Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1903-01-23
Debate Before Strike Commits.
sion on Apparent Shortage
in Supply of Coal
MlTcHELL's REQUEST uNHEEDED
Testimony Was Introduced to Effect
That Miners Were Making No Extra
Efforts to Produce More Coal But
Representative Of Miners Made
Strong Argument Against Operators.

coal was the subject OF considerable de-
bate yesterday by the attorneys repre-
senting the parties before the strike
commission. It was te stified to h a the
miners are not oDeying President
Mitchell's request to make extra efforts
to produce more coal to relieve the sit
uation. This was followed up by James
II. Torrey and Everett Warren. both OF
Scranton, who represent several of the
large companies, challenging the cor
rectness Of Mr.. Mitchell's statement
that 5000 men are idle and ready to go
to work. !,
G. S. barrow, for the miners. replied
that he would show that It was the
operators and not the men who were re-
sponsible for the shortage IN the pro-
duction.
IF 1 don't" he said, ." will ask the
commission to find against US.
The Lehigh Valley Coal Company
closed Its ease yesterday. and the Le-
high s. W~ilkesbarre Company con-
sumed q few hours in presenting It's
evidence. This company closed shortiy
before adjournment, and the ~independ-
ent operators Of the upper region then
took up the operators side of the con-
~troyersy. It Is expected the hearings
will last ten more days. The commits
sion informed the attorneys on ootn
sides yesterday afternoon that 1t would
like them to confine their inal
ments to about four CT Ave days Inc
lawyers will agree among themselves IS
ia the division of time. The miners
want half the time allowed by the com
mission. !,
Several district superintendent n
mine accountants were heard n then
MI. A. H. McClintock. for the Lenigh q
W~ilkesbarre Coal Company, read an
elaborate address. setting forth the sit
uation from his con;pany's Standpoint.
During the afternoon several witnesses
were called for this company, their tes-
timony being practically In line with
that Of Attorney McClintock. Superin-
tendeut Morgan said the output OF coal
has not Increased since President
Mitchell requested the miners to cut as
much coal as possible in order to re-
lieve the coal famine.
The independent operators OF the up
per, or Wyoming and Lackawanna, re-
gions followed the Lehigh & Wilkes
barre Company in presenting their
case. There are about thirty OF these
concerns in the upper territory repre-
scented before the commission, and an
opening statement on behalf OF all OF
them was made by H. c. Reynolds, OF
Scranton, one Of the sttorneys. Among
~xhav <hirSoL ho aoiH. 4Y
For the most part our product has
been sold directly to the various auxil-
fary companies OF the railroads. We
have had nothing to do with hiking the
price at which our coal should be sold,
and have been obliged to accept such
part of the price obtained at tideWater,
where the coal brings less upon the av-
erage than at any other place, as we
were able to secure.
I'VE have suffered the losses incl
dent to an ~over-supply upon the mar
ket, and have sought compensation
which would minimize competitive ad-
y~antages OF our rivals in the state, who
have enjoyed substantial privileges not
necessary to discuss here, but appre-
ciated by the observer.
1--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, II
granted, would place a new burden up
on the shoulde. of the consumer.
1--WE hope to prove that the hours OF
labor at the mines are now too brief.
and we contend that the compensation
has been, and is nov. fixed by an eco
nomical law which serves to secure
them wages which have been and in
the near future will be favorable to
their interests"
In conclusion. the statement says the
system OF paying by the car has befn
In practice many years: that no IN
herent Injustice appea in the pay
smenti by the cal, and we believe 1t in
advisable and dangerous to make a
change at this time by a uniform rule
EiFHH& 49,