New-York tribune., 1903-01-31
COMMISSIONS WORK NEARs END.
Rebuttal Testimony Next Week-Nearly
Five Hundred Witnesses Heard.

pbiI,d.lnris Ian S0-With the exception of the
presentation OF statistics the coal operators closed
their case before the Coal Strike Commission TO-
dsy and IL is expected the striking miners viii
hegn calling witnesses in rebuttal Monday. The
miners viii take three four days for rebuttal
testimony next week after which the commission
will adjourn until the following Monday The argu-
ments will consume the greater part Of the week
beginning February 2 Up 70 date the COMMISSION
has heard 4eo witnesses.
The Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Com
pany occupied all Of to-day Counsel for the miners
and the paymaster Of the Reading company diftereo
in their views as TO the trustworthiness of the
averages shown in the wages statements handed to
the commission by the company. It developed IN
course Of the session that a miner who testned
before the commission at scranton hao lost MS
place because he was in Scranton, and the com
mission exacted promise from the superintendent
OF the ccmpsuy that he would renstate him.
Jacob P. Jones. of Pottsville. paymaster Of the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron Company,
presented 70 the commission statement showing
the annual earnings of the contract miners at the
Reading nompanv's Bear Ridge Goodspring. Koh-
moor Potts Draper, Indian Ridge, Preston No 3,
Richardson and Turkey Run colheries. These were
selected by the commission from the thirty-seVen
colieries for the purpose OF preparing wage state
ments. Mr.. Jones also presented statement giving
the earnings for 1901 Of the men who are paid by
the day, week month and statement showing
the working Of the miners and laborers benehclal
fund from the time it was organized py the late
the fund was started the company contributed
$50 000 and it has made all deficits whenever any
occurred, and also pays all expenses Tor clerical
work IN connection with the fund Nearly sZoo0"
has been paid out in benefits, he stated.
ton the statement OF the average wages OF the
contract miners. II developed that the commission
selected the collieries from Whlcn 10 make tle
average wages because the task OF gong over Ine
thirty-seTen would be too great Counsel tor inc
miners in order to show the untrustworthlnsss or
averages. took Indian Ridge colliery as an example
The average annual wages OF the miners at thls
coliery was s552 81. according to the company
Counsel for the miners showed that 1856 men inquired
In this average. and that only twenty men, Or 8
per cent, got the average of 1852 s. or more, ana
that 40 men, or 30 per cent, received wages under
that average. Chairman Gray called attention 10
the fact that OF the 49e 558 worked average
OF only 25 $40 days during the year. This, he said
should also be taken into consdera ton.
Several other witnesses were before the COM
mission but their examination was brief and
brought nothing new.
The remainder of the day was taken up in the
examina ton OF witnesses TO show the wages paid
the coal regions at occupations other than mining
coal. The wages were generally lower than those
paid 10 mine workers. E C. Brown Of Patton
cambria County superintendent OF the Beech Creek
Coal and Coke Company. testified that the soft coal
miners average of from $500 to $500 year
Counsel for the Reading company announced that
the company had number of district superintend-
company did not wish 10 pile UP cumulative
dence ii would there rest It's case, with ths excep
ton that il would cali witness. VINO would
present figures on socioiostcal and other features
OF the anthra cite region The commission then
journed until 10 O'Clock Monday morning.