Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1903-01-11
THE companies SIDE
nr,,,AwARE = HUDSON COMPANY
FIRST TO PRESENT IT'S CASE.
mo MERIT IN DEMANDS. ?
nNo Manuel Employment So liner
any Compensated a. Work of the
anthracite Minero-s sMnchina-
aon.v of the Union.
tion.u of the Union N


PHILADELPHIA. PA. January 10
The representatives Of the Delaware and
Hudson Com-any. the first OF the coal
companies TO present their side OF the
i controversy WITH the anthracite mine
workers to thu strike commission. occo-
pied both sessions OF the commission
to-day. Three persons appeared before
the arb!trators on behalf Of the company.
They were James II. Torrey. OF Scran-
ton. the company's principal counsel In
the absence of David Wilcox. the vice
president and general CONSUL OF the
company. who Is Ill: Charles G. Rose OF
Scranton superintendent OF the mining
department Of the company. and Aoel -
Culver OF New York. comptroller OF the
company.
Mr.. Torrey made an address Indicating
what the company intended to prove.
Superintendent Rose told Of She conditions
in and about the companys twenty-four
coIlieries and Comptroller Culver pre-
scented the wage statements and other s.a-
tistics having bearing on the issue be-
fore the commission.
CHAIRMAN GRAY ILL.
Chairman Gray. who is Ill. was unaole
TO be present, and General Wilson again
presided
Mr.. Torrey began the. days proceedings
bys reading his statement. 1t declares
that there is no merit In the miners de-
mand for 20 per cent. increase IN wages.
and that the breakers have operated on
an average less than eight hours day.
The statemen. says the general average
of wages was $685. for men. and 1858
for bows. II Is claimed that there is no
I. manual employment requiring so little
trafning or skill. the exposure to so i1ttle
risk Of health or life, which is so Literally
compensated in wages as the work OF Inc
anthra cite miner and that the employ
ment is not extra hazardous and is more
than ordinarily healthful.
An agreement with the miners union
IS declared undesirable. and the relations
of the company with its men is said to
have been harmonious until they were dis
turbed by the Vaccinations OF the OF
1icrrs and agents Of the union.
UNION BROKE UP DISCIPLINE.
Mr.. Rose took the stand Immediately
after Mr. Torrey's remarks. Under ex-
animation by Mr.. Torrey. the superinten-
Dent said that prior to the strike In 1890
the relations between the company and
the men were cordial, but the most of
Its men had since joined the miners
union. which resulted in considerable
discomfort and the breaking up Of disci-
pine The witness said the company re-
-uuires the men TO load from $3.50 to $500
nunQTeO.We1RQlss lO. GILL; tltd1 liz oA<>S
If mine cars differ at various collieries.
ind that the prices paid the men vary with
the size Of the cars. He knew Of no
& BLACKLIST In the anthracite regions.
Mr.. Rose concluded his testimony by
producing letter written to him by
President Oliphant. Of the company. after
the strike had ended. The letter told MIN
to stand by men who stood by the COM
many during the strike. He was instructed
arop he careful.
and IF reviled. revileA not again..
Regarding the returning strikers, the
letter said: give them good welcome;
they are not all bad who are misled
The communication also Instructed the
superintendent TO take all the men for
whom places could be found. but that no
men should be taken back who had been
guilty Of committing crime.
PETER SYSTEM OF PAYMENT.
MT. Mitchell examined the Witness and
asked II the company could not find a
better system for paying the men than
the one now In force. 1T Is now the Gus
TOM" Mr.. Mitchell said. FOR the COM
pany to pay the contract miner. and the
latter In turn pays the laborer. In order
to make change and divide the earnings.
the miner and laborer usually go to q
saloon.
Mr. Rose replied that is was not neces-
sary for them to do that, but If re-
quest We're made the company would
gladly furnish a place where the men
could divide their earnings without visit
ing drinking places.
The commissioners asked Mr.. Rose
many questions, and In reply to some OF
them he said that since the union en-
tered the field the company was having
trouble In getting an honest topping
on It's mine cars.
In reply to Mr.. Mitchell he said the
cnen were not loading as much coal now
ls They did before the 1900 strike
DON'T DOCK OFTEN.
''You have the power to dock them,
s haven't you?" aske. Mr.. Mitchell.
1--WE have but we don't fully exercise
It. was the reply.
When Mr. Culver took the witness
stand. he first presented two large vol
umes which contained a complete copy
OF the pay-rolls Of the company One OF
tho wage statements furnished to the
commission showed the percentage OF
mer receiving certain wages. The state
ments showed that per cent of the
! cornpany.s men were receiving over sl.oU
par year; per cent, $500 to $1,000; pei
cent, $500 to 500; L. per cent. $500 to $500;
10 per cent. $500 to $500: 8 per cent sSOl
to $780, per cent 800 to $500. and a
per cent. received under 500
Mr.. Culver said those who earned under
$500 year WORKED on an average apou'
4 halt month during the entire year.
TO LESSEN CHILD LABOR.
The witness said the company is making
determined effort to lessen child labor
and that the 90 per cent reduction ir
hnurs of labor each day. without de-
crease In wages. is tantamount to
s per cent. Increase in wages.
This concluded Mr.. Culver's examina'
ton. and Mr.. Torrey then read the laws
{ of several States on the question OF chile
labor. He said the coal companies would
gladly Join with any one In having laws
enacted forbadding the employment OF
,hfldren In aud about anthracite and BIZ
luminous mines, under the age of II
years
/ ATTEMPT TO KILL
c0IIRT CHAMRERI AIN.