The Calumet news. [volume] (Calumet, Mich.) 1907-1938, 1914-02-10

III view OF lIdl ldCl NndlIllldn dNlpI
permitted Mr.. Hilton to proceed as he
had suggested, the committee reserv-
ing the right to change the course of
the inquiry on its own motion.
w. j. Richard on Stand.
William j. Richard was called to the
stand and sworn by Chairman Taylor.
His testimony was OF Il similar tenor
to that given by him in Governor Fer
ris' investigation. He gave "A somewhat
lengthy review of his experiences as q
boy i'm the old Central mine and Mr..
Rees objected To this ancient history.
He suggested that testimony regarding
conditions reasonably within reach Of
the present be offered. Mr.. Hilton ex-
planned that his purpose was to show
conditions are much the same now as
they were forty years ago. The inquiry
was allowed to proceed
Early in Richards testimony Mr..
Kerr interpolated his offer of exhibits
and this consumed almost the re-
mainder of the session. These dockets
showed some remarkably small pay
ments to miners and they brought up
the question Of contract mining, a
sample contract being offered in evil
dence
Richard said that he had received
S4.30 for a months wages as a con-
tract miner. Mr. Howell could not UNI
derstand why man should willingly
work for month for such wages when
the contract apparently gave him the
opportunity to drop it if dissatisfied.
Richards explanation of this was that
il was the custom of the district.
Some of the dockets showed fair
settlements but the debts We're so great
as to equalze the credits.
Mr.. Casey said: II cannot see this
coincidence, why i'm SO many cases the
debts equal the wages and the man
gets no balance at all. Mr. Rces vol-
unteered To Offer Il satisfactory cXpla-
nation as soon as these. individual
dockets could he checked up.
why should men work month after
month and get no balance" asked Mr..
Casey. THAT is not satisfactory 10
me-"
ton by saying that men valuable 20
the company would get into debt to n
store and the company would turn
over to the store all that was coming
to a man after the company's debts
for supplies and for fixed assessments
for club and doctor and the like had
been taken out
H.,
Casey.
we shall show that" said Mr.. Hill
ton, and also the companies connec-
tons with the stores
Mr. Howell asked the witness lis
there not some explanation of why
you could not earn more
Some rock is harder than Others"
answered Richard, and the miner cam
not break down enough some months
to make living wages"
DO you have any supplies left on
hand after the contract"
No" answered the witness. The
miner usually buys only enough sup
plies for his contract"
1t is inconceivable to me-" said Mr..
Howell. how man can work for a
month for $3.50 when the contract
| clause gives him an opportunity 20
drop 1t If he is not satisfied"
The closing minutes of the session
| received around this situation and t
| was still under discussion when Chair
man Taylor called a recess till .
| O'Clock this morning.
Mr.. Rees asked Rickard To give him
some idea of the time when he earned
only $3.50 I'm n month and he said Il
! was in April thirteen years ago at the
| Osceola, not being sure of the exact
| date. Mr.. Recs probably will have
the exact records on the point at this
mornings session,