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| 1902 coal strike commisioners, Judge Gray seated middle, Gen. Wilson seated right. |
Cortland Evening Standard, Tuesday, January 13, 1903.
COAL STRIKE INQUIRY.
Officials of Companies Continue Their Testimony.
MANY DAYS NEEDLESSLY LOST.
Workings of Delaware and Hudson Miners' Relief Fund—Denial by District President Dettrey—Circular From Mr. Mitchell Urging Miners to Extra Efforts to Relieve Famine.
Philadelphia, Jan. 13.—The proceedings before the anthracite coal strike commission consisted principally of calling of witnesses by the Delaware and Hudson company to tell of the conditions existing in and about its collieries and to refute certain testimony presented against the company when the miners' side was being heard. In the absence of Chairman Gray, General Wilson again assumed the duties of chairman.
The Delaware and Hudson company expects to conclude its case today, when the Erie company, which controls the Hillside Coal and Iron company and the Pennsylvania Coal company, will present its side of the controversy.
C. C. Rose of Scranton, superintendent of the coal department of the Delaware and Hudson company, who testified on Saturday, was recalled. He stated that several of the company's collieries were flooded as a result of the strike of the steam men on June 2.
On cross-examination he said he would rather let the mines fill with water than submit to unreasonable demands made by a union. He considered that the strikers were dictating to the company and rather than surrender a principle he would let the property become damaged.
George Anderson of Scranton, a clerk in the coal department of the company, presented numerous statistics bearing upon the issues before the commission. One of the statements showed that 2,388 of the company's 13,258 employes [sic] have been working in or about the mines from 10 to 60 years.
Workings of Relief Fund.
He produced data showing the workings of the company's relief fund with which more than 5,000 of the company's employes are connected. The workers pay to the fund one day's pay each year, the company contributing an equal amount.
Men who are injured receive $6 a week for three months and in case of death their heirs receive $50 for funeral expenses. The widows receive $3 a week for one year and $1 a week for one year for each child under 12 years of age. The company fixed $2.18 as the amount a contract miner should receive as a day's pay.
Mr. Anderson also presented a statement showing that the 28 collieries of the company lost 368 ten hour days in 1901 for which the employes were responsible. Of these 115 were lost on account of picnics and other holidays (not including legal holidays); 59 days on account of "Mitchell day" and other union days and 194 days on account of the strikes and suspensions.
Another statement offered by the witness showed that since the strike ended in the latter part of October the 28 collieries lost 110 days, reducing the coal production of the company 92,581 tons. The men had been requested to work on Thanksgiving day, but ignored the request, he said. None of the miners worked on "Mitchell" day, he added, and 12 collieries were idle the day after Christmas.
After recess Henry Birkbeck, inside foreman of the Von Storch colliery, told of the injury of a boy in the mines and of his discharging the man who was responsible for the accident. The union men in the colliery, he said, struck for the reinstatement of the dismissed man, but [they] refused to take him back. The injured boy corroborated the testimony of Mr. Birkbeck.
Denial by President Dettrey.
William H. Dettrey of Nuremburg, the newly elected president of district No. 7 of the miners' union against whom it was testified last week that he said non-union men should have their throats cut or should receive a "good thumping," was summoned to the witness stand by the miners. He denied the charges absolutely and several witnesses were called who corroborated his statements.
President Dettrey took occasion to say while on the stand that his family was annoyed and his home stoned by enemies of the union while he was away from home on business connected with the union.
David Davis, foreman of the Langcliffe colliery, H. T. Hughes, foreman of the Plymouth No. 5 colliery, and Frederick Radman, foreman of the Plymouth No. 3, all testified that since the strike of 1900 the miners and laborers will not load as many cars as they did prior to that strike. The men were willing but were afraid of expulsion from the union.
Mr. Hughes told of how a portion of the men in his colliery struck because the company would not pay for standing props and that one chamber in the mine was boycotted because it was hard to work. A certain mark was placed in the chamber, he said, and when a union man was asked to work the place and saw this mark he would refuse to do it.
Mr. Badman told of difficulties he had in filling a place where a union man had been discharged. He said it was the rule of the union that no union man should take another's place. All the foremen claimed that the company was able to furnish the men with enough cars to do a day's work.
The last witness of the day was James P. Dickson, freight agent of the Delaware and Hudson company at Wilkes-Barre, who handed up a statement showing the fluctuation in the prices of groceries, meats, and other necessaries of life during the last three years. The figures he presented showed that the prices were only slightly above those of 1900.
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| John Mitchell. |
URGES EXTRA EFFORTS.
Circular Letter to Mine Workers Showing Gravity of Situation.
Philadelphia, Jan. 13.—President Mitchell of the United Mine Workers association of America has issued the following circular letter to all local unions in the anthracite district:
Philadelphia, Jan. 12.
To the Officers and Members of Local Unions of the U. M. W. of A. in the Anthracite Region.
Gentlemen—You are no doubt aware that a serious coal famine exists in all the Eastern and seaboard cities, due to the shortage of the anthracite coal supply. The situation has reached an acute stage and has resulted in great suffering and hardship to the poor of the cities, whose earnings are insufficient to enable them to pay the excessive prices now being charged for fuel, and it is subjecting the general public to great inconvenience.
To relieve the situation and alleviate as far as possible the suffering now being endured, is the duty of every one connected with the production of coal. With this end in view we are prompted to address this communication to all members of our union and request that they co-operate with the management of the mines in an effort to increase the production of coal. The gravity of the situation is such as to require that every mine worker shall exert himself and use every means at his command to this end.
Upon reading this communication in the columns of the daily papers local unions should hold meetings and devise means whereby the daily output of the mines may be increased. These efforts should be increased until the weather moderates and the great necessity for fuel shall have passed.
John Mitchell, President, U. M. W. of A.
T. D. Nicholls, Thomas Duffy and John Fahy, presidents, anthracite districts.
THE COAL SITUATION
Discussed by Congressmen and President at White House.
Washington, D. C., Jan. 13.—Representatives Payne, Dalzell and Grosvenor, called at the White House this morning at the president's request to consult with him regarding the coal situation. Besides the proposed legislation granting a rebate of full duty on coal imported before July 1, other suggestions for relief from the present coal famine were discussed, the nature of which the parties to the conference refused to disclose.
ROB CARS TO GET COAL.
People at Hoosick Falls, N. Y., Made Desperate by Lack of Fuel.
Hoosick Falls, Jan. 13.—The coal situation here has reached a serious stage, and there is much suffering in consequence. The only way to get coal is to rob cars consigned to New England points. Every night people equipped with bags, baskets and barrels board the slow moving freight trains and supply themselves. One dealer gave out two tons of buckwheat coal held for his personal use because of absolute necessity, and is burning wood in his heater.
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| Black Diamond Express. |
Lehigh Valley Rushing Coal.
In order to facilitate the movement of coal, it has been decided to temporarily suspend the operation of the Black Diamond Express west of Wilkes-Barre on the Lehigh Valley R. R. Passengers going west of that point will be very little inconvenienced by this change, because since the Black Diamond was first put in service, the Lehigh Valley railroad has added to the schedule train No. 7, (Buffalo and Chicago express) with through Pullman sleepers, coaches and dining cars from New York to Chicago via Buffalo and Niagara Falls reaching Buffalo only a few minutes before the Black Diamond Express.
PAGE FOUR—EDITORIAL.
As to the Entertainment of Relatives.
The people of St. Louis are doubtless much interested in the decision of a Milwaukee Judge that visiting relatives, if they outstay their welcome, may be compelled to pay for board and lodging at the prevailing rate. The Milwaukee case referred to second cousins who stayed for five weeks. Probably the rule would be somewhat more liberal in the case of cousins german.
However, the principle involved is the same, though duration of hospitality may vary according to the nearness or remoteness of the tie of propinquity. And it is in the principle of the thing that the residents of St. Louis are interested as they contemplate the coming to the big fair of a flood of sisters, cousins and aunts.
Every Chicago man's house was full of poor and rich relations in 1893 and every Buffalo man's house in 1900. So is likely to be every St. Louis man's house in 1904 if he submits to the invasion.
But the chances are that he is not going to submit. Adopting the principle laid down by the Milwaukee jurist as good law as well as good common sense, the St. Louis householder has his remedy in his own hands, and nobody can blame him, except the relatives who want to see the fair without paying board and lodging while sojourning in the exposition city, if he limits his hospitality to a reasonable time and then compels the visiting relations to pay their board.
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| Nathan Lewis Miller. |
COMPTROLLER TO ODD FELLOWS.
Mr. Miller Principal Speaker at Entertainment in Albany.
Comptroller Nathan L. Miller was a guest at an entertainment given by the Albany Odd Fellows last evening in Odd Fellows' temple, says the Albany Journal of Saturday, and made the principal address. There was a large audience, every lodge in the district being represented.
In the course of his address Comptroller Miller said that, while he appreciated the fact that he was not an Odd Fellow, he was also made to realize by the representative array of members of the order that surrounded him on the platform, that he really was an odd fellow in the gathering. Mr. Miller paid a tribute to the success and motives embodied by the Odd Fellows. He said the society taught men the obligations of society and strengthens the bonds of brotherly love and brotherly work. The speaker went on to say that the fraternal society removes the masque which men wear in business, which makes them seek only the material success and he eulogized the Odd Fellows as being possessed of this edifying purpose.
"We are living in a day of organization," said the speaker. "We find capital, labor, the business and professional man—and yes, even the politicians organizing, to aid each other to achieve success. These organizations should teach men the benefits of social intercourse and obligations of brothers to their fellow men."
Mr. Miller closed with an impressive plea for the preservation and continuance of the noble work of the order.
NEWSPAPER SOLD.
J. A. Loyster Disposes of the Cazenovia Republican.
J. A. Loyster, who since 1890 has been the editor and proprietor of the Cazenovia Republican, has sold his paper to F. M. Elliott who till last week was a half owner of the Hamilton Republican, and who had just sold out to his partner. Mr. Loyster is the inventor of the special printing machinery on which a large part of the milk bottle caps used in the United States are printed, and his object in disposing of The Republican is to enable him to devote his entire time to this kind of work.
Mr. Elliott has made an excellent paper of the Hamilton Republican and The Standard extends a cordial greeting to him as a nearer neighbor.
Country Roads Drifted Full.
The country roads seem to be drifted full and perhaps the territory round about Cortland has fared worse than that in its immediate vicinity. This may be judged from the fact that yesterday morning an Onondaga county juror had to walk nine miles to get to a train to Syracuse, and a Tompkins county juror had to walk five miles to Ithaca to attend court. In both instances the roads were so drifted that it was impossible to get a horse through.
Two County Organization.
The physicians of Tompkins and Schuyler counties have organized. The purpose of the association is to establish and maintain a schedule of fees, which schedule will soon be published throughout those counties.
THE COAL SUPPLY.
Plenty on Hand to Supply Present Needs—More Coming.
While many cities and towns are in dire straits from lack of coal, Cortland is extremely fortunate in having a supply to meet the present demand. The dealers are cautiously dealing out the supply in small lots and Cortland will not, for some time at least, experience a coal famine.
A canvass among the dealers yesterday disclosed the fact that there were more than 250 tons of hard coal in the dumps of the coal men. Three cars of chestnut coal came to Cortland this morning and relieved the shortage in that particular kind of coal. There seems to be a goodly amount of furnace coal on band, and one coal firm reports that it has more furnace coal in its bins than it has since the coal strike. The most of the dealers are very hopeful in regard to the coal situation, and it is thought by them that coal will continue to be sent here in sufficiently large amounts to piece out the demand that there is for this commodity.
TIOUGHNIOGA CHAPTER
Of the D. A. R. Holds its Annual Meeting and Election.
The annual meeting of the Tioughnioga chapter of the D. A. R. was held yesterday afternoon at the home of Mrs. F. J. Doubleday. The report of the secretary shows a membership of thirty-five und an average attendance of eighteen at each meeting. The treasurer, Mrs. W. A. Stockwell, reported a good sum in the treasury. The following officers were elected for the coming year:
Regent—Mrs. N. H. Gillette.
Vice-Regents—Miss Elizabeth Corey, Mrs. C. F. Thompson, Mrs. A. P. McGraw, Miss Nellie L. Conable.
Recording Secretary—Mrs. C. C. Darby.
Corresponding Secretary—Mrs. F. Daehler.
Treasurer—Mrs. F. J. Doubleday.
Historian—Mrs. J. G. Jarvis.
Registrar—Miss M. Frances Gould.
Ten dollars were appropriated towards the Memorial ball in Washington, and Mrs. G. J. Mager [was] elected alternate to the Centennial congress in February.
The case for the preservation of colonial and war relics placed in the Hatch library building was reported finished and Mrs. G. H. Smith and Mrs. C. F. Thompson appointed a committee to look after the same.
The literary program was then given, the topic being ''Settlement and Colonial History of New England:"
First Settlements and Colonial Governments, Mrs. C. C. Darby.
Religion Intolerance, Mrs. Geo. P. Hollenbeck.
Character and Custom of the People, Mrs. Clara Benedict.
BREVITIES.
—The profits of the Ithaca band fair last week were about $900.
—The Cortland Kindergarten association will meet Thursday, Jan. 15 at 3:30 o'clock in the Normal kindergarten.
—The Ladies' Literary club will meet on Wednesday afternoon at 3:30 o'clock at the home of Mrs. George H. Smith, 6 East Main-st.
—Cortland Chapter, No. 104, R. A. M., will hold a regular convocation Wednesday evening at 8 o'clock. The officers for 1903 will be installed in full form.
—Mrs. Riggs, wife of Prof. James S. Riggs of Auburn Theological seminary, died at her home Sunday morning after an illness of but a few days from pneumonia.
—The National Salt Co. has moved its business office from Scranton to Ithaca, the latter place now producing so much salt that it has become a decided factor in the salt business.
—Mr. Benjamin C. Quick of the drug firm of Perkins & Quick and his sister, Miss Catherine Quick, have taken rooms for the winter at the residence of Mr. A. S. Burgess, Church-st.
—New display advertisements today are—G. H. Wiltsie, January sale of muslin underwear, page 4: A. S. Burgess, Clearing sale of clothing, page 8: M. A. Case, Sweeping reduction in ready-to-wear department, page 8; McGraw & Elliott, Quinine tablets, page 5; Opera House, Vogel's minstrels, page 5.
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