May
20, 1897 – Times-Tribune
Labor’s
Ex-leader the First Witness
Hon.
T. V. Powderly Before the Mine Commission Today
(Terrence
Powderly was the former head of the Knights of Laborer (pre United Mine Workers
union).
“Mr.
Powderly was of the opinion that one of the chief causes of the present
condition of the mining population was the improved machinery for the mining of
coal, increasing the output, and at the same time, reducing the amount of
labor. Another reason, which is rarely taken into consideration, was the gas
stove, which is used to a surprising great extent in New York City and all
throughout the Eastern cities.” (He also mentioned increased use of bicycles in
the cities.)
“Powderly
started that there has been a great deal of suffering among the miners of
Scranton during the past winter by reason of their inability to secure work.
“Patrick
B. Calpin of Bellevue, a laborer in the Oxford mine of the DL&W stated he
was an inside laborer and got $2.20 per day for ten hours. He averaged ten or
twelve days a month this year. His average pay per month has been $17 or $18.
He cannot support his family as he desires on the amount of his wages. He
testified that there is destitution and want among the miners of the vicinity.
“Dennis
Judge of the sixth ward, who works at the Archbald mines of the DL&W is a
miner and received 98 cents a car, and six cars is regarded as a good day’s
work when times are good. At present, four cars a day are considered average.
The best time he has made this year has been seven days a month. After paying
his laborer and supplies, he makes about $9 per month and is unable to support
his family. Judge gave the committee information regarding the docking system
in vogue at the mines hereabout. He thought the system was a bad one and
improvement could easily be made…
“W.
J. Burke of Minooka, a miner at one of Wm. Connell’s mines stated that he gets
79 cents a cr. During the first four months of the year he worked about 13 days
a month. After deducting his expenses, he makes about $2.25 per day, and he is
not able to support his family as he would like to. He deals at the company
store, but has never been asked to deal there. The prices on some goods are
higher than at some other stores. There is much destitution among the miners of
his vicinity, and he attributed this to the overcrowding of foreigners, as
Italians, Hungarians and Polanders…
“Frank
Toole, supervisor of Lackawanna township, while not a miner at present, was for
fourteen years a miner. There is lots of destitution among the miners. When
asked the cause, he answered the company stores and the two weeks’ pay. He said
that many of the miners’ pay was mortgaged before pay day. He had heard men say
they were compelled to deal at the company stores. The destitution amont the
miners at present is greater than he ever before knew of. The miners themselves
are greatly responsible for the number of Hungarian and Polish miners as they
have been taken in and learned them the trade. He has heard men say that they
have lost good positions because they would not deal at the company stores…
“Richard
Shevlin of this city, a DL&W miner, has not worked one-half as much this
year as last during the same months. He doesn’t think the present law
requiring miners pass an examination before they are given certificates is at
all well carried out…
“R.
J. Beamish, private secretary to Mayor Bailey, stated that the miners as a
whole are in destitute circumstances at the present time. He said that the poor
board, the board of associated charities and the various church societies are
furnishing more relief than ever. He attributed this depression in the coal
business to an over production and gave as his opinion that there were too many
collieries in existence. He thought the abolition of company stores would be
beneficial to the miners…
“Mr.
Beamish refuted the statement of ex-Attorney General Palmer to the effect that
the miners spend the major portion of their earnings on liquors. Mr. Beamish
called attention to his statement (re overproduction) that the Hillside Coal
and Iron Company had shut down one of its breakers at Avoca…because the
Hillside Company could not operate its six collieries at a profit and decided
to close one. END
No comments:
Post a Comment