The news & observer. [volume] (Raleigh, N.C.) 1894-current, 1903-01-11
FIRST GUNS OF THE
COAL KINGS BOOM
Why Isn't the Miner Fat,
Festive and Frisky?
HE HAS SUCH AJOLLY TIME
He is Paid so Well, His Work is so Safe, Hours
are 50 Few, the Coal King is so Good
to Him---Isn't He
Lord?
(By the Associated Press.)

(By the Associated Press.)
Philadelphia, Jan. 1O.-The represen-
tatives of the Delaware and Hudson
Company, the first of the coal companies
to present its side of the controversy
with the Anthracite Mine Workers to
the Strike Commission, occupied both
sessions today of the commission. Three
persons appeared before the arbitrators
on behalf of the company. James II.
Torrey. of Scranton, the company's prln-
cipal counsel in the absence OF DaVld
Wilcox. the vice president and general
counsel of the company, who is III; mas.
c. Rose. of Scranton, superintendent OF
the mining department of the company
and Abel L. Culver, of New YORK, comp
troller of the company. Mr.. Iorrey
made an address indicating what the
company intended to prove. He told of
the conditions in and about the COM
pany's twenty four collieries, and Comp
troller Culver presented the wage state
ments and other statistics pending, bear
ing on the issues before the commission.
Chairman Gray, who is i'll, was unable
to be present, and General Wilson again
presided.
Mr.. Torrey began the days proceedings
by reading his statement. 1t declares
there is no merit in the miners demand
for 20 per cent increase in wages, and
that the breakers have operated an
average of less than. eight hours per day
The statement says the general average
of wages, was $51S.95 for men and $196.93
for boys. 1t is claimed that there IS
no manual employment requiring so lit
tie training or skill, the exposure to so
little risk of health or life, and the oc-
cupation of so small portion Of the
working day. which is so literally com"
pensated in wages as the work OF the
anthracite MINER" and that the empoy-
ment is not extra hazardous and is more
than ordinarily healthy. An agreement
with the miners union is declared I'M
desirable, and the relations of the COM
pany with it's men are said to have been
harmonious until they were disturbed
by the Vaccinations" of the officers and
agents of the union.
Mr. Rose took the stand Immediately
after the close of Mr.. Torrey's remarks.
Under examination by Mr.. Torrey the
superintendent said that prior to the
strike in 1900, the relations between the
company and the men were cordial, but
that most of its men had since Joined
the miners union. which resulted in con-
siderable discomfort, and the breaking
up of discipline. The witness said the
company requires the men to load. from
2,750 to 1850 hundred weight to a car
that the size of mine cars differ at vari-
Gus collieries, and that the prices paid
the men vary with the size of the cars.
He knew of no blacklist in the anthra-
cite regions.
Mr. Rose concluded his testimony by
producing a letter written to him by
President Olyphant, of the company.
after the strike ended. The letter told
him to stand by the men who stood by
the company during the strike He was
instructed to warn those employees to
be careful and eff reviled, revile not
against Regarding the returning
strikers, the letter said "Give them a
good welcome; they are not all bad who
are misled.
The communication instructed the SUI
perintendent to take back all men, whose
plac could be found for, but no men
should be taken back who had been
guilty of committing a crime.
Mr.. Mitchell examined the witness.
and asked if the company could not find
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 goes to a
saloon. Mr.. Rose replied that it was not
necessary for them to do that but if a
request was 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 entered
the field, the company was having diff
Guilty in getting an honest topping OF
its mine cars. In reply to Mr.. Mitchell
he said, the men were not loading as
much coal now as they did before the
1900 strike. ''You have the power tt
dock them, haven't your" asked Mr
Mitchell 1--WE have, but we don't fully
exercise it,. was the reply.
vuma-eesi., oetaoi shrd shrd shrdluuuun
When Mr.. Culver took the witnes:
stand, he first presented two large vol
of the pay-rolls of the company. One
of the wage statements furnished to the
commission showed that the percentag,
of men received certain wages Thu
statement showed that six per cent. o
the company's men were receiving owe
$1,000 a year; three per cent 5000 tt
$1,000; six per cent, $500 to 500; twelv,
per cent, $500 to $500; ten per cent
$500 to $500; nine per cent, $500 to $500
nine per cent, $40 to $500, and twenty
six per cent received under 5000.
Mr.. Culver said those who earned un
der $500 a year, worked on an avera g,
estimate at about half month durin,
the entire year.
The witness said the company is max
ing determined effort to lessen chile
labor, and that the twenty per cent. re
duction in hours of labor each day with
out a decrease in wages is tantamoun
to a % per cent. increase in wages
This concluded Mr.. Culver's examina
tion, and Mr.. Torrey then read the law
of several States on the question o