Evening star., 1915-02-02
Lawyer for Colorado Mine.
Workers Reads Statement
to Industrial Commission.
CLEVELAND FOUNDATION
HEAD OUTLINES SCHEME
J. P. Morgan Denies Controlling
Half U. S. Railroads Favors
Open Shop.


Industrial relations commission. The
witness was Edward P. Costigan OF
counsel for the United Mine Workers
of America, and his testimony. consist
ing chiefly of statement which he
read. followed closely the lines adhered
to last week by John r. Lawson. the
mine workers executive board men,
Der for Colorado.
Mr.. Costigan announced that he ap-
peared at his own request.
The most generous estimate a some
what disillusIoned public will place on
Mr.. Rockefeller's activities" Mr.. Cos
tigan said, ''is that his foundation is
dealing with effects, while through the
other industrial agencies he is actually
and visibfy feeding the flames and
causes of Industrial unrest
Denounces Rockefeller.
''Mr. Rockefeller, who appears to the
world in the relief afforded Belgium a
liberal benefactor. stands convicted be-
fore the workers of Colorado as a mar
rowly biased and visionless money
maker.
In a great human crisis, precipitated
within the very household. industrially
speaking. of Mr.. Rockefeller, his foun-
udtiOH udS UCSI Hc0uIcSS OF lnDOIenI.
And the conclusion forced on an un-
prejudiced public has been and is that
Mr.. Rockefeller. the business man, has
cold heartedly and without hesitation
brushed aside and imposed silence on
Mr.. Rockefeller the philanthropist."
Cleveland, Ohio. Trust Company and
head of the Cleveland foundation, was
the first witness today. Mr.. Goff said
he was the originator Of the founda-
tion.
Community Charity Plan.
I'VE found in Cleveland" he said,
that those who gave money for char
table purposes were too apt to limit
the scope of their gifts. We. there
fore. worked out plan by which the
gifts out Of surplus Of wealth of a
community could be used locally for
the best good of the community.
"A committee appointed by city
trust company has entire Jurisdiction
over the disbursements"
Speaking of the Rockefeller Founda-
tion, Mr.. Gon said he could not but
feel that the handling of so .impor-
tant q trust by q, self lf-perpetuating
danger.
y. Z. morgan resumes.
]. P. Morgan, testifying yesterday.
denied that his banking firm dominated
half of the railroads in the United
States. The denial was called forth by
a statement attributed to Samuel I'm
termyer, when the latter was a wit
ness before the commissfon. that two
banking firms virtually controlled all
the railroads.
I'VE certainly do not control half of
the roads," Mr.. Morgan asserted. He
added with a laugh, Il don't know any
thing about Kuhn, Loeb & Co.'S busi-
ness, but Mr.. Untermyer was certainly
wrong"
1t was Mr.. Morgan's first public ap-
pearance- as spokesman for the vast
financial Interests of the Morgan COM
pany.
When Mr.. Morgan arrived at the
hearing John Mitchell. former presi-
dent Of the United Mine Workers OF
America and Low a~member of the New
York state workmen's compensation
commission. was on the stand. Mr..
Morgan had to wait more than a half
hour before the commission finished
with Mr.. Mitchell, who testified regard
ing conditions among the miners of
Colorado and Pennsylvania, and char
acterized as simply absurd the Rock
efeller plan Of settling labor troubles
in Colorado.
Questions Amuse Him.
Mr.. Morgan confessed his lack OF
knowledge regarding labor conditions in
the corporations of which he is a di-
rector Some Of the questions put to, him
BY the commissioners appeared to amuse
him. Several times he laughed, before
answering. Into other replies he sand
wiched chuckles between his words
The officers Of corporations. as executive
officials, were responsible for labor con-
ditions among the employees, Mr.. Morgan
declared. He was in favor of the "open
shop" and considered that in labor dis
putes the employer should play the part
of any decent man" Philanthropic
foundations had done considerable good
he believed.
ITO what extent are stockholders in a
corporation responsible for the labor CON
ditions in that corporation Chairman
Walsh asked Mr.. Morgan
II don't think a stockholder has any
responsibility" Mr.. Morgan replied.
what iss the responsibility of a di.
rector for the conditions among the
THE directors are not at all responsible
| should say.
who is responsible?"-
,"Fhe officers OF the corporation-,be
executive officials" Mr.. Morgan replied
/ Executive Officers Responsible.
The executive officers have entir.
authority" Mr.. Morgan added. The,
are responsible for, results in connec.
tion with the corporations affairs
Labor conditions don't change Tx,
financial conditions. For that reaso,
We receive frequent financial reports
but practically no reports on labor"
| No general reports regarding SAM.
ltation or living conditions Of empIove,
were required from executive officers
neither, said the witness. did he reouir.
reports as to deterioration or ma,
-Such things do not come in the h..
ance> sheet" Mr.. Morgan said. Aftar
| pause, he continued:
.If I haye given the impression thu,
ldirectors are ignorant Of labor condi
tions, / have given an erroneous one
| We are: constantly hearing about how
the men are working"
/ Mrs Morgan was asked to produce tn,
minutes Of any meetings Of the board,
of directorsS-or the Pullman Compa nv
the United States Steel Corporation o.
the Northern Pacific Railroad Com
l Continued on Eleventh Page.)