Cameron County press. [volume] (Emporium, Cameron County, Pa.) 1866-1922, 1903-01-29
COAL STRIKE COMMISSION.
sessions Enlf yened by Some Interest
ing Testimony Chairman Gray's
Commemorative Is TO BIamei

Philadelphia, Jan. 21.--Whcn the
anthracite coal strike commission
adjourned yesterday the four hun
dredth witness summoned before the
arbitrators was being examined. Of
the four hundred, ia were called by
the striking mine workers, IA by
the non-union men, 63 by the opera
Tors and eight by the commission.
Philadelphia, Jan. 22.-The sessions
of the coal strike commission yester-
day were enlivened up by some inter
esting testimony. The feature of the
sessions was Chairman Gray's strong
remarks in commenting on an Incl
dent where District President Fahey,
OF the Miners union, would not grant
permission" during the strike to
erect a boiler house at colliery,
which was necessary to preserve the
mine from damage. The president of
the commission said he hated tyran-
ny, no matter whether it was prac-
tlced by an operator, a miner or any
one else.
The Lehigh Valley Coal Co. placed
union miner on the stand to testify
about what seemed trivial matter
a good witness for the miners. He
said there would be trouble in the
anthracite regions as long as the coal
companies insist upon paying the
contract miners by the car instead
of by weight. This opened a discus
sion between counsel for both sides
and the commissioners which con-
sumed much time.
X. S. Mercur, district superin-
tendent of the Lehigh Valley collier
les in the Mahanoy and Shamokin
district, gave some interesting testi-
mony which livened the proceedings
considerably. The men in his COL
lieries worked on an average, he said,
of about seven hours a day. The
miners, he continued, did not produce
any more coal as result of Presi-
dent Mitchell's "hurry up" order.
They claim there is no coal shortage,
and that it was scheme of the op-
orators to show the men are earning
larger wages.
Philadelphia, Jan. 23.-The question
of who is responsible for the appar-
ent shortage in the supply of an
thracite coal was the subject of con-
siderable debate Thursday by the at
torneys representing the parties be-
fore the strike commission. 1t was
testified that the miners are not
obeying President Mitchell's request
to make extra efforts to produce
more coal to relieve the situation.
This was followed up by James II.
Torrey and Everett Warren, both of
Scranton, who represent several of
the large companies, challenging the
correctness of Mr.. AIitchell's state
ment that 5000 men are idle and
ready to go to work.
c. S. Darrow, for the miners, re-
piled that he would show that it was
the operators and not the men who
were responsible for the shortage in
the production. IF | don't" he said,
ST will ask the commission to find
against us"
The Lehigh Valley Coal Co. closed
its case and the Lehigh and Wilkes
barre Co. consumed a few hours in
presenting its evidence.
1t is expected the hearings will
last ten more days.
Philadelphia, Jan. 24-The indie
pendent operators of the Wyoming
and Lackawanna regions, in which
Scranton and Wilkcsbarre are located
occupied the time of Fridays session
of the coal strike commission. A doz-
en- witnesses were heard. Nothing
of Importance was ELECTED.