Omaha daily bee., 1903-01-11
Complain of Lengthy Preceding and Lack
Of / etailed Statements
W DEMANDS ARE ALL UNREASONABLE
Wage Increase and Shorter Hours Not JUS
ti6ed by Conditions
AGAIN REFUSE TO SIGN AGREEMENT

PHILADELPHIA, Jan. 1O.-The nonunion
men having closed their case, the coal
companies opened their side Of the con-
troversy today before the strike commits
sion.
Chairman Gray is still confined to his
home in Wilmington suffering from a cold,
and General Wilson tgain presided.
The proceedings were opened today by
the Delaware & Hudson company. with
James H. Torrey OF Scranton as counsel.
In presenting the case Of the company
he represents Mr.. Torrey hrst delivered
written statement which, he said, the
company would try to prove.
He spoke in part as follows:
Presents side of Railroad.
A general opening Of the case on behalf
OF the respondents having already beer
so far as practicable, to a brief statement
Of the particular matters which it Is eN-
case Of the Delaware * Hudson company
We shall prove the charter powers of the
company as set forth in its answer al.
will appear this was the nrst company 10
enter upon the business of mining and
transporting out of the state its anthracite
coal.
We shall show that for many years. ur
to the beginning OF the 1900 strike, the re-
ployes had been friendly and harmonious
that the the inception of such degree OF
hostility as has since marked these relations
was coincident with the entry into the
anthracite field OF the organization OF the
United Mine Workers.
So far as relates TO the formal demands
pending before this commission, II is only
fair to this respondent to state that II is
I'm the position, unusual even in debate, OF
being compelled TO prove a negative.
After spending weeks of valuable time
the case upon the part OF the miners was
closed without the production OF any mate
rial evidence to suhstantiate any of theii
claims. With almost innnite labor and
pains, and by the aid of an army of clerks
and accountants, vast array Of informa-
ton has been accumulated for the use OF
the commission in the employment of our
From these statements and from other
evidence that Will be offered II will be
shown that there is no merit IN the demand
for a ~ per cent increase on the prices paid
during the year OF 1871 to employees per
forming contract work.
1t will be shown that both the rates paid
and the annual earnings upon this kind OF
work are larger than are paid in the
bituminous coal fields for the same work
sktli and training in the region. s--
We are satisfied the commission will finc
that there Is no manual employment requir.
ing little training SKILL the exposure
to so little risk of health, OF life and the
occupation of so stnsu n a portion OF the
working day, which is so HberIlly compen-
sated in wages as the work OF the anthra-
cite miner.
employment is not extremely hazardous
and Is more than ordinarily healthful. We
shall show that since the last increase or
wages there has been no material advance
In the cost of living. We shall negative the
unsupported claims that children of the
miners are forced to work at an early age
! by submitting a list of employees whose
boys are working while the annual earnings
| of the parents average about $40.
Question of shorter Day.
To the second demand for an eight-hour
| day for coal men the evidence which has
already been outlined will. to a large ex-
! tent, apply. In addition thereto we shall
submit statements which will show that
most in demand and the collieries were
operated to the limit of their capacity the
| breakers operated an average OF less than
! TO the voluntary action OF the men and
\ partly TO causes beyond the control either
! of the company or the men.
| We have prepared a schedule showing
! the wages, the number of days worked and
boys, the general average being for men
! $5lS95 End for boys 1858, which is a
higher ayer' ge than obtained in other sim
| In this connection we shall show that
! the only tabulated statement offered IN
/ evidence by the mine workers. plrporting
! TO give a comparison OF the earnings OF
! company men in the Dtuminous and
| anthracite fields, is misleading in its scope.
! full OF inaccuracies IN lis detail and mis-
! leading in its conclusion.
Bearing upon Che third demand Of the
] miners Tor the weighing OF coal ana the
! payment by the ton for mining, we shall
] show that for many years this company
| has paid at some Of its mines by weight
! and at others By the car.
! We shall show the actual product in
! marketable coal OF units OF weight per car
l and that a practical uniformity of wages
! results from both systems.
| We shall show that so far as concerns
| our own employees no complaint has ever
! oeen made directly 10 the company that
! either system was unfair or resulted In
inadequate or unfair remuneration for the
labor actually accomplished.
/ We have claimed in our answer that the
! commission cannot under the terms of the
| submission OF the issues which II Is to pass
! upon, consider the fourth demand sub
mitted by the cOmplainants, viz: the exc
cution Of an agreement with the United
Mine Workers OF America governing the
/ WAGES 10 be paid and the conditions OF
, employment and employees.
Without waving this claim; We shall
offer testimony, In addition to the evidence
already before the commission, TO estab-
iish the undesirability Of such an agree
ment II II were fairly at issue.
Union "A Disturbing Factor.
We shall show that the relations between
this respondent and its employees had beea
for many years peaceful "a, ana haTmohhiS1'
tions Of the officers and agents OF tht
United Mine Workers; that the etfect OF
association has been 10 create spirit OF
I oIscontent and hostility upon the part Of
the employees; that the discipline which Il
duct OF the business has been very greatly
impaired that systematic efforts have
bt en- made 10 force all Of It's employees into
. I he organization; that the management o.
( business might be put absolutely under 10
I control, and that in many Instances, {,
further the designs Of The organization, th'
, efficiency and productive capacity OF th'
mon has been Voluntarily diminished.
, The miners union has no control ovel
It's members. No blacklist has ever beei
, prepared or recognized by the company
and the evidence produced by the Della
. ware & Hudson company viii tend TO In
/ dicate its sincere desire 70 establish auC
! maintain amicable and friendly relation
with It's employees.
Call witnesses 20 stand.
} Upon conclusion Of his address Mr.. Tor
rey called to the witness stand Charles c
Rose Of Scranton. superintendent OF tn
mining department. OF the company. Unde
the examination Of Mr.. Torrey the witnes
+. said that prior to the 1900 strike the rela
, Z tions between the company and the mel