Evening journal., 1903-01-17
DOCKING BOSS
GREAT SUCCESS
Witness Said the Miners Sent
to the Surface Cleaner
Coal
GOOD THING FOR THE COMPANY

OmClals were called TO the witness
stand yesterday and informed the coal
strike commissioners that under the
influence OF the union the mine work
ers restricted the production Of an.
thracite coal and otherwise interfered
with the discipline of the employees.
The Erie company closed its case at.
ter calling q physician, who testified
TO the good health Of the mine work.
ers. The Scranton Coal Company.
which operates besides its own the
collieries of the Elk Hill Coal and
Iron Company. then took up the at.
tack on the demands OF the miners.
The Scranton and the Elk Hill Com
,panles turn their coal over TO the On
tario and Western Railroad. which vir-
tually controls them.
The witnesses called testified gen.
orally that no black list exists, that the
contract miners work on an average Of
from six TO seven hours a day that the
local unions compel the men to load
an equal number of cars, thus re-
stricting the output; that the men are
careless in obeying orders. and that
frequent petty strikes occur because
union man is dismissed for insub-
ordination
Frank L. Northup, bookkeeper and
accountant OF the Scranton Company,
explained the several statements
handed TO the commission by the
company These included a table
showing the wages paid the men. hours
OF labor and other data required by
the arbitrators. The wage statement
for the year 1901 showed that 7s6 men
worked less than four months; 758
worked more than four months and re-
ceiyed under $500; 265 worked more
than four months. and earned between
$500 and 5000: 1S1 worked full time,
and earned between $500 and $500; 2s
earned from $500 TO $500; three
earned from 5000 to $1,000. and three
received over $1,000.
The Miners Union admitted the cor
rectness of the figures presented by
the company to the commission. Mr.
DafTow told the commission that the
company had opened its books to the
miners experts and that there was no
question as to the accuracy OF the
company's statistics.
On cross-examination Mr. Northup
said that the check docking boss and
the docking boss employed at three
OF the company's collieries always
agreed on the docking Of cars Tho
check weighman insisted upon by tho
union was found TO be good thing
for the company, he said. because the
miners sent to the surface. cleaner
coal, that is coal with very little i'm.
pnrities in H.
The witness presented a statement
showing the average dockage at the
three collleries.
James Smith, OF Peckville, inside
foreman at three collieries, gave in
stances Of characterization on the part
Of mine workers He told OF miner
refusing to work at a certain place for
2 sum fixed by the company, and the
Nobility OF the company to get men
to MI his place because OF the rule of
the union that no man shall take an
others place unless discharged for good
cause; OF runners refusing to deliver
cars to miners who had not paid their
dues TO the union: OF men refusing to
properly top ears because the local
told them to do il in another way: OF
the refusal of men. under instruction
OF the union. from working in the
mines when the breaker is not work.
Ing: OF the refusal OF men TO handle
cars that were lowered into the mines
by a non-union engineer.
One OF the company's breakers burn
ed down just before the strike began
last year and the union men. he said.
would not permit builders to work on
It during the suspension. IL will not
be ready for operation for about a
week, but il the union would have per-
mitted the company TO have it built
during the strike. he added. Il would
-aa>e been ready for operation when
the strike was declared off last October.
The superintendent also stated that
the men stay in>the mines about an
hour longer since the company started
TO keep their time. but that the amount
OF coal has not increased much. He
also said that men who went 10 the
soft coal regions when the strike be-
gan returned as soon rs it was over.
They told him that the work in the
bituminous regions was harder. that
they could not do so well. nor was the
living as good as In the hard coal
In reply to Commissioner Watkins
the witness said the company has lost
two or three half days on account OF
the scarcity OF railroad cars.
Educate the Head, Heart and Hand.
Memphis. Tenn. Jan. i7.-In an ad.
dress before number OF white poo.
pie. Bishop Barnett. OF Ohio. Of the
African Methodist Episcopal Church.
said: I'VE believe in the education
Of the head heart and hand Long be-
fore Booker T. Washington was born
the African Episcopal Church started
manual training school in Columbus,
Ohio. IN 1874. I believe IN the posi-.
bIlities of the black boy as well as
the white boy"
81