Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-02-04
BARROW CALLED DOWN
Judge Gray Reprimands
Miners Counsel.
SAYS HE WENT TOO FAR
OSS-EXAMINATION
OF STATISTICIAN.
"What We Want is Candor," Lawyer
Declares Before Coal Strike
Commission.
SAYS HE WENT TOO FAR.

PHILADELPHIA, February 4.-Counsel
for the United Mine Workers today SUBJ
jected H. D. Newcomb a statistician who
testified for the Reading company before
the anthracite coal strike commission Mon-
day, to a rigid cross-examination concerns
ing the tables he had submitted.
At the outset Chairman Gray was inn
PEELED to caution Attorney Darrow regard
ing his method of cross-examining the wilt
ness. The attorney asked the witness If it
was his intention to convey the impression
to the commission that the occupation of !
miner was less dangerous to life than Of
any other class of labor.
The witness said that In the registration
area of the country there have been fewer
deaths per thousand in the coal regions
than in other sections.
Attorney Darrow questioned the inten-
tion of the witness in making this state.
ment and asked Mr.. Nemcomb if the Qualf- !
fication thus made was for the purpose Of i
causing the commission to believe that his
figures lied instead of himself.
You have no right to ask that question. ;
1t IS insolent and impudent," Mr.. New
comb responded warmly.
do you believe the occupation Of miner
is less dangerous than any other?' queried
Mr.. Darrow.
Gray to the Rescue.
remark:
Mr.. Darrow, you are overstepping the
line of cross-examina tfon."
What we want is candor." replied the
attorney.
In answer to questions, Mr.. Newcomb said !
he had held clerical position in the audit !
ing department of the interstate commerce
commission for period of seven years. He !
has written, he said, numerous articles for !;
railroad and other periodicals, and is at /
present editor of the Railway World.
Asked If he was connected with the Phil
adelphia and Reading Railway Company
the witness answered negatively, but said
he had devoted about eighteen hours a day
during the past few months to compiling
the statistics presented to the commission.
Witness was asked il. while doing this
work, he had found anything favorable to /,
the miners would he have mentioned it to |
the commission.
II think the statistics are complete" the
witness replied.
Concerning Death Rates.
Counsel devoted much time to the witness
figures comparing the death-rate in various
occupations. The statistics showed that
5-1O per cent Of those engaged in mining
and quarrying are over sixty-five years old
Counsel then quoted figures from Mr.
Newcomb's table showing that the deaths
rate was higher among clergymen than
among railroad engineers.
Explaining this, the witness said that per$
sons engaged in railroad work, such as
locomotive engineering, usually took up
some other occupation growing old
while clergymen continue their duties until
sickness and death came upon them.
Then said counsel, "the engineers whu
die after retirement do not appear In the
death rate under the classification of en&s
gineers?'
No." the witness answered.
do you think" said Mr.. Darrow, that
you are justified in presenting misleading
figures to the commission?.
II have not done so,' responded Mr.. News
comb.
Pennsylvania Not Included.
The witness admitted that in compiling
his table of mortality he had not included
Pennsylvania. but secured his statistics
from other states. where the death regis.-
tration was more complete.
In answer to a question by Chairman
Gray. Mr.. Newcomb said he had not pre-
pared comparative statement of the death
rate among inside and outside mine work.
ers and railroad men. He was requested
to do SO.
After Daniel Evans. Eben Thomas and
Shadrach Lewis. employees of the Delaware,
Lackawanna and Western Company, had;
reUardinp oru3p