New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-02-19
rHE AIDING COAL LANDS.
Ex PRESIDENT SMITH TEsrIFIEs AGAIN
uor rnr rnorxnrY WAS PAID EoR-orHER WIT
Nrssrs APPEAR BEFORE THE INVESTIGATING


NEssfs APPEAR BEFORE THE iNVfsIi"Ai'N"
COMMITTEES.
IBY TELEGRAPH rRrBuSR.1
PHILADELPHIA Feb. I9-The Congressional
Committee investigating the Reading troubles
reccpyened in tho Continental Hotel this morning
Judge 1Yliuan. the chairman, said that all the
witnesses were entitled to 81 per diem and hve
cents pcr milo for mileage i'll compensation for
their SEW ices.
Ex-prcsdent Smith, Of the Reading Railroad
Company WAS recalled. and corrected statements
Of his former evidence that he had not prev
iously been clear upon. He said that the author
ity for issuing bonds with which TO pay for
the coel lands of the Coal and Iron Company
allowed Of the issuance Of s60,000,0o0 worth OF
bonds, $40, 600 900 Of which were Issued ana
the $50, 600, coo reserved and not made out lho
payment for these lands was almost entirely made
by the issuance of these bonds. In great ma
jority of cases no cash whatever was mace use
Of and a system Of mortgaging was devised when
really placed the properties under the weight OF
three separate obi gations that were beyond their
real value, or any prospective value Tor years
to come -
John Norris. one of the editors Of Tho Record
was next examined. He said he had becn su'-
istician of the Pacific Railroad investigation
Can you state the prices OF coal and rates Oh
transportation prior to 1870. as compared WIN
those OF to-day ~
The retail price of coal in 1850 and $50 was
81 4s a ton as compared with the present price
OF SO So The price Of transportation has been
increased from 81 22 12 to 81 so per ton, while
the cost of transportation in the same time has
been reduced about eighty per cent. L have CIR
cuar showing that at the present time whi,e ' n
wholesale for coal in Philadelphia. it Is selling
the same coal in Port Richmond for 81 ton for
shipment outside Fora period OF thirtynve year
IL Ing sfpptl V
failed to perform its duty to the pnbliIe as
common carrier At the present time the leading
i ins by T T%ienh the SchuyIdn Valley gets
mouth There six avenues emu, from ~ the the
PHILADELPHIA and Reading Railroad and three py
the Pennsylvania Railroad The fact OF com,
bination has become common that both parties ,
in their platforms have resolved TO enforce me
State Constitution understand that the Lehigh
Valley Railroad will get one million tons tonnage
this year TO keep them quiet ,.,
w A Church, treasurer OF the Phiihdelphia anu
Reading Coal and Iron Company SAD go,
The poid for December Ss' among mns OUT
was SIS 900 and for the first bali OF the present
month the wages will be about half that sum
Henry j. Bennett formerly assistant wsSeEanG
with the other Port Richmond strikers. was ek-
amined and gave in detail the causes lead'hs 10
General Superintendent Sweigard Of the Read cad
ing Railroad Company, was recalled 10 enanle MN
to put In evidence the text OF me agrerine. niau5
with the employees of the railroad company ana
the voucher showing that Lee. onc OF the leaders
of the labor organization had been IN the pay OF
the company while he was at P"itsylle az .nG ON,
clause OF the agreement which guaranteed ~ the
men an investigation The man had claimed that
they had been guaranteed falr trlai 9 , uo
ment which was read was that every man should
receive fair trial. in case OF any accident tnat
might have occurred through careleSsncSs. ne
90 voucher was for snccial services rendered dur
ing October at Pottsville, and the pay was at the
rate Of So 50 day. ..,,
Monday.
MO cowEN CALLS Mr.. SMITH A CRANK.
pbi1odeIpbIa Feb 10 (Special.-In an Interview OK
President Cowen OF Reading. makes the following
answer TO ex-Prcsident Smiths charges before mo
Congressional Investigating Committee yesterday:
ar don't want 70 be drawn into this controversy
Mr. Smith is really not worth tho powder The
able view to take Of him is that he IS crank
There never was dividend declared that wasn't
honestly earned Mr.. Smith remained as director
until after the stoppage OF DIVIDENDS lie WOW" 'o'
every one OF them and took his share OF the money
which he still keeps IL he thinks 'heS "'Io a.s
honest he ought to return them. The accounts "cIo
never cooked in any but were always TIN,
full These ridiculous charges are ONLY, when
of those made by MIR. Smith in 1876 and io'I, VIII VIII
phev we've nro,nntIy met and their falsity exposed
TO fbe entire satisfaction Of everybody VINO Ta ~
teres,ed in or examined the question The coa iauo
renresent cost OF about $500 per acre DeIr rt
them worth TODAY marret valne three uncs Wiz. VA
thev cost and would be glad TO make up parry aiV
give the COMPANY 50 per cent moro than 'hor 'o''
IL thcy want to get rid Of thcm'
MIR M,IFOD's OPINION OF THE COMMITTEE
| PHILADELPHIA Feb 10 (SpeciaD.-A the Reanihs
Office on Fourtb-st to-day Vice President Mcleod ssu
"The company has not changed its attitude ID 'hs
strike in any respect Ho said the company conid
TRANSPORT the coal turned out no matter no" largo
the production ,,
| "What Is yolr idea Of the result OF tho ihVc'ns"
| tor nv the Congress- onal Commlttee?'
"The committee reminds me- he replied o,
young grasshopper trying to Jump over barn. DO
! r ause II has not tho sense to go around: - a., .
GWill the Investigation have any ehect upon 'ho
Standing Of the company" - .,,,o,
| mo: Won must remember that yOn are talHne
ahont The new Reading with debts and money
enough on hand TO pay her fed charges Tor anoner
| vear Should he cent I'm the meantime
SneaEng Of the striking railroad employees he sal