Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-23
TO Do EXTRA WORK
0peratora Blame Miners for Prevailing
Fuel Famine.
SAY UNION is CAUSE OF TROUBLE
viii Not Load More Than Linz
tied lumber of Cars Per Day No
Matter How Great the
Demand.

PHILADELPHIA. Jan. 22.-The question
Of responsibility for the coal famine was
the subject Of considerable debate before
the strike commission today.
Evidence was given to show that the
miners were not obeying Mr.. Mitchell's
request to produce more coal. and James
II. Torrey and Everett Warren. both Of
Scranton. representing several Of the large
companies, challenged the correctness Of
Mr.. Mitchelrs statement that 5000 men
were idle and ready to go to work. C.
S. Darrow replied that he would show that
1t was the operators and not the men
who were responsible for the shortage.
"If ! don't" he said. Il will ask the
commission to find against us"
The Lehigh Valley Coal company closed
its case and the Lehigh and Wilkesbarre
consumed a few hours in presenting evil
dence. That company also closed shortly
before adjournment, and the Independent
operators Of the upper region took up the
argument.
1t is expected the hearings will last
ten more days, while the final arguments
are to be restricted to four or Ave days.
The lawyers will agree among themselves
as to the division Of time. The miners
want half the time allowed by the COM
mission,
Men Do Less Work.
Thomas Thomas, a district superintend-
ent of the Dehigh Valley Coal company,
was the first witness called today.
Prior to the strike Of 1900 the company
had no difficulty, he said, in getting con-
tract miners to produce extra cars Of coal
when necessary to meet the demand, but
after the strike the company was unable
to get the men to load more than a certain
number of cars each day.
r. s. Mercur. a district superintendent
OF the Lehigh Valley company, on cross
examination, said ten hours a day was not
too long for a miner to work. He was
short of outside laborers at Centralia and
could put some to work II he could get
them. The rate Of pay was-$1.45 a day.
In reply to Mr.. Parker, Mr.. Mercur said
that as a result of the late strike several
lifts were still uLder water. thus pre-
venting the emf loyment OF about 800 men
and boys.
Statement of Attorney.
Attorney McClintock for the Lehigh &
Wilkesbarre company submitted a state
ment to the commission. He said in part:
May II please the committee: The Lehigh
q Wllkesbarre company is the largest
owner and lessee Of coal lands In the
wyoming region and is the largest tax
payer In Luzerne. county. No attack or
complaints have been made to the COM
mission against this company OF any con-
sequence whatever. All our miners who
have applied are back at work; we have
refused no one; Disseminated against no
BODY: and we had during the year 1901,
which our statement covers, and nave now
work for more miners than were then or
are at present in our employ.
our statements will show that our men
earn fair wages; equal, we think, to those
paid by any company in the district
wherein our mines are situated and higher
than the rates of pay of many employers
or like labor. We pay by the car and have
always done so; we deem 1t the falrest
method.
System of Docking.
Our system of docking is the same, as is
in vogue throughout the region and for the
year 1901 our statement of the docking at
all our collieries shows that II amounted
to 2.S9 per cent Of the cars dumped at the
bosses We do not object to their appoint
ment by the men, but we have never been
requested to permit their appointment.
Our relations with our men have always
been of the most pleasant character. They
have ever been free. individually or by COM
mittee, to call upon the foreman, division
superintendent or general superintendent.
with any grievances or requests, and no
man has ever been Disseminated against
Tor Sc appearing or for other causes.
Notwithstanding our efforts in this re-
gard, during the general strikes of 1900 and
1902 We have found 1t much more difficult
to control our men and we have had
thirteen local strikes In our mines. This
spirit OF restlessness shows its erect in
loss of the efficiency of the men as we'll
as the time lost by reason of these inter
ferences with regular and systematic labor.
shows Wages to He Low.
Warren C. Johnson of Philadelphia, gem
eral auditor Of the company, was called to
present the wage statements Of contract
miners and the company men for 1901. The
statement showed that only nine men made
over $1,000, the majority receiving sums
varying from $500 to $3.50.
Superintendent Morgan said the output
Of coal had not increased since Mr.. Mitchell
requested the miners to aid in relieving the
coal famine.
The independent operators Of the Upper
Wyoming and Lackawanna regions followed
the Lehigh & wilkesbarre In presenting
their case. II. c. Reynolds of Scranton
making the opening address for thirty of
them.
He said in part:
We believe an advance in wages at this
time Is unwarranted and would place a
new burden upon the shoulders of the con-
sumers.
We hope to prove that the hours of labor
are now too brief and We contend that
the compensation has been and now is
nXed by an economical law which serves
TO secure TO the men wages which have
been and in the future will be favorable TO
their interests.
We expect to show that the union has
limited production I'm many ways and that
in consequence Of this there has followed
a decrease in wages Of the men.
w contend mat only contracts favor
the operators are observed and that those
that are not favorable are abrogated by the
individuals composing the United Mine
Workers
Killed in MIne Cave-In.
SHAMOKIN, Pa, Jan. ga cave-in oc-
CURED in a mine breach at Natalie, Pa,
last night, killing Joseph Petross and his
sons. aged IL and 8 and fatally ~iniuriug
the eldest son, Michael. aged IS.
| CONVENTION READY FOR WORK