New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1892-11-30
THE COIL MBINAIION.
PRESIDENTS M'LEOD AND ROBERTS TESTIFY
BEFORE THE COMMITTEE.
WITNESSES AGREE THAT THE MEETINGS or
THE SALES AGENTS DO NOT AFFECT.
TIE PRICE or COAL.

TIE PRICE OF COAL.
PHILADELPHIA Nov o0-Thc C0neres Sona committee
to investigate the heading Railroad combination met
here at II o'clock this morning in the posonce build
Ing all being present except Mr. Lind Charles T.
Beach was present as counsel for tho committee ami
John c. Johnson and J. y. Campbell represented the
Reading Company.
| President Mcleod, of the Reading Company was
the first witness. lie questioned principally By
Mr. Beach, whose questioning was directed mainly u
discover the traffic rates on anthracite COAL dEd The
effect Of the monthly meetings OF the coal sales agents
upon the coal business and the consumer.
Mr. Beach asked Mr.. Mcleod II at the meeting Of
the coal sales agents prices on anthracite coal were
fixed and the output regulated for the month. Mr..
Mcleod said that he had attended only two meetings
OF the sales agents. and knew only In general way
how they wcr. conducted The agents OF the various
companies met 10 {alk the conditions Of trade
and consult as 10 what amount Of production that
condition warranted. Mr.. Mcleod said that the meet
ngs have no influence on the piicc Of coal. ii TIC
head OF the Reading Railroad Company did nov con
slider II To the interests OF his company to agree u
the price fixed by them. H. would not DO So He
generally agreed TO the PRICE as the goal sales agents
were thoroughly posted In their business and the state
Of the market and knew what the best and farcst
prices should be.
In answer to n query from MIR. Johnson, Mr.. Mcleod
said that if there was no concert Of action among the
coal producers, the market would quickly become
gut;cd and it would be only short time before The
financially strong operators would drive the weaker
ones to the wall. The result would be the advance
mcut Of prices Mr. Mcleod said that many Of th"
individual coal producers in the anthracite regions
were on the verge OF bankruptcy when he arranged 10
buv their coal Another effect OF the lack u concert
among the coal producers would be the lowering VI the
miners, wages The Reading Coal Company Mr..
Mcleod said has got reasonable pOht Tor Us
coal: aud that Is what It Is striving - do
,r al q
Ing between the Reading Railroad Company and the
Reading Coal and Iron Company, but the members OF
the committee decided that they had 10 bearing on the
investigation.
Mr. Mcleod explained that the main object OF the
Reading Railroad Company % produce as mHch
ccoI as possible and create the greatest demand II
could for K. The miners Of the Reading Company,
as body. were receiving 100000 more now than
In 1891, whether they worked or not
Mr. Beach tried to get at the rate Of traffic for
anthracite coal but Mr. Johnson intimated that ne
wanted the information for use In Il coal suit no"
pending in which he is one Of the counsel W.
Beach Indignantly denied this insinuaiion, but the
charman Mr.. COMBS ruled the question ont a. being
Irrelevant TO the inquiry.
The next witness was +. p. Wilbur, president OF
the Lchgh Valley Railroad, who testified that tac
rates for anthracite coal transportation were higher
than for miscellaneous traffic, and that there was
more profit In moving the coal. Mr.. Wilbur believed
be disastrous small operators. Mr.. johnson led Mr.
Wilbur 10 show the expense Of producing AMI hanlihS
coal. and then the witrcss gave pace TO "chcr"
Traffic Manager John Taylor Of the Reading Railroad
Company, who the stand only lew minutes
and told practically nothing new MI. Beach again
attempted to get some information on The subject 0
ant hrle coal rates, with the same result a. before
George i. Roberts, president Of TIE pennsylvania
Railroad Company, the first witness called after
the noon recess. lie said that the Penn,yvann
Railroad the principal owner Of the Susqu'hannh
Coat Company, the Lykens valley Coal Company ana
some coal lands in the Shanohn valley. lhr
anthracite Goa! carried by the rcnnsy vanla Railroad
Company from its mine, about 100000 tons
yearly. This Goa is sold In Newiofk b. a sales
agent, who Is paid a percentage on the sales, ~
wei as fixed price. A. Mr. Roberts was not con
ycrs,nt with the details Of tie freight business, ia"
committee allowed him TO step from the stand.
The next witness, Joseph :. Harris president OF
the Lcl IN Coal and Navigation Company, SAID ihal
tho business OF his company IS 20 mine ana transport
coal. ne co9p1ny Owls NE L'' s leased TO- M.
Genital Railroad COMPANY Of New-Jcrssi ~ ,airiGt
coal This Is sold IN Nc,r-York through The com
pany's agents there ;ir. Harris said that the monthly
mceu ncc OF Of 5' coal 40 attempt IS made at ihcn
TO regulate the output. In regard TO tac price ny,
Isnf Was Gnremuncravc to the Lehsh COMPANY.
The advance In price this year had nol I,sdlc,ri l
antnIt which was greater In 1892 by 100000 tons
Than I'm 1so1 a miner could earn IN NJ DAY
r"rt about $2 50. During the present year the
n,encrs hove worked fve-sixths OF the time, -.
In nnswo- 10 qucsti Mr.. Hams sain NAV ~
company tried 20 keep enough men cmpl0S.H tiiron5
oyr t,n wear t. strike average between me nun
f"r v'orhCd I'm dun and busy tHcN. me u o' tn,
production OF coal Is lesscncd b. chulh"; 'u,,"o
nj i'm. For every ton Of coal raised 10 hr a"IIn.o
he conoany is compelled TO phrp Ght VI w. hio
ten tors OF wate: and three tons OF ohr ILL., -, -,
lie work must 60 all the tme 1t Is cheaper 10 hep
tbe colercs running full time. 800, ,b oor,
This concluded Mr. Harris testimony ana ~ e ao con- tn
n,ttne adjourned to meet in New-fork al lo''o to'
morrow morning