The Clarksburg telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1874-1926, 1912-09-12
COMPANY STORE
PRICES PROBED
By the Governors Commits
sion 10 the Questions of
High Cost of.Living.

question OF the cost Of living VIII
enter largely in the inEestiEat. on OF
mining conditions in this state.
One Of the greatest complaints
against the company store system
in the coal fields hae been the high
prices demanded By the coal COM
panies for food stufs. In many in
stances. too. it IS impossible for the
average miner to get anything ex-
eept from the company store. II he
comes to a mining section he VIII
get no pay until after he has been
there month. except script which
can only be used in the company
stores.
The Nine Investigation Commits
sion recently appointed BY Governor
Glasscock has been preparing a
number Of blank forms to be used in
securing Information. Miners and
coal companies and other persons
who deal in company stores will be
asked TO answer large number of
questions under oath. Where a diff
ference is found the commission will
make probe to ascertain the exact
facts.
To show the scope Of the iuvesti-
CATION and especially as ii apples
to the cost Of living and the purpose
and cost Of maintaining the mine
guard system. the questions on two
Of the forms are herewith given:
For coal operators:
How many guards do you EN-
ploy?
How many guards does your as
ISOLATION employ?
How many are there in your en-
ploy now:
What salary or wages do you pay
the guards?
What kind of<Work are the guards
authorized and required to do?
What duties do they perform?
What is the cost 10 you per month.
or annum. for guard hire2
What do you know about the
State constabuiary Law in, Pennsyl-
yanIa and do you think SIMILAR law
would be practical in this state?
It is reported that the Baldwin
guards in the Cabin creek district
have cruelty treated the United
Nine Workers and their families.
VIII you kindly tell US all you know
about this?
Are your mines operated by union
or non-union labor?
What is the average pay earned
By the miners and laborers (salaried
men excepted) as shown by your pay
rolls?
What percentage of increase or
decrease would you pay If you paid
the union scale?
At what price do you sell the
following per barrel or pound:
-four. bacon. lard. sugar, coffee.
hams. powder (keg)?
What per cent OF profit do You
make out of your stores and sup
plies?
What per cent of your sales are
made to parties other than your en-
pioyees?
What per cent of profit have you
realized out of the coal business for
the last three years?
Has the advance in wages been
in proportion to the cost of living?
Do you sell goods in your stores
at as low a price as the private
stores do taking into consideration
the quality of goods?
Do you require al! OF your en-
ployees to buy all their merchandise
at the company store?
What is the daily average capac-
iy OF your mines?
Describe the houses, whether one
or two stories. double or single.
plastered or ceiled?
What rent do you collect for a
... room house.
Do you dock your miners for slate
or other impurities found in coal
that could be separated in the load
ing OF the coal?
What amount is charged each
man per month for medical attend
ance?
What do you charge for hospital
fees??
Do you employ a doctor?