St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-31

from the variation in the bids for wood.
There were two reports, a majority
and a minority report, from the commit
tee on fuel. The bids were so uniform
that it was almost impossible to de-
termine which of the bidders had sub
mitted the most reasonable proposition.
The award was finally awarded 10
MesSrS. Shade & Acker. Mr.. White
could not give the committee infOrma-
ton as to the bids for the next two
years, but told them where to get 1t.
Chairman Donnelly was called away
for a short time, and Mr.. BoggS was
elected to act as chairman until his re-
turn.
B. G. Taylor of the Taylor Coal COM
pany, of Minneapolis, was next sworn,
and testified that he was member of
the above company and that their place
of business is Sixth and NicolIet. Mr..
Taylor admitted having been member
of the Reeve association, also Of the
Rhodes bureau, but said he had no
acquaintance with either Chairman
Reeve or Manager Rhodes. He adj
mitted having had some correspondence
with Manager Rhodes, but had not
brought the letters or their answers.
Mr.. Walsh read a copy of the letter
written by Manager Rhodes calling
them down for having entered into a
coupon arrangement-their firm being
The only one selling coal under this
arrangement. Mr.. Taylor testified that
they had Cancelled the arrangement
with the Coupon a. He finally admitted
that it was done in the interest OF mar
mony" In answer TO Mr.. Walsh he
stated that the senior member of the
firm, his father, is the Minneapolis
manager of the Lehigh Coal company.
Mr.. Boggs here took a hand and
Mr.. Taylor said the letter was re-
ceived after they had Cancelled the
contract. He did not understand that
the prices furnished by the bureau"
were binding. 1t was brought out that
they have a contract with the Lehigh
company and a yard adjoining that
company's in Minneapolis. The Tay-
lOr company buys coal at the docks at
the head of the lakes, and he (Mr. lay
lori knew nothing of the prices paid by
other retailers. Mr.. Taylor did not
know anything about the bureau; If he
did, he would not disclose. he did not
know of any call being made for contrl-
buttons to a fund for the defense OF the
coal shippers in this matter. lie was
very unsatisfactory witness, and lett
with the promise that he would mail
CODES vi TIC lELlClS llOll no
book
Col. Reeve, the ex-chairman of the
shippers association, is out of the city.
so could not be reached with subpoena.
The committee took up the cOnsidera-
ton of the concurrent resolution pro-
yiding for commissioners to meet with
those from other states to follow out
the work begun by the committee. Mr..
Walsh moved that the resolution be
amended by striking out the per diem,
making the number of commissioners
ten in place of five, and extending the
invitation 10 all states. As amended
the resolution was recommended to
pass and agreed that the house be re-
0uested to suspend the rules and pass
it at once.
The matter of amending the law
regulating weights and measures was
considered. it having been suggested
that long ton is the weight of coal sold
at the mines and that it is transported
to the head of the lakes on that basis.
The matter of,preparing such bill was
considered. and considerable discussion
was had, but no conclusion was reached.
1t was deferred until the next meeting
of the committee.
Mr.. Walsh gave the railroads a stir in
the matter of freight rates on coal be-
tween st. Paul and Minneapolis and the
head of the lake. lie called attention
to the fact that soft coal is carried be-
tween these points at 81 ton, while
the tariff for hard coal is $3.50, and
thought some action should be taken to
secure reduced rates on the latter. The
committee thought this would be a
good move, but the point was raised
that the railroads would simply move
their docks to West Superior and make
the business of the carriers interstate,
avoiding the provision of such law.
Mr.. BOggs said he feared such action
would result injuriously to Duluth.
| Chairman DOnnelly had returned and
| thought the rate should be reduced To
| 10 cents ton. MIR. Walsh moved that
| Mr.. Biorge be instructed to confer with
| the attorney general and tine railroad
companies, and to prepare bill reduc-
ing the rate as they might deem adyls-
| able. The bill will, in all probability.
make the rate 81 a ton or less.
The matter of pushing the prOSecu-
| tons against the other wholesalers in
the combine; also the engaging of as
sistant counsel to aid the attorney gen
eral in the prosecution of these cases
was informally discussed.
The matter of concluding the inyesti.
CATION was considered, and the members
were anxious to close up the matter as
soon as possible. There are a large
number of witnesses still to be sub
p9naed. 1t was the unanimous Opin
ion of the members of the committee
that as full report as possible should
be made to the legislature.
Col J. Ham Davidson. chairman oil
! the citizens committee, and Mr.. Haw
thorne were present to confer with the
committee. Col. Davidson asked The
members of the investigating committee
to suggest to him the names o.
such citizens as they though
would be in sympathy witt
the movement and who would take
| active part in pushing the work mapped
cit. Col. Davidson said owing to out