The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1892-12-16
THE READING COAL DEAL.
RESUMPTION OF THE HOUSE COMMIT
TEES INTERROGATION.

Producing Business 10 Snve Its Trnmc.
WASHINGTON. Dec. 15.-The House commit.
| toe appointed to Investigate the Reading Rail.
| road anthracite coal combination resumed
| this morning tho inquiry 1t conducted into
| this subject during the recess. VIM H. joyce.
general freight agent OF the PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad. was examined lie offered in evi.
dence letter dated April Is last addressed
by him to L. II. Holden. Chairman OF the An.
thracite Rate Committee. New York. calling
attention to the fact that during tho past year
tho Lehigh Valley Railroad Company, through
its coal company. had made with individual
operators contracts for tho purchase OF their
coal upon a percentage OF tho prices realized
| ut tidewatcr The Reading Company. tho let
ter added, had made similar agreements with
number OF miners and shippers. and IL was,
therefore, necessary for the Pennsylvania Rail.
road TO do likewise If it were to secure tho
product OF colicrics that had heretofore
shipped over its lines.
These contracts gave shippers for their coal
GO per cent OF tho prices obtained ut tide.
wator Tho letter stated that the Pennsyl.
vania company would therefore reduce its
price for carrying coal to tidewatcr from $I.0O,
its rate at that time. to $1.44. this being 40
pcr cent. Of the tilewatcr selling price OF coal
would raise or lower its charge to correspond
he fsnnsylSana Rasoad cg saiss q hs sS"a
M Urn Of sales nGcpts at New York through
vana sales "a agent did not Il" attend ehns the
meetings Of tidewater e9les agents. but per.
a hsps sd Ate sales
was satisfied with the s1.44 rate. The Head.
Ing and other roads made a $l.9O rate for |
syivania Company had tho i longest IN hau sn to
tdoewater OF any OF the coal roads.
ths i' Sat %aaS sS so@
shG best prices it could ha9
tx its ny aa ol da not
mont 1t was we'll understood that coal was
selling ut certain figure and they got that
The PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company and
the individual operators along its line were |
inc. OF course for scarcity Of cars su at times.
d III company was increasing its .egu pment
had paid. special attention to its equipment
The witness said that small operators could
but With the II that s1Ht tSSre %as
clause in tho contracts Of tho Heading and
other roads with the operators permitting the
He SAID The pc policy fi Of the Pennsylvania
has always been opposed to the Joining OF
is 30 deep in it now that It cannot get out We
have always thought that We should conNne
am siil Of r" that opinion. 10 SeeVe a ihs
c o o: q the two functions breeds an
Just what We did. We would not, In my opinion.
6s Carrying d any anthracite ceaI whatever
Ts ss have 'sSs as ass
get the traffic for its lines"
rd Eek hsyI B. Cox OF The coal operating firm o,
md quarter tons Of coal per annum. was
%heshs brsnsnG s bEoasd the
IFS answsS vas; link The p people VIZ
not. on the whole. made fair interest on their
money: Until a comparatively recent time,
producing business nine have failed. It is the
most risky business ! know. Until the bust
pf fS;, E1t into the hands Of the biE companies.
In the View WI q SMr. Cox the first union o,
vas due to business necessities and competi-
po 91 sr tdnSd f ron the fact that the trans
union union 9: these two interests Was effected tho
future sS
ma the j. result was that tho big companies
sbaorS the GH dy which
ana owners were anxiousy waiting for some
me ne OF the big companies to come in and buy
Since the Reading mblnation there had
oeen an advance in the price OF coal to the
much probaby It was ssE T nos say say
tric'ioa OF production originated with the |
miners themselves. who realized that low |
'rces meant low wages. II operators mined
III they could pretty soon they would have no
money to pRyany wages at all.
The com niittea held n secret session. and de. |
ded to close the taking of Testimony as soon |
IS tho Thurman secured certain statistical in
ormatlon that is desired. The testimony will
'ort to the House will then begin. it is not
possible at this time to say whether or not any
Will be recommended.
Testing the Validity of tho law J.,m,tInr
the Hours OF Work on Railroads,