The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1903-01-17
TESTIMONY AGAINST MINERS
RESTRICTION OF OUTPUT By
THE MINERS.>

Mine Officials Make Further Charges
Against the Uniou-Nrie Company
Closes Its Case Explanation Regard
ing Statements of Earnings and Wages
The Docking system.
Philadelphia, Jan. More mine Of
ficials were called to the witness stand
to-day and informed the coal strike
commissioners that under the influence
of the union, the mine workers restrict
ed the production of anthracite coal and
otherwise interfered with the discipline
of the employees. The Erie company,
which controls the Pennsylvania Coal
company and the Hillside Coal and
Iron company, closed it's case early in
the day after calling physician who
testified to the good health of the mine
workers
The Scranton Coal company, which
operates, besides its own the collieries
of the Elk Hill Coal and Iron company,
then took up the attack on the de-
mands of the miners. The Scranton
and the Elk Hill companies turn their
coal over to the New York, Ontaria and
Western railroad, which virtually con-
trolls them. The witnesses called to-
day testified generally that no black
list exists, that the contract miners
work on an average Of from six to
seven hours a day, that the local
unions compel the men to load an equal
number of cars thus restricting the out
| put, that the men are careless in obey
ing and that frequent petty strikes oe-
cur because a union man is dismissed
| for INSTRUMENTATION. One inside fore
man in his testimony said the employ
ment of check weighrnan. insisted up
on by the union, has proved to be
| good thing for the company because the
miners sent to the surface cleaner coal,
that is, coal with very little impurities
in it. The accountant for the Scranton
Coal company presented figures which
showed that since check docking boss
was employed by the company at the
request of the miners the dockage
against the men has been reduced about
half. The miners pay the wages OF
the check weighman and the check
docking boss. 1t was also stated that
the check men have no trouble with the
regular weighman and docking boss of
the company. Superintendent May OF
the Erie company testified a few days
ago that the employment of check dock
ing bosses is not practicable because
the two men would not agree regard
ing the amount of dirt in car.
At the afternoon session Superintend-
ent Allen stated on cross examination
that he believed the Raymond and the
Ontario collieries Of the company could
produce about one thousand more tons
of coal day if the men would mine as
much coal as they are capable Of do
:r=.
Frank L. Northrup, bookkeeper and
accountant oe the Scranton company,
explained the several statements hand
ed to the commission by the company.
These included a table showing the
wages paid the men, hours Of labor and
other data required by the arbitrators.
The wage statement for the year 1901
showed that 1856 men worked less than
four months; 1858 worked more than
four months and received under S4OO;
265 worked more than four months and
received between $4O0 and $500; 26O
worked more than four months and
earned between $500 and $500; 1S1 work
ed nearly full time received between
CONTINUED on Third Page.)