New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1886-12-19
THE TRUNK LINE AND COAL POOLS
HEARING IN THE PENNSYLVANIA SUITS.
PRESIDENT ROBERTS As A TNEss-EXAMINED BY
ATTORNEY-GFNERAL CASSIDY.

PRESIDENT ROBERTS As A WITNESS EXAMINED BY
ATTORNEY GENERAL CASSIDY.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 10 Special. Before notary
in Court of Common Pleas No. 2, this morning.
Attorney-Generi Cassidy made another effort to
obtain the of the trunk line and coal 200 CON-
bnations in the suit OF the State against the Anhra
cite Coal Combination to prohibit the forming OF pools
by that organization In to questions by the
Attorney General John Scott representing the Penn
sylvania Railroad, said that his road had not ques
toned the right Of the State to bring witnesses before
him, but he thought tho question OF legality OF the
proceedings should first be decided and suggested that
the matter be laid over until then. Mr. Cassidy
decided to go on, giving excuse that his tenn
as Attorney General would expire in few weeks
Mr.. Roberts then called and stated that he was
president of the Pennsylvania Railroad and officer
OF several other corporations which defendants in
the suit. The various lines OF the Pennsy vania Rail
road explained we'll the lines OF other roads
connecting with the main line. There were nearly a
of them and included nearly all OF the import
ant railroads east OF St. Louis He said that the
Pennsylvania Railroad did not operate any OF these
lines by lease but that it was n large sookhOlder in
many Of them, including the Philadelphia. Wilmington
and Baltimore. the Allegheny Valley, the Pittsburg,
Fort Wayne and Chicago. and Prtsburc Cincinnati
and St. Louis All OF these roads operate within the
State of penns, lvanIa number OF the defendants.
he said had tracks in this State. lie included the
Baltimore and Ohio in this list and said that be
believed there a law in Pennsylvania prohibiting
that road from laying tracks in the State. 1t might
operate other lines, however. The witness was char
man OF the Presidents COMMITTEES OF the trunk line
organization, aud the let Of companies and the
names Of the representatives IN the pool. Albert
Fink commiss ouer of the pool, with an ohce at
No 346 Broadway. New-York His entire tina was
given carr ing out OF the rules of the organization.
He receives $4,000 or $l5, 900 year The witness
denied all knowledge of how the pool 7as managed,
for the that he did not super'ntend IT, The
freight rates, he admitted, were generally liked by all
the roads which the trunk lines nave control
When desire to growl 90 to New-l ork TO
d. H." said Mr. Roberts. The object OF thu pool was
TO charge the same rate under similar conditions.
In answer to question IA to how the pool was
worked lie SAID that Is company pald large amount
of money tue pool because OF having carried more
freight than the proportonate amounts. He was then
asked II the Reading not allowed 20 per cent of
the es-bound freight from Philadelphia. The wit
ness replied that he did not think snch was the case
There were percentages OF freight out OF Phlla-
DELPHI that he knew OF MIR. Cassidy then asked ii
the pool was not compelled 10 lower rates by CON-
peting water ways. . NJ,
Not more so," replied Mr.. Roberts, than the
signature of the Governor OF this Commonwealth to
certain enacments which compelled us TO look alter
the best interest of our shippers.
Then YOU think one road give better ser vice
than Two competing lines askeu mr Cassiuy'
AYES, certainly do" .
" Was il for tina reason that you Dnllt ROAD 10
Atlantic CITY when two already existed g.
Oh don't go INTO that." said Mr.. MacNeagh
ia Ike to answer that, said Mr.. Roberts
:" withdraw IT," said MIR. Cassidy. .
But want to answer il, insisted AIT. ROBERTS.
Mr. M,cVeagh asked Mr.. Roberts If the preamble to
the p the trunk line organization expressed
the real object of the pool. I. Ii does.
Al this iuncture the hearing was postponed until
Tuesday next it will lie resumed IN Harrisburg.