The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1888-02-18
WITHIN ONE WEEK
THE GREAT STRIKE WILL END.
At Least President CorbIp, of the Reading
Road. Says SO to the Congressional Iu-
ysstiEatinE CommittOO-A RaCy EE.
aminAtion-Mr. oorbln's Temper.

l
RmInation-Afr. OoIbIn'S Temper.
PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 17.-While on tn
witness stand before the Oougresaiona
Investigating Committee this afternoon
Mr.. Austin Corbin was asked by a mem
Der OF the committee whether or not tht
report was true that the miners strikC
had been declared of. Mr.. Corbin re
Piled that he did not know whether there
was any truth in the statement or not, bu
said that ne had information in his posses
slon which justified himin expressing the
belief that tho miners strikes in both the
Lehigh and schuylkill regions would be
ended within week.
Mr.. sWeigsGt, in bis examination detail
ed ct length the circumstances leading to
the striks OF the railroad men In Philadsl-
phia prior to the miners strike. he
claimed thst Lee, CRhill and Sharkey, the
leading spirits OF the labor organization,
had broken their agreements several times
and admitted that he had violated his part
OF the contract in dlsCharging the leaders.
The committee then recalled President
Corbin. His attention was called to the
requirement of the charter Of the Reading
Railroad Company which required that
Its President should reside in PhilRdsl-
phis. Mr.. Corbin said:
II live here"
"Where eiss2" was asked.
II have residences In New York, New
Hampshire and Long Island, as we'll"
Mr.. Anderson-"Where do you have
your washing doneP"
Mr.. Corbin (indignantly)-"I think
that It is deviltHh impsrtinent to go into
my personal affairs"
Dropping this line Of inquiry, the COM
mittee sought to obtain from Mr.. Corbin
something ot the history OF the former
financial difficulties OF the Reading Rail
road Company.
He said that the last dividend OF the
company was paid in 1876
"And, said Chairman Tillman, "it will
be 3 cold day when It pays another"
Mr.. Corbin objected to this sort OF in
quiry, claiming that the committee had
no power to 60 into possibilities Of the iu-
ture.
81 supposed, ;" said Mr.. Corbin testify,
"that this was a fair investigation. l did
not think you came hero to personally
abuse everybody connected with the
Reading Railroad Company and to call
them thieves and robbers"
The Chairman-"I don't do that; am
gentleman and can answer for what I
say or do"
"Well," said Mr.. Corbin, ~ will answer
such questions to the:people who own the
Reading Railroad company and not to the
public, who have no business and no In
terest in IT," He absolutely denied any
knowledge whatever Of any combination
now existing or that ever did exist to limit
the output OF coal and to keep up prices,
He denied the right of the committee to
90 into the roads private business. He
declined to say how the company could
get along without its coal business.
After long series Of interrogatories
Mr.. Tillman drew from the witness the
statement that interest charges and other
fixed charges of the company amounted 10
ten million dollars year, and Mr.. Oorbin
stated in reply to further questioning
that without the coal trade the company
could earn its fixed charge, which were
over 100000.
"But do you expect" was asked, "to
make more than ten million dollars with
your miners out?"
Mr.. Oorbin-"No; but our miuera will
be back, and II your committee will stay
here ten days it will find them all at work
again."
Judge Chapman said: "Mr. Oorbin, it
is the belief among the coal miners, and
has been stated publicly, thatitis 10 to the
interest ol your company TO have strike
at this time; that 1t may be OF advantage
to the company TO have q strike in view
Of the company'B financial condition, in
order to offer that as an excuse for It."
Mr.. Oorbin denied absolutely that there
was any foundation for such an assump.
ton and added: ~ wish the committee to
understand that l am ready to furnish any
information that I can Ia reason be ex.
pected to, but don't acknowledge the
right OF the public to know the particu.
lars ofthe fina cisl condition Of the Read
ing Company"
II think now" said Mr.. Corbin, ''the
Reading Railroad Company has passed
out Of It's muddy state and will stay out"
Mr.. Tllman-"A former President OF
the road who testified this morning, did
Nj. oor6in-"Well, I do, and l ought
to know. Ihays Q good deal Of stock in
II, and / believe in II or would not
have it"
Mr.. Corbin was dismissed after having
failed TO get an answer Rs to whether or
not the Chairman was correctly reported
as saying that the Reading officers were
thieves and robbers.