbeck.
VIM. II. Dettrick of Neuremburg, tn
newly elected president of District No.
of the Miners Union, against whom I
was testified, last week, that he said non
union men should have their threats Gu
and should receive a good humping
was summoned to the witness stand b
the miners. He denied the charges alb
solutely and several witnesses We're call
ed -wAS, 9orToRSSatsd his statements.
.1ay1qfDdylSi, IT, IL. 1ugneS ana FTedeT
ick Bradman, colliery foremen, testifie
/ that since the strike of 1900 the miner
and lab6rers' would not load as many car
as they did prior to that strike The me
were willing but were afraid of expulsio
from the union.
MIR. Bradman told of difficulties he ha
in filling a place where a union man ha
been discharged. He said it was the rul
of the union that no union man Shout
take another's place All the foreme
claimed that the company was able I
days work.
The last witness of the day was Jane
p. Dickson. freight agent of the Dels
ware Il Hudson Co. at Wilkesbarre, VIII
handed up statement showing the fiut
tuation in the prices of groceries, meat