The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1892-11-26
THE COAL COMBINE.
President Mcleod Before the Con-
gressional Committee.
WHY THE OUTPUT Is REGULATED.

Tho Philadelphia and Reading Coal
and Iron Company Control 49,
317 Acres of Coal Land, One-Third
of Which is Operated.
NEW YORK. Nov. 26.--Railroad Off
cials ard lawyers of renown who had
been engaged by railroad directors were
conspicuous at the meeting of the con-
gressional subcommittee on interstate
and foreign commerce in room No. A Of
the Federal building yesterday. The
committee met to continue the investi-
cation of the combination of coal carry
ing railroads, known as the "Reading
DEAL" and all the members were present
except Congressman Lind and Slower
when Repre- entatiye Coombs, of Brook
lyn, announced that he was ready to
proceed.
President Archibald A. Mcleod, Of
the Philadelphia and Reading; President
j. Rogers Maxwell, of the New Jersey
Central, and several lesser lights were
present, surrounded by Lawyers James
Armstrong, J. d. Campbell, Robert S.
De Forest and T. G. johnson. The legal
representative of the committee was
Charles Il. Beach.
One of the interested spectators was
Daniel q. Griffin, who probed the "com-
bine" for the state senate committee.
He declined to state in whose behalf he
appeared.
What Mr.. Mcleod Had to Say.
President Mcleod was the first wit
ness, and was at once taken in hand by
Mr.. Beach. The witness said that the
coal lines controlled by the Philadelphia
and Reading Coal and Iron company in
Pennsylvania aggregated 1887 acres,
of which about two thirds were unim-
proved. Copies of the leases of the
Lehigh Valley and Central railroads by
which the coal deal was consummated
were next put in evidence. Since these
leases had gone into effect, the witness
said, contracts had been made by the
Philadelphia and Reading Coal and Iron
company to purchase coal from certain
individual operators, the price to be paid
being go per cent. of the price realized
for the coal at tide wafer.
Mr.. Mcleod explained how the coal
sales agents meet every month, discuss
the condition of trade and informally
agree on a circular to the trade, fixing
the prices. He said he thought he had
only attended two meetings. and one of
these was by accident. He could not
give particulars of what occurred at
these meetings. So far as he could re-
member he told who attended the meet
ings and the interests they represent. He
had never attended any OF the meetings
of the western coal sales agents, and did
not know where they were held. Some-
times what was done at these meetings
was told to him, and sometimes not.
The Price of Coal.
Council for the committee asked the
witness for number of particulars as
to prices of the various sorts of coal sold
by the Philadelphia and Reading COM
pany, free on board, with certain COM
parsons covering a number of years.
Mr.. Mcleod said that as he did not
know the scope of the committees in
quiry, he therefore was not prepared to
give these particulars. He would, after
consulting with counsel, be pleased 10
give them such documentary evidence
as they agreed would be proper.
Continuing his testimony Mr.. Nc
Leod said that the Philadelphia and
Reading Railroad company did not own
the coal transportation over the roads
the alleged combine, but the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron COM
pany did. The Philadelphia and Read
ing Railroad company, he said, owned
buc BLUM III Juo liiiduelpilid anu INGdu-
ing Coal and Iron company.
Chairman Coombs, of the committee,
said that year ago he got coal delivered
in Brooklyn at S4.S5 and S. per ton.
This year he had to pay seyenty-five
cents more. He wanted to know if this
increase in price went to the retail dealer
or to the producers. Mr.. Mcleod ad-
mitted that the producers now received
more for their coal than year ago.
Congressman Patterson wanted to
know the difference between the prices
of coal in Philadelphia, near which
| place it was produced, and in New York
city. Mr. Mcleod said that he would
ascertain this fact and make statement
later