Wheeling register. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1878-1935, 1892-11-30
THE COAL COMBINE.
Those Interested Testify that 1t is Rene
ht ~ small Operators and Miners.

III ~ 1AuaAl operators ana Miners
PHILADELPHIA, PA, November 90
The Congressional Committee to inves-
tigate the Reading railroad combine
met here this morning. With the ex-
ceptiOn of Mr.. Lind, all the members of
the committee were present. Chas. F.
Beach was present as counsel for the
committee, and John G. Johnson and j.
d. Campbell represented the Reading
Company. President Mcleod, of the
Reading Company, was the first wit
ness. Mr.. Mcleod was questioned
principally by Mr.. Beach, and that gen.
tleman's line of questioning was direct
ed mainly TO discover the traffic rates
on anthracite coal and the
effect upon the coal tusi-
ness and the consumer Of the monthly
meetings OF the sales agents. Mr.. Beach
'Eyol ! Mr.. Mcleod If at the meeting of
coal Sales agents, anthracite coal, and
the output were regulated for the month
Mr.. Mcleod safd M Fel5llyy, y,.h .thst he had
only attended two meStings of the sSles
agents, and be only knew in general
way how the meetings were conducted.
de said that the agents Of the various
roads met 70 consult as to what amount
Of production the condition Of trade
warranted. Mr.. Mcleod said that the
meetings have no influence on the
price of COAL If the head Of the Read
ing Railroad Company did not consider
IL to the interests Of his company to
agree TO the price fixed by the coal sales
agents at their meetings, he would not
do so, however, he would generally
agree 20 the prices, IS the coal sales
agents were generally men thoroughly
posted in their business and the state OF
the market and generally knew what
the best and faile prices should be.
In answer TO query from Mr.. John
son, Mr. Mcleod said that II there was
no concert OF action among the coal
producers the market would quickly be-
come giutted aud il would only be
question Of a short time when the
financially strong operators would
drive the weaker ones to the wall. The
result would be the Advancement of
prices to a higher rate than they are
now. Mr.. Mcleod said that many OF
the individual coal producers in the an-
thracite coal regions we're on the verge
Of bankruptcy when he arranged TO
buy their coal. Another sufferer by the
lack Of concert among the coal pro-
ducers would be the lowering OF miners
wages. The Reading Coal Company
has never, Mr.. Mcleod said, gotten a
reasonable profit in the market for its
coal and that is what it is striving TO do.
Mr. Beach tried to get at the rate OF
traffic for anthracite coal, but Mr..
Johnson intimated that he wanted the
information for use in a coal suit now
pending in which he is one Of the
counsel
Mr.. Beacon Indignantly denied this
insinuation, but the Chairman, Mr..
COOmbs, ruled the question out as be-
ing irregular TO the inquiry.
The next witness was e. P. Wilbur,
President of the Lehigh Valley Rail-
road. Mr.. Wilbur's examination was
short. He testified that the rate for
anthracite coal transportation were
higher then for miscellaneous traffic,
and that there was more profit in NOV
ing the coal Like Mr.. Mcleod, Mr..
Wilbur believed that the result Of lack
of concern among coal producers would
be disastrous TO small operators.