The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1914-02-14
IS
CUSTODIAN FOR
ITS PLOYEES
Colorado Fuel and Iron Com
pany Has $4O0,OoO in
Keeping for Men EN-
ployed by Concern.
INTEREST ON DEPOSITS
is PAID TO MINERS
Statement Is Made That Sa-
looms Have Been Found
to Be Necessity in
Camps.

-- DENVER. Feb. 13.--The COLORADO
Fuel G. Iron company is custodian for
100000 of the money of its employees,
most of them on strike, according TO
the statement today of Jesse r. We'll
born, president Of the company, to the
congressional committee investigating
tine miners strike.
Mr. Welborn also testified in the case
of two disasters of recent years, the
average sum paid by the company TO
relatives OF dead miners was $1,000, No
suit for death in mine had ever been
brought against his company,
He said John %. Rockefeller WAS a
stakeholder in the company, but de-
nied he controlled the corporation.
Mr.. Welhorn followed John e. Os-
good, chairman of the board OF direct"
ors of the Victor American Fuel COM
pany, on the stand.
Tho witness denied his company had
been guilty Of peonage, interference
with the mails or violation of the lm-
migration laws. He said there was no
combination to control the output OF
coal in Colorado,
Interest Is Paid.
Mr., Welborn said that in nearly all
the camps the men lived IN company
houses rented at a UNIFORM rate OF S1
per room monthly.
ssNany of the miners leave their
savings on deposit with the Colorado
Supply company. subsidiary which op-
crates our stores,' he said. 1--WE pay
per cent interest. When the strike
was called $50e,o00 was on deposit.
OF this amount 100000 remains
Mr.. Welborn was questioned as TO
charges that men were discharged IL
they complain of mine conditions.
.iOne man sued us for the loss of
an owe - he repljed. 'iHis suit was in
the courts FIVE years. Meanwhile, he
said. the man worked for the company.
"As 70 the alleged dismissal of union
men, can say it has not been done TO
our knowledge. Our members have even
held office in labor organizations with
out interference on our part.
The employees have always had the
privilege of naming check welghmen,
said the witness. The use Of scrip was
abolished January l, 1913.
Saloons Are Needed.
care there saloons at your minesf'
"Saloons are located on our prop
erty,' Welborn replied, we nave
found it almost impossible to keep
force OF men at mine without q sa-
loon, We receive no revenue from
them except rent.
The mine company president told OF
conferences he held with Governor AM
mons about August ], 1913, in which
he had declared the company was
% oil hn frJl- Il To-
mands except recognition Of tho union.
"Is John D. Rockefeller the princi.
pal stockholder in you. company"
questioned Representative Sutherland.
Our records do not snow that
he is.
''Does be own majority OF the
stock7"
u understand he docs not
Near the close of Mr.. Osgood s tes-
timony, before Mr. Welboru took the
stand. Chairman Foster questioned the
witness as to his views OH industrial
questions Mr. Osgood stated that he
hid not believe in compulsory arbitra-
ton in labor
Pertinent Question.
"What rights do you think the pub
lie has in the management of your bus
iness7'' inquired the chairman
~ don think IT benefits the pub
lie TO regulate business by law re-
piled the financier. "I think I am
the best Judge of how to operate my
affairs, and if 7 do not deal fairly
will be punished through the operation
of the natural economic laws
Representative Byrnes asked:
"If your men should form union
cf their own, not connected with the
United Mine Workers, as YOU testified
this morning you would willingly per-
nave , % noncil;aiion hoard with Jf'I, Enc 10
sentatives of the miners and represent
atives of yourself, to settle dispntes?'
Mr. Osgood--" No; ] want to have
the final decision in settling any dis
pute.
Writ Is Applied For.