Evening journal., 1903-01-16
5OAL OUTPUT
WAS LIMITED
'ractice in Operation Before
Miners Union Entered
Anthracite Region
|OaTAGE OF CARS ADMITTED
'esident Mitchell Explains "Robbing
Pillars" to Commission BY Which
Unfair Advantage Is Taken Of Min
ers and Laborers.


Unfair Advantage Is Taken Of Min
ers and Laborers.
philadelphia, Jan. 16.-Most of the
stimony presented to the anthracite
al strike commission yesterday was
a corroborative nature, the Erie
mpany, which has not yet concluded
case, producing numerous witnesses
prove that the Miners Union is re-
onsible for the alleged restriction
the hard coal production. Chair
m Gray, of the commission, who
been i'll at his home in Whining
b, Del, for several days, was pres
at yesterdays sessions. During
examination of Edward Button, a
S,eman employed by the latter COM
sny. the fact was adduced that the
ictice of restricting the number Of
rs to be loaded daily by one man
been IN operation as far back as
Il s. long before the United Nine
prkers of America entered the an
acite region. The unions responsi-
ty rests with the enforcement Of
rule. and not with its incention.
he miners attorney said: Isn't it
act that you are only loading three
four cars daily since the striker"
ed the unions attorney.
4 Yes, sir" answered Mr.. Button.
chairman Gray then took a hand in
questioning. Are the miners load
all the cars they can get, and have
y done so since the strike ended2"
g Yes, sir"
Then" said Mr.. Darrow, 1.-The min
# could not have more cars to load
ether they wanted them or not un-
other men we're deprived OF
m?"
he witness admitted a shortage OF
Vnliam Zorn. a miner, OF Dunmore
how he had been compelled to
up contract work. He said he was
aged in the work known as rob
pillars" but the driver refused &c
him enough cars, telling him he
acting under orders from the
sident Of the local branch Of the
IN.
r. Mitchell cross-eXamined the wit
He said: when you took the
ract ysu got it by bidding, did yor
he witness answered afirmatively
You had u or Is laborers?"
Tes."
Sou required three men to fill II
in a day, and the union simpl!
ted you to have the same numbe
ars as the other miners. Is tha
ect?"
illness was not certain, but wa
tive the driver had told him tn
ident of the local would not pei
him to have enough cars to con
the work.
Mitchell asked the witness If b.
done any of the actual mining un
he contract, and zorn replied tina
irected the operations.
hen you we're a small operatorY
Mr.. Mitchell.
es. replied the witness.
esident Mitchell then explained Z
commission that the union regard
18th disfavor the practice of mir
occurring. certain work by PROPOSE
he first place, he said, the loves
sr always secures the contrac
he employs as many laborers a
deems necessary, paying ther
Ter wages than they would othel
receive. In many cases one col
miner had employed from II {
borers to do the work, while h
act as a superintendent, pc
ing no part of the actual MINING
the union considered unjust
ther men, besides increasing IN
ity Of accidents, as the contra'
could not pay proper attenuo
many different jobs. Mr.. Mitche
also that he had been informe
saloon keepers sometimes secuI
contracts and never enter tf
! but leave the work to laborer
nmissioner Clark asked M
.ell il it was customary for sue
actors to furnish bonds, and T
a negative answer.
hat is their responsibility? as
r. Clark.
le same as that of an ordinai
act MINER" was the reply.
P. Blauvelt, auditor of the tv
anies, gave considerable statisl
sstimony. He said the mine
are not on the books OF Il
any. They are paid by the co
miners, and their share is su
TO be one-third Of the miner
earnings.
Darrow objected to the auditor
bony, on the ground thot the col
books do not show the divisi'
. wages. He did not quesu'
= God faith Of the company, b
& ed the figures presented wou
a low the exact conditions.
opposing counsel argued t
i at length. and Chairman CIR
d to admit the evidence.