Wichita eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1886-1890, 1888-02-19
THE READING INVESTIGATION.
John Morris Gives Figures to Prove that
the Company has been Bleeding
Consumers,

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 1s.-Superintenden
Sweigert, of the Reading railroad, re-
sumed his testimony before the congress
sional committee today.
Upon the conclusion of this witness
testimony, John Norris, one of the editors
of the Philadelphia Record, who had been
the statistician of the Pacific railroad in
vestigating committee, was called. The
witness quoted figures to show that coal
could be bought at Port Richmond for
ninety-fve cents less ton, if wanted for
shipment to Boston or New York, than was
demanded if the very same coal
was intended for the Philadelphia
trade. Mr.. Morris said that last year the
Reading Railroad company had earned 10
per cent on the costs of the road, and was
one of the most profitable roads in the
country. Its losses came from the neces-
sity of paying inserest on its enormous
debt, which was the result of the policy of
combining the business of carrier with
that of a mine r. Witness went into long
statement of facts to show that the Read
ing railroad failed and refused to do its
duty under the law as a common
carrier 1t had paid out drawbacks. 1t
had been investigated by the legislature
and constitutional amendment adopted
to stop its discrimination and abuses of its
charter. He said that it had combined
with the Pennsylvania railroad and was
now giving that companys line to the coal
region GEO, 600 tons of coal a year under an
agreement to prevent competition. He be
lieved, from what he had heard, that the
Reading had agreed to increase this allow
ment to 100000 tons during the present
year. Although the Pennsylvania line
was built with the promise and expecta-
ton that the competition would decrease
the price of coal, prices had been kept up
as usual and no good to the public had re-
suited. Mr.. Morris entered into very close
detail and quoted voluminous figures to
show that the Reading railroad and the
Reading Coal and Iron company was tax
ing the people to make small part OF the
great coal field owned by it pay the interest
on the money extravagantly paid for it and
all its losses in addition. The witness
said that he had thoroughly Investigated
the statement made by Mr.. Corbin that
the Reading Coal and Iron company had
mined 81, GO0,OC tons of coal from 1876 to
1888 at a loss OF FL, 100000, having paid
So coo 900 to the miners and receiving but
81, S0O,0 600 for their output. Witness
quoted figures by years from 1876 to 1888,
and said that the proceeds for that period
had been, as shown by the company's own
books sSf, $4,000, and thus the company
had really received go 0O0,0 600 more than it
had paid out.
". |. Bennett, one of the leading Knights
of labor, was then put on the stand and
testified to the facts i'll connection with the
strike. In reply to questions as to the
right of labor to dictate terms to capital,
witness said that resembling providence
in creating property labor has a right to
control and manage it, The witness
charged the company with bad faith and
with neglecting TO send the kilograms of
the committee to the leaders throughout
the mining regions after arbitration had
been agreed to, ordering the men back to
work, and said that Oh account of this act of
bad faith, the miners were not informed of
the order and did not return to work. For
this reason the entire strike was ordered on
again. The witness then proceeded to give
his version of the interview between Lee
and Sweigert. He was not present himself,
but when he came out Lee told him that
Sweigert had attempted to bride him, and
failing to do this, had discharged him.
At the conclusion of this witness testi- |
mony the committee adjourned to meet in
Pottsville on Monday.