New-York tribune., 1903-01-13
UNION RESTRICTS PRODUCTION.
Witnesses Tell Strike Commission They Were
Prosecuted for Mining Too Much Coal

p,uoda,nbia Ian te-The proceedings before the
Strike Commission to-day consisted principally OF
the calling of witnesses by the Delaware ana HUI
son Company TO tell of the conditions in and about
it's collierIes and to refute testimony presented
against the company when the miners side was be-
ing heard. In the absence of Chairman Gray, Cen
eral Wilson again presided. The Delaware ana
Hudson Company expects to end its case to-mor-
row. when the Erie Company, which controls the
Hillside Coal and Iron Company and the Pennsyi-
yania Coal Company, will open
The first witness to-day Abel ]. culver OF
Nev-York controller of the Delaware and Hudson
Company. On cross-examination by e ; barrow
counsel for the miners. Mr.. Culver said that the
Delaware and Hudson Company selling coal to
middlemen at tidewater at 50 a ton for prepared
sizes. He did not know what prices the mluoehieii
receiving from the public beyond "hst ne
read in the daily papers His examination closed
with the suggestion that the general sales agent
of the company Thomas r Torrey. OF New-f ork'
should tell the commission what he knew OF 'his
feature of the coal trade, and dispateh was sent
to Mr.. Torrey, asking him 30 come mere as Sooh
convenient.
George Anderson of Scranton, clerk IN the
coal department of the company. presented numer-
GUS statistics. One of the statements showed lha'
2Sss of the company's 1928 employees nave peeii
working in about the mines from ten 10 SlA'S
years He produced data showing the workings OF
The corpanv's relief fund. with which more than
600 of the employees are connected. The Workers
pay to the fund days pay each year, the coiii-
Many contributing an equal amount. Men who are
injured receive Sc a week for three months, ana III
case of death their heirs receive $50 for funeral eA-
peuses The widows receive s. = week for one year
and 81 a week for year for each child less IMAM
twelve years old. The company fixed y ls as 'he
amount a contract miner should contribute as
days pay.
Another statement offered by the witness showed
that since the strike ended in the latter part OF
October the twenty-eight coleries lost 10 days re-
ducing the coal production of the company sZooA
A.
company told of the difficulty he had IN inducing
the men 10 mine more coal. He produced paper
alleged have been drawn up by Local. 1llioh ~ NO.
1ta. which said that any man oSos oo,s
in the headings than We're loaded in the cbsmpelrs
would be expelled from the union Two men ne
said. violated this alleged RUE OF the @ ne
their tools destroyed and the mouse OF cle
blown up with dynamite as a result or 9 no{
restricting their daily output. The miners referred
to Michael McHale and Harry Gilbert corrobo-
rated the testimony Of Mr. Thomas 49,, ,e,,,,-
Wiinam H Dettrey of Nurem6upg I'm 5ne iners, He@rs
union against whom it testified last week llial
he said non-unon men should have their tnroats @
called by the miners. He denied the charges apSo-
lutely. and several witnesses eorroporat,o, nls
the stand that his family was annoyed ana ms ms
house stoned by enemies of the union whlie ,tt ne
away from home on business connected "lth
David Davis. foremaR~of the Langclife Colliery;
II. T. Hughes, foreman of the Piynouth no.
Colliery. and Frederick Badman, foreman OF Plymo
outh No 8 all testified since strike of 1860
the miners and aborers will not load as many cars
willing but afraid of expulsion from the
union.
Mr.. Badman told of the difficulties ne had in
charged. He said that il was the rule or the union
that no union man should take another place; All
furnish the men with enough cars to do a days
work.