The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-02-05
COAL STRIKE INQUIRY.
WITNESS AND MINERS, ATTOR-
+ NEY IN WoRDY CLASH.
Former Refers to His Cross -Examina-
tton as Kindergarten Lesson-Testi.
nony to CoEtrovort Operators state.
D,ent Regarding Wage statements De-
clared FarcioaI- -chairmsn Gray Rules
Miners should Have Right 10 En-
tighten Commission.
tighten Commission.


Philadelphia, Feb. 4. Several inter-
estingF incidents occurred during to-l
days sessions Of the anthracite coal
strike commission. The mornings ses-
sion was enlivened by the rigid cross
examination of r. D. Newcomb, stat
istician. of the Reading company by
Attorney DarroW, for the miners, and
the spirited passages between the law
yer and the witness. Several times
Chairman Gray felt impressed to inter-
fere on behalf of the witness, admonish-
ing counsel to be less severe in his crit
icisnl Of Mr.. NeWcomb's statements and
figures. The witness during the course
of his examination said he appeared to
be giving kindergarten lesson, and
the miners attorney said:
''To whom. the commissions"
mo; to you,'' replied the witness.
II doubt If you are even qualified to
do that" was the lawyers response.
Later in the day Mr.. Darrow express
ed his regrets to the commission for
some of his remarks
At the afternoon session counsel for
the operators intirnated that the other
side was endeayoring to break it's agrees
ment with the operators regarding the
basis of percentage in arriving at
definite conclusion as to the earnings
of contract miners. Numerous witnesses
have testified that the operators state-
nlents presented to the commission
show only the gross earnings of the con-
tract miners and fail to account for the
division of the money with the helpers.
Counsel for the companies admitted
that the books accounted for the wages
paid to the contract miners only, as the
helpers were paid by the miners. This
fact having previously been stated to
the commission and an agreement hav-
ing been reached by both sides as to
the manner Of making deductions in orr
der to learn as near as possible the
actual earnings of the miners, the oper-
ators' counsel characterized as farci-
cal the calling Of SO many witnesses to
attack the companies figures.
DR.. Charles Neill assistant recorder Of
the commission asked by Chairman
Gray to state the agreement and at the
conclusion of DR.. Neilrs statement the
CHalrIldH SdIu tle paEIlSSt TO the $COnIT0-
versy could not make agreements which
would necessarily be acceptable to the
commission, although the intention was
clearly for the purpose of facilitating
the investigation. Chairman Gray de-
cided that the miners were entitled to
produce witnesses to elucidate the oper-
ators' figures. Ht
The miners expect to conclude their
evidence in rebuttal tomorrow. The
testimony of miners. employed by the
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western,
the Pennsylvania Coal and the Temple
Iron company, occupied much of the
time of to-day's sessions. n. D. New
comb, the statistician who testified for
the Reading company Monday, was re-
called FOR ross-examination.
At the afternoon session, after the
miners union had called several witt
nesses to controvert the wage state-
ments offered by the companies, coun-
sci for the operators addressed the
commission. saying he could not see the
object of the farcical proceeding. unless
the miners desired to abrogate the
agreement existing between both sides.
Commissioner Watkins asked counsel
aContinued on Third Pagel