St. Paul daily globe., 1893-03-25

and again that ne could nor answer.
Mr.. Donnslly wanted to know why wit
ness had said he had paid the $25 for the
privilege of buying coal.
The witness Receded.
Il did not mean to say that" said the
witness IA hesitating tone, and the
>trnOgraDheI was directed To read his
notes. The witness had given different
answers to the same question. Each
time it was more guarded. The witness
lin nly fatty asserted that any man
could buy carload OF coal at the same;
price that he could buy for. The asso-
prices solid" The witness insisted
that he had never realized any
benefit. He had paid the $25
for harmonys sake. Mr.. Lockwood
here took the witness out with no little
result. The fickleness of memory was
the dominant characteristic, although 1t
was ELECTED that he allowed some one
else to make the price. lie held that he
could have done business. but he would
not have been able to make money if he
had not joined the bureau. lie didn't
know, however, that he could have
bought coal.
Il think they would have made fuss
about it," said he again i'll hesitating
tone. II am not positive that l could
have bought coal if hadn't paid the
SO"
Mr. Donnelly again read from the
Allard a. Wallace letter, in which it was
emphatieally related that the Pioneer,
Fuel company had been underselling
the writer's, and also attempting to get
their coal supply cut off. Witness re-
iterated that he had not written the
letter, and he didn't know why the
language was used.
did you think Rhodes had the power
to regulate the prices?" asked Mr..
Bjorge.
Il am afraid he didn't have as much
power as he ought TO have Oprotect our
interest. "
That will do" said Mr.. Donnelly
with smile of victory.
John. Koford was a more frank and
OutspOken witness. He testified that
he was subscriber 10 the bureau and
he was compelled by contract to sell at
$3.50 ton or else he
Could Not get Any Coal.
THAT is just what Rhodes told me-"
said he.
Witness had been told of an instance
| in which half-tOn of coal had been
| SOld at less than the regular rates. He
reported the case to Rhodes, who said
he would take care of it, and no cut had
| been reported after. lie knew of no
| dealer in the city who is not a sub
| scriber to the bureau.
Frank +. Edmund. also coal dealer,
! is a member of the association. He teS-
| tilted that he signed an agreement two
years ago. and it specified that the
! shippers should sell coal at a certain
| rate to be quoted. If a retailer sold at a
| less rate than fixed by the bureau the
$500 paid to the association wodld
he declared forfeited. Last year
Rhodes notified witness that the
coal miners had made combine in the
East and it was only necessary to have
bureau here to keep up the prices.
The cost was then cut down to S25 for
membership.
Gould you have gotten coal to sell
| had you not become member ," asked
Mr.. DOnnelly.
MIR. Rhodes told me that l must be.
long to the bureau of statistics or
could not buy" was the frank reply.
No Competition.
John Caulfield, the secretary Of the
water commission. was called to testify
| concerning the purchase OF coal for the
use Of the department. Mr.. Walsh eX-
planned the letter taken from the famous
letter book, in which Rhodes notified
the members of the bureau with
| reference to the action of the water
board in advertising for fuel proposals.
Mr.. Caulfeld explained that all bids
were alike to cent. The bids were re-
| jected, and witness was authorized to
purchase as needed. The department
used l,40O tops of soft coal, and Mr..
| Caulfeld succeeded in buying at 30
cents a ton less than the prices specified
in the bids.
c. w. Adams. of an Ashland coal COM
pany, had made inquiries about the coal
| aud the advertisement for proposals, but
no bid was made. Then Mr.. Caulfielo
wrote him letter asking the reason,
and Adams called upon witness and ex
planned that he could not make any ar
rangements to deliver, but offered te
sell on board cars at certain price, bul
that was the last heard from him.
The committee at this junction went
! into executive session and it was nearly
midnight when the doors were thrown
open: it was then stated to the press
| that
An Emergency Bill.
will be introduced in the house this
morning, providing for an ap-
! preparation of $4,000, or as much
of that sum as may be neces-
sary, to protect the members of the
legislature in their fight against the
combine. 1t has come to the attention
of the committee that it is the purpose
of the combine to begin damage
suits against the members OF
the committee by the combine
Immediately after the adjourn
ment of the legislature. While it is the
belief of every member Of the COM
mttee that no court in Christendom
will give a verdict against them, they
propose keeping on the safe side, anC
therefore the bill has been drafted.
Il do not think one cent of this money
| will ever be drawn from the state treas
ury." said Senator DOnnelly to GLOBE
reporter in explaining its meaning. Tht
committee will meet again TUESDAY
evening, when number OF lmpOrtan
witnesses will be questioned.