Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-11-25
PRES. MCLEOD ON THE STAND.
Inquiry Into the Reading Deal Begun by
the Congressional subcommittee.

Inquiry Into the Reading Deal Begun by
the Congressional subcommittee.
NEW YORK, Nov. 25.--The inquiry into the
Reading coal deal was begun in earnest today by
the subcommittee of the congressional commit
tee on interstate and foreign commerce in room
l2l Of the post Office building. All the men,
bers OF the subcommittee were present except
Messrs. Lind and Storer. William J. Coombs
of Brooklyn is the chairman of the shbcommit-
tee and he presided today.
Several witnesses we're in attendance before
tho committee was called to order. Among
them we're Mr.. Mcleod, president Of the Phila-
delphia and Reading railroad, and J. R. Max
well, president of the Central Railroad Com
Pany of New Jersey. There was also an array
of counsel, representing the several railroads,
among them being James Armstrong,
railroad J. d. Campbell the Read
ing companys general solicitor, and J. q.
johnson and J. +. Schaperkotter, special coun-
sci. I. II. McCarter appeared for the Lchigh
Valley Railroad Company and Robert b. De
Forest for the Central Railroad Company of
New Jersey. Charles +. Beach of this city was
the counsel for the committee. Daniel n. Grit
fin of Waterfowl. who was counsel for the sem
ate committee of this state that Investigated the
coal deal, was present in thereon a specta-
tor.
A. a. Mcleod. president of the Philadelphia
witness. After he had been sworn he was ex-
amned by Mr.. Beach. After some document
AIRY evidence had been put in and a certain
statement By Mr.. Mcleod in another proceed
ing identified by him and acknowledged 10 be
correct Mr.. Mcleod said that it true that
the coal lands controlled by the Phiadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron Company in
Pennsylvania aggregated 1887 acres, OF
which about two-thirds we're unImrroved
Copies OF leases Of the Lehigh Valley and Cen
trial railroads, by which the coal deal was con-
summated. were next put IN evidence. Since
these leases had gone into effect. the witness
said. contracts had been made bv the pbila-
del q hia and Reading Coal and Iron COMPANY to
purchase coal from certain individual operators,
the price TO be paid to such individual oper
ators being 60 per cent OF the price realized for
the coal at tidewater.
Mr.. Beach next endeavore TO learn how the
prices of coal were fixed and Mr.. Mcleod told.
has often been told ore, how the several
coal sales agents meet every month, discuss the
condition Of the trade and informally agree
on a circular to the trade, fixing the
prices. Mr.. Mcleod said he thought he
had attended only two meetings, and one of
these by accident. He could not
therefore. give very many particulars of
what takes place at these meetings SO far a.
he could remember he told who attended the
meetings and the intere It's they represent. He
had never attended any OF the meetings of the
western coal sales agents and did not know
where they were held. Sometimes what was
done at these meetings told to him and
sometimes not.
Mr. Mcleod said he would give the commit
tee the number of interested individual coal
operators along the line of the philadelphia
and Reading railroad at the time the deal took
effect. and the number at present and also the
number of tons produced by cLe individual
operators then and now.
Mr.. Beach also asked the witness for a num-