New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1877-12-14
DISCUSSING coal CORBIyATION.
JUDGE PACKER REFUSES TO JOIN

JUDGE PACKER REFUSES TO JOIN
APPROXIMATION TALKED oHERAT LtNGIii--A COM
MnrrFR APPoINrUD TO PREPARE contract.
Representatives of the principal coal COM
paues met IN secret session yesterday at the oice OF
tie Delaware and Hudson Canal Company In this city'
to consider the question of forming new com
binaton to control the tonnage and prices OF
coal There were present Thomas T. sc9u ana
A J. Cassatt. representing the Pennsylvania Railroad
Connanv: T. b. Gcwen President OF the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron Company; Samuel sloan,
President OF the Delaware. Lackawanna ana western
Railroad; Thomas Dickson. President Of the Delaware
and Hudson Canal Company; George A. h'yt'
President Of tho pennsylvania Coal Companyi r. W.
Clark President of the Ieigh Coal and Navigation
Company: Robert H. sayrc, OF the Lehgh Valley
Coal Company and Dr. Luderman representing
the individual miners along the line of the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Ex-Judge Asa Packer President OF the lie
hugh Valley Railroad and the Lehgh Valley Coal Com
pauv was IA his Office in the Delaware and Hudson
building hut ne did not attend the meeting
The day was spent in discussing and reaching an
agreement upon question Of representation by some
of the companie MI Packer assured some of the meu-
beers Of the conference that under no consider
atons would he attend the meeting lie had
been advised by counsel that bis railroad as
a common carrier, could not enter into any combina-
ton to control the shipments if, without violating
the law, ana he valued his charter rights Too
highly to take any part in the proceedings.
lie would however. nearly rs pracucabie CONFORM
to any request made by the individual operators on the
iinc o hs road During the conference an agreement
,as prepgred and sent to Mr. Packer for his sgnarc
setting forth what the other coal men WOud ne sstu
with ON nis part THIS, however he ace ed Z" skh'
and he repeated substantially his former statement
The Iehigh and WIlEesbarre Company IN inc hsnuS
OF receivers officers Of The court ihey ucluou
Tint hy cOuld not be present III tHc capacl OF rs tP
resent Mr. Clark who Is one OF the recNes' was
present. however, Us the president OF tic l"HSi
Coal aud Navigation Company, over whose l"tu
the coal Of the Iclgh aud W'kesb IRE Is shipped ~
was claimed that. IN this capacity, ne couli
mite wifh the other companies and coItr9l
,gos finally decided TO accept mis- representation
Dicksou Go,ycu. and Siyre appointed to prePr
rp for the cOntroi ~ Che tonnage and the prices Gi
coal 10 be presented next Tuesday, ana the meeting ad-
i1urned to that dag. -. ut,
n was subsequently explained that Mr.. Sayie Wond
rcprcscut the individual miners az tie next meeting
win full power Of attorney TOm them, ana 'lat 10
fIieir representative be could ACRE" To the pay
mcnt of a forfeit for the violation OF INC
compact. But the pledge should be paced
IN me hands of Mr. Sayre and not with board or tfus
ices The meeting yesterday made no further progress
however than settle the question OF representation
and the of tho agreement ana lts conditions were
not IcIcNed 10. H.. -
erlav awaiting the decision OF the conference IN which
they took deep interest. II was generally believed
That Mr. Packer would adhere to his position
not to take any art in tie proceedings OF The oncrcce
next week; ana tIdt he would not pledge FORFEIT iOr
The faithful performance OF compact to be agreed 10 Dy
other COMPANIES.