The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1903-01-05
COAL OPERATORS REPLY.
Eater IntO Details Concerning The
Grievances Complained OF,
DENIAL OF DEATH FROM EVICTION
Exhibits Are Attached 10 Answer Snow
ing Highest Annual Earnings OF Con-
tract Miners are $4,000.

Philadelphia, january 4-rae answer OF
G. b. Markle * Co. independent coal up
orators to the demands Of the miners
was made bubble here today. Tao answer
viii be- submitted 90 the anthracite stsi6
commission. which rclsscmblcs in this city
tomorrow. II was written by john Marslc.
managing partner Of the firm. Inc state
meut, after giving the details az the
formation and purposes Of tIe company
which was organized December % 1879, 20
mine coal upon lands leased lu certain por-
tons OF Pennsy lraul3. continues. "ih
lesseCs erected aud own all the improve
mcrfs on the property, Including hreaS S,
stores, shops and tenement houses. From
tue time OF my GrSt connection With the
business, iu lSSp there have always ot"n
O resident physician luJ assistant plNslcltu
upon tho property, unul recently. wth me
exception ~ q short Interval The d. ~
selected the head physician. wno chose MS
assistants, aud We collected ~ cents
month for the married mcu and 80 cents
Tor tho riuEie men over 2l and the amount
collected was paid over Co the physician
without char-e or deduction tIefefor Tlls
arrangement was Not compulsory upon the
men o- families.
stores for the sale of genera, mcrchan.
disc and of miners supplies have always
been maintained upon the property, and
have been ana are an accommodation q"
the men and theft Families. lhe men nave
never beeu required to deal there.
Continuing, the answer Says q sliding
scale basis OF labor had been agreed upon
10 1873 and had from that tine bcen gen
orally in force lI tue L'hich region. IN
September 1851, q committee II miners
presented certain demands 10 tGe tru An
agreement was then In existence between
the company and men 60 settle difficult Is
by arbitration. THE company replied 90
the demands and received DO further COM
tnunicHtion from tae miners.
I'm September. 1900 another list Of Crlcv-
snCcs was furnished the firm, the com.
pany's answer being that II the mon were
not satisfied with the reply the officials
I would be willing TO arhltratc. Finally, on
October o. 1890. committee Of the men
appealed 10 the frm for an adjustment
81 the differences. This was accomplished,
and on october - work was resumed at
The answer further states "Retween
100 and 1902 many requests were made
Tor the correction Of alleged grievances,
which were all taken up, considered and
Referring to the appointment Of the conf
mission, Mr.. Aark.e SayS: AS we d
under which the anthracite strike com
mission was appointed ana She strike de
| cigred oG. we were not willing 10 perm t
! our mon to return to work without a dis
! tiuct understanding that they would abide
ty the award 20 be made by the commits
I sion Notice was accordingly posted thHt
! those wishing 20 secure employment should
{ call at the ofIice and bring with them tlt
[ brass checks which they had Many OF
. the notices were torn down and pickCt'
/ were stationed 10 the noghhorhuCd ~ the
Office and along tile lines of road to pre-.
. vent the mon from. coming TO the Office
[ ON the morning of October -, 1902
. ordered notice to give mp possession az the
/ houses to be served upon twelve men. who
had been active To- preventing the men from
. resuminE work. No attempt WIS made tt
B collect tho urrrNrS Of rent which had oCl
crued during the strike.
The answer further states that the fathCl
{ of tfNtHrip killed "a result