Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1903-02-07
THESTRiKKEE COMMISSION
Reading Company Closes With
Much Statistical Evidence.
WITNESSES iNREeuTTAL CALLED


ty-one .Murders-Mrs. j. p. Morgan
Attends Hearing.
Philadelphia, Feb. 3.-The operators
yesterday finished the presentation OF
evidence to the anthracite coal strike
commission, and the afternoon session
was devoted to testimony in rebuttal
on the part OF the miners. Much sta
tistical evidence was offered by the
Reading Company, showing in figures
the conditions existing in the mine re-
gions aud comparing the prosperity of
the mine workers and their children
with that of persons engaged in other
occupations in various cities. w. w.
Ruley, head of a statistical bureau
conducted by the coal carrying roads,
was called to testify regarding the coal
production, the amount of the commod-
ity shipped, and the prices received
The data, he said. was furnished by
the coal companies.
Among the spectators at today's
session was Mrs. J. P. Morgan, wife
of the New York financier. She en-
tered the court room with a party of
friends. Mrs. Morgan appeared to
take keen interest in the proceed
ings. She nodded her head at clever
points made by counsel, moved her
chair about to get a better look at
various speakers, and smiled at the
many humorous bits of evidence.
In lulls of testimony Mrs. Morgan,
through her lorgnette, quietly survey
ed all portions Of the room, apparent
ly unconscious that all eyes were GEN.
tered upon her.
A. G. Wilson, of Pottsville, land
agent for the Reading Company, pre-
scented statements showing the prop
erty valuations and the taxes paid by
the company on it's property. H. L.
Newcomb, statistician for the inter-
state commerce commission, intro
duced tables showing the average an
nual earnings during 1901 of workmen
employed in several manufacturing
towns Of the state. The statistics af-
fected ATS, $50 wage-earners and the to-
tai of wages amounted to S2.21S,S4 or
an average of 1852 man. The average
in New York, witness said, was about
SIS higher, but in the New England
states the difference is immaterial.
The average daily earnings of anthra-
cite miners. witness said, are about
S2.05, making the yearly average about
$500.
J. j. Michner, in charge of the Read
ing Company's telegraph Office here,
said that from investigation he learned
that breaker boys worked shorter
hours and received better pay than tel
egraph messengers and boys in depart
ment stores
The presentation of these statistics
ended the testimony for the operators.
Mr.. Wolverton, addressing the COM
mission, cited John Mitchelrs arraign-
men of President George F. Baer and
John Markle for charging the United
Mine Workers with responsibility for
"21 murders committed in the mine re-
gions." Mr.. Wolverton contended that
such a declaration had never been ut
tered by Mr.. Baer. and he referred to
the official record for confederation
In reply Attorney barrow retorted that
he had no recollection OF Mr.. Baer
making such an utterance to President
Roosevelt at the conference preceding
the naming of the strike commission.
but he was confident Mr. Markle had
used the expression, and the record
would SO quote him. reference to the
early proceedings substantiated this
explanation, and the incident closed.
Counsel for the miners also took oc-
casion to deny the published statement
that the union had withdrawn its de-
mand that the miners in the Schuylkill
region pc paid by weight. The demand
for pay by weight, he said, did not af-
feet the Schuylkill district where it is
impracticable.
The afternoon session was devoted
entirely to rebuttal testimony. r. J..
Beamish, a Newspaper man, was called
to refute the statements that a reign
of terror existed in the coal regions
during the strike. A dozen men who
had been hired in this city to serve as
coal and iron policemen during the
strike said the disturbances were few
and or a minor character. Daniel T.
Mcheivy, Justice of the peace of Ha-
zelton, testified that the striking min
ers had offered to assist him in main
tanning order.
c. ID. Gallagher, of Plymouth. a
miner in the, employ of the Delaware
and Hudson Company, was questioned
regarding the alleged restriction of the
coal output. He knew of no cases
wherein the miners were responsible
for this condition, but stated that what
limitations were made were the result
or the company's failure to furnish
enough cars. Regarding the question
OF payment by weight, he said he did
not know the general opinion of the
miners as to whether the coal should
be weighed before or after it reached
the breaker. For himself, he believed
1t should be weighed before leaving
the mine. In answer to questions by
Commissioner Watkins, the witness
thought payment by the day would be
desirable for the miners, but some
thing of disadvantage for the opera
tors, because under that method the
men would not work as hard as they
do at present
Rev. p. ]. Mcmahon, of Minersville
said the Mine Workers Union had
&C. H.