The Atlanta constitution. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1885-19??, 1903-08-17
M'QUEEN BEFORE THE
COMMISSION,
Says His Company Does Not Traffic
in Store Checks-That Negro
Miners Are Lazy and Are
Happy if They Make
81 Day.

Birmingham. Ala, August 12-Today's
session of the board ,of arbitration
which Is to adjust the differences be-
tween the Alabam miners and coal OPP
orators opened with n statement by the
chairman. Judge George Gray. Of Della
ware. regarding the scope of the arbi-
trat,on. Judge Gray said that the fol-
, lowing matters would be considered:
Eight hour days; five cents advance III
miners wages The ton. with CORE
| spending increase In day wages; semi
monthly pay days; prices paid for dead
or narrow works: differential in ma
| chine and pick mining; minimum num-
Der of days to be worked each month:
readjustment of day wage scale; diff
feTential between Pratt mines and other
mines.
j. w. Mcqueen, vice president of the
Sloss Sheffield Steel and Iron Company,
| said that his company does not traffic
| in store checks and that credit Is ex-
tended to thrifty miners. He declared
that last years wage scale was not
equitable. Men on entry work make
! from 80 to so per cent more than men in
room work. The negroes are thriftless
and If one can make dollar by min
ing TWO tons OF coal that Is ABOUT an
he cares to mine. He will mine three
tens if necessary to get the dollar which
represents about the daily spending ca
pacity of the average southern negro.
We sold iron last year as high as $ls
and as Tow as 81. We could not take
advantage of higher price, to any en-
tent. because We had sold our product
In advance. The Illinois Central has "a
coal rate of SIPS from Illinois to New
Orleans. the same rate as from the
Birmingham district TO New Orleans.
This has cut us out of that district"
William Herbert. superintendent of the
Bessemer Land Improvement Company's
mines. In Bib county, was the next
witness, He showed, by pay rolls and
other records, that in June. II room men
averaged a bout $3.50 per month per man.
and in ten months up to July l two
miners. on heading work. working an
average of 81 days per month drew an
average of s133 each per month. In the
month of June. working "a days. they
each drew SIG for the month.
Favors Semi Monthly Pay Days.
Birmingham. Ala. August l5-The
sixth day of the hearing of the coal
strike arbitration board was taken up
with a further presentation of evidence
by the opera tors
J. II. Adams, assistant district mana
ger of the Republic Iron and Steel Com
rany, said that the eight-hour system
would increase the cost OF production;
that furnace lab yrers work Twelve hours
per day and that the tipple work, wash
ing and the like at the miners We're such
that the output could not be handled
in eight hours
Judge Gray, chairman Of the arbitra-
ton board, asked the witness many sh trp
questions regarding the company sore
He .aytta 20 &c
not be as easy to issue q laborer a five
dollar bill as to give him a five-dollar
fie Wo 1 " nof b chairman also ask"d if
MORO freouentiv tnah to nave MN stop |
off from work to draw checks.
The witness gave no reply to this Ques-
ton, but said that the stores OF the com
pany had originally been established at
the request of tire miners.
at looks hard said Judge Gray. LOT
a man to work for 500 per month ana
get only S75 because of the store check
system
This statement referred to the method
of discounting store checks for cash. The
witness said that negroes drew checks
to get money for gambling and whisky
tor drinking.
Judge Gray asked IL the present sys-
tenn did not encourage these immoral
practices.
In answer to Judge Grays question. the
witness said that he was OF the opinion
that issuance of checks did not encourage
immoea atty the best class of miners,
as a rule kept their checks and by buy
ing others secured their groceries at
discount.
Judge Gray then made a lengthy state
ment IN which he practically foreshadow-
ed his decision on the question of semi
monthly pay days. He said that the
present system of issuing checks to miners
and discounting them for cash was
vicious. in that 1t forced miner to lose
20 per cent of his earnings If for any
reason he desired to be paid before the
end of the month He further said that
he thought the system encouraged I'M
morality, In that 1t gave opportunity to
the thriftleSs miners to gamble their
money away. He was OF the opinion that
a semi-monthly pay day should be tried.
at least as an experiment. If it would
do away with the check system, he was
hearty in favor of II. He further SAID
that if check system was still allowed
under the semi-monthly pay day, that
under no consideration, would he vote for
the system unless the checks be made
payable to certain miner, ana that no
other person be allowed to use 1T In any
way whatsoever. This. he said, would
prevent the harmful trading.
Caused a Sensation.
This statement by Judge Gray created a
sensation among the operators as well as
the miners, and Attorney Walker Percy,
and Railroad Company. made lengthy
| reply. He reviewed the history of the
system and explained that it first orig
| mated during the season OF depression.
when the companies could not meet their
! nay rolls. They could not raise money.
| he said but they had credit for merchan-
| disc and In this way they managed to
! carry the miners over the trying period.
| Since then the system has spread. and
in many places j. welcomed by the men.
He said the industrious miner could get
| his groceries and other necessaries at a
! discount by frugality, while his thriftless
| brother lost part of his earnings by reck-
| lessness and extravaganza. Mr.. Percy
said he believed 1t would be great disas
ter in mining circles If the system was
| abolished.
MIR. Pcrcy's statement is regarded by
| both sides as of the most forceful
statements ever made to an arpitratlol
| hoard and 1t created profound impress
| sion upon Judge Gray and other members