Cortland Evening Standard, Thursday, November 20, 1902.
MR. MITCHELL FINISHED.
Concluded His Testimony Before the Strike Commission.
REV. DR. PETER ROBERTS NEXT.
Wages Paid In Anthracite Region Not Uniform—Payment by the Car Just Cause of Complaint—Results of Strikes of 1868 and 1890—Good Work of the Union.
Scranton, Pa., Nov. 20.—After being on the stand for four and a half days President Mitchell of the miners' union completed his testimony before the anthracite strike commission. During his ordeal he was examined by his own attorney, those of five companies and of the independent operators. He was followed on the stand by the Rev. Dr. Peter Roberts of Mahanoy City, Pa., who was still on the stand when the commission adjourned for the day.
One of the most important things brought out during the cross-examination of President Mitchell was his emphatic declaration that the miners were opposed to separate bituminous miners' union from the anthracite workers, thus creating two organizations.
Commissioner Wright as head of the department of labor in his report to President Roosevelt on the coal strike, dated June 20, suggested among other things as "reasonable and just" to prevent industrial conflict in the anthracite fields that the "anthracite employes [sic] should organize an anthracite coal miners' union, in its autonomy to be independent of the United Mine Workers of America," but might be affiliated with it.
The non-union men who remained at work during the strike were made a party to the arbitration plan by the counsel agreeing to make public the names of the men who petitioned the commission.
In connection with the non-union feature of the investigation Mr. Mitchell announced that he is also representing thousands of non-union men who struck with the unionists and that all the workmen would abide by the award of the arbitrators "or get out of the union."
Mr. Mitchell's testimony contained little that was new to the commissioners and that of Dr. Roberts was of a general character regarding the economic and sociological conditions in the anthracite coal country.
The commissioners are still reminding both sides that they would like to have a submission of testimony expedited. Chairman Gray several times during the day interrupted and showed that ground then being gone over had already been covered. It has been suggested that counsel for both sides agree to rules for the submission of evidence but nothing has yet been done looking toward that end.
In the course of his examination by Mr. Darrow in the afternoon Dr. Roberts furnished statistics showing that the anthracite fields covered 480 square miles. Out of a total population of 650,000 people, he said, 450,000 were directly dependent on the mines.
Dr. Roberts said there were four methods of payment in the anthracite region, by the car, by weight, by the yard and by the day. The wages paid are far from uniform, he said, and he then went on to describe the changes which had been made in the size of the cars from 72 cubic feet until they now vary from 80 to 92 feet.
In moving the car from the breast of the mine to the shaft, Dr. Roberts said there was a five per cent shakedown. He said the paying by the car was one of the complaints that has existed since 1850.
The first strike in 1868, he said, was on a demand for an 8-hour day. Dr. Roberts declared there was an effort made by the individual operators to import cheap labor into the anthracite fields. "It was done," said he, "through ship agents who got men in New York to watch the vessels coming in and turned the current of Slav immigration into the coal fields."
The witness compared the Slav standard of living with that of the native born American, showing it to be far below the standard of the American workingman. He believed that a miner's occupation is more risky than in any other large industry. There were more deaths in the mines than on the railroads, but fewer accidents. He further said: "The number of saloons in Schuylkill county have decreased and the consensus of opinion is that it is due largely to the miners' union."
He thought the social worth and manliness and individuality of the S1av had been greatly increased through the miners' union.
"Do you know what was the result of the strike of 1900?"
"It decidedly improved conditions by giving 10 per cent advance."
DEFECTIVE CHILDREN.
Their Proper Care Considered at State Charities Convention.
Albany, N. Y., Nov. 20.—Professor F. H. Briggs, superintendent of the Rochester state industrial school, presented the report of the committee on dependent, defective, delinquent and neglected children at the evening session of the conference.
He declared that existing institutions and agencies do nothing more than care for these classes of children and that prevention is the great need of the age. Continuing he said:
"Parental casualty, intemperance and incompetency, faulty educational methods and the apathy of the community at large, are the principal reasons for such children.
"The remedy is in a more general dissemination of the laws of health. School buildings should be open to children continuously and manual and physical training occupy a larger share of the pupil's time."
Children's courts and the probation systems were highly praised by Hon. Thomas Murphy of Buffalo. He declared that by the probation system the child is given a chance to redeem himself. "He is given to understand," he continued, "that upon his own conduct depends the final determination of the court in his case."
Thomas W. Hynes, commissioner of the department of correction, New York City, opposed the proposition of giving public relief to the poor in other places than their own homes, "Assistance quietly given in their homes is by far the best and the most charitable. It prevents in many cases the parents entering the poor house or the children from being committed to charitable institutions."
Rabbi Isaac Aaron of Buffalo made an eloquent plea for the system of house to house visitation by agents of organized charity, but declared that greater care should be taken in selecting the persons to whom are assigned this duty.
Rev. William J. White. Supervisor of Catholic charities of Brooklyn declared that visitors should be friendly and natural. "The poor man when he first asks for aid," he declared, "also asks for sympathy and visitors should appreciate this fact."
AUTOPSY ON TRUCK.
Condition Normal in Every Respect—No Signs of Insanity.
The Auburn Advertiser in its account of the execution of John Truck said: It was 11 o'clock when the autopsy was finished and it was announced that Truck's condition was normal in every way, and that he was not insane. Prison Physician Gerin performed the autopsy and he was assisted by Drs. O'Neill, Heazlit, Spencer, and Hanley, the latter of the staff of the Auburn City hospital; Drs. Dana and Hunt of Cortland and Byrne of Syracuse also witnessed the autopsy. The report as made by the physicians is as follows:
General appearance good, body well nourished, and rigor mortis slight. The heart was normal, weighing 10 3/4 ounces, was healthy and empty, the right and left sides being free from blood and normal; the left lung weighed 10 1/8 ounces, the right 10 3/4 and both were normal; the liver was normal and weighed 51 ounces; the right kidney weighed 7 ounces, and the left one 7 3/8 ounces.
The brain weighed 46 3/4 ounces and was normal in size; some of the vessels were injected, and the same for the base of the brain: the dura mater vessels which were injected with blood due to the mode of death were normal in size; the left cerebrum was normal and weighed 19 5/8 ounces, the convulsions being well marked and plentiful; the right cerebrum was normal, weight 20 1/4 ounces and as in the left cerebrum the convulsions were plentiful and well marked; the cerebellum was normal and weighed 6 3/8 ounces.
The weight of a normal brain is 49 1/2 ounces and the average ranges from 46 ounces to 53. Prison Physician Gerin said that Truck was in full possession of his mental faculties and there was nothing to show that he had been insane.
There has been no one to claim the body and, in accordance with the provisions of the law it was buried in quicklime in the state lot on Fitch-ave., where many others who died in the electric chair, including Czolgosz, have been interred.
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| Dryden Hotel. |
DRYDEN'S NEW HOTEL
To Cost $150,000, and to be Ready for Business June 1.
The Dryden Herald says: R. M. Blair, manager of the Dryden Springs and Hotel Co., E. G. W. Dietrich, the company's architect, and J. B. Giles, a New York City contractor, were in town Tuesday with the plans and specifications for the new hotel to be built on the Dryden Springs property.
Mr. Giles was looking over the property with a view to commencing work during the latter part of December; the house is to be completed and ready for guests by the first day of June. The old house will be used as quarters for the workmen during the winter.
The building will be located on the knoll south of the present hotel, and will have a northeast exposure, and will be 240 feet by 50 feet. The cost will be about $150,000, and when complete will be the finest summer resort in this part of the state.
The plans call for a building six stories high in the center part and four stories on the sides; the shape will be that of a T. There will be guest rooms to the number of 150. On the ground floor will be the exchange, and opening directly from it will be the ballroom, diningroom, billiardroom, gameroom, telegraph office and smoking room.
In the basement there is to be a swimming pool, bowling alley, rathskeller, buffet and smoking rooms. The upper floors will be devoted to parlors and sleepingrooms.
A veranda 18 feet deep will extend nearly around the house and on the north will be carried out a distance of seventy feet. An electric light and power plant will be installed in the building separate from the house.
An extensive advertising campaign is being carried on and when the house is ready it will undoubtedly be filled at once. Mr. Blair has already booked 100 guests for June 1. [It was never built. The old hotel has been renovated and is open for business—CC ed.]
FORTNIGHTLY ENTERTAINS
And Rev. Robert Clements Speaks on "Development of Architecture."
The members of the Leisure Hour club of Homer were yesterday the guests of the Fortnightly club at the home of Mrs. T. H. Wickwire in this city. Upwards of sixty ladies were present. The speaker of the afternoon was by invitation, Rev. Robert Clements, pastor of the Presbyterian church, who spoke in a most interesting and instructive way upon "The Development of Architecture.'" This is the same address which Mr. Clements gave a few weeks ago before the Cortland Science club and of which quite an extended review was given at the time. The ladies heard him with profit and evident pleasure. Refreshments were served at the close of the address.
MR. MUDGE PROMOTED
And Others Move up the Line in Lackawanna R. R. Employment.
Mr. A. H. Mudge, Jr., who for the past four years has been a telegraph operator in the Lackawanna station of this city, has been promoted to a position as telegraph operator in the Lackawanna dispatcher's office at Syracuse, and has already begun his work. Mr. Joseph Doyle, who has been for a year or more the efficient night operator at the local station, takes Mr. Mudge's place as day operator, and Mr. Edward Marts of Paris, N. Y., is the new night operator.
LADIES' LITERARY CLUB
Met With Mrs. A. J. Murray on Wednesday Afternoon.
The Ladies' Literary club met with Mrs. A. J. Murray on Church-st., Cortland, yesterday afternoon. The following program was given:
The Empire, Mrs. Beach.
The Decline, Mrs. Nelson.
Conversation—What are the Fundamental Differences Between the Republic and the Empire, Mrs. Apgar.
Round Table, Vases, Mrs. Watrous.
A feast for the eyes was a collection of rare and beautiful vases kindly loaned by Mrs. Keppel and others for the occasion, which greatly enhanced the interest and pleasure in the study of vases.
BREVITIES.
—"The Missouri Girl" will be the attraction at the Opera House on Monday, Nov. 26.
—The new display advertisements today are—G. H. Wiltsie, Thanksgiving linen sale, page 8; The Scotch Woolen Co., "Dressed like a millionaire," page 7.
—A Norwich young lady wrote home from boarding school: "I have fallen in love with ping pong."—Back went the answer from her father: "Quit him; no Chinaman marries into this family."
—Cortland Encampment, No. 127, I. O. O. F. will give the "Golden Rule" degree at the regular meeting this evening in the John L. Lewis lodgerooms. A full attendance is desired.
—Dr. David Keppel was unable to preach in the Homer-ave. church last evening on account of a severe cold. Rev. D. D. King preached an eloquent sermon, and fine music was rendered by the Ladies' quartet.
—The will of the late Roswell Beardsley of North Lansing, the oldest postmaster in the United States, was on Tuesday admitted to probate in the surrogate's office in Tompkins county. The estate will fall a little short of $300,000.
—The union Thanksgiving service this year will be held at the First M. E. church, and the sermon will be by Rev. James Rain, pastor of the Congregational church. Following the custom inaugurated last year the services will be at 7:30 o'clock in the evening, and the offering will be for the benefit of the Cortland hospital.
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