The Madison daily leader. [volume] (Madison, S.D.) 1890-current, 1893-02-25
THE COAL BARONS
Minnesota Legislators PROFOUND Ques.
tiOns to st. Paul Dealers and Re.
eeive Answers.
Dealers Can't Do Business i'm st. Paul
Unless They Belong to the
Association,
And Cutting Prices Compels Them
to Get Out-The Milling Com
bine Working.

ST. PAUL, Feb. 25.-The Legislative
investigating committee had another
round with the ''coal barons" during
the evening. The first witness called
was Mr.. Hanley, the Eighth street coal
and wood dealer. He is small retail
dealer. He had dealt at wholesale with
the Lehigh, Northwestern, Ohio, and
st. Paul and Western companies. To
obtain anthracite coal he is obliged to
submit to the terms of the Minnesota
Anthracite Coal association, the man.
ager of which is John J. Rhodes, whose
Office is in the Endicott building. He is
obliged to pay $25 yearly to the associa-
ton. The advantage of this payment is
the privilege of conducting a retail coal
business on a margin of 81 ton. There
|is no agreement in writing between the
dealer and the association, but receipt
Is given for the yearly subscription.
would you be prevented from becom-
ing retail dealer il you did not pay this
s25s'' queried Mr.. Watson.
Eyes, sir BY being a member of the
inal price; otherwise we would only get
25 cents off; which any citizen can do il he
hauls the coal himself. The retailer pays
the cost of hauling away from the whole
sale yards"
The Price is Fixed.
Senator Tawney-Who fixes the price of
coals
There is fixed price, but do not know
who fixes it, i receive circular about the
first of each month from Mr.. Rhodes in
which the price for the month is an
nounced."
''The retail dealer suffers penalties for
cutting prices, does he not."
"Yes. He is cut off from his supply of
coal and practically driven out of the busi-
ness, although he still has the same priv
ilege as any citizen of going to the yard
| and getting coal at 25 cents off the nom-
inal price.
Mr. Winston--If the city of St. Paul ad-
vertised for coal what would be the result
if the dealers bid cent under the nom
inal price?
''The penalty would be exacted."
Must Belong TO the Association.
Senator Tawney-C Could any man engage
in the business who is not a member of the
association
81 No sir. = a#aa a... s-.
"Whys''
Because the supply Is controlled by
half dozen companies, and they will not
sell to retailer who does not belong to
the association A retail coal dealer can
not buy and sell coal without interference
or dictation, the same as other merchants
| don
Mr. Donnelly said he had heard that
next year the wholesalers would dis
pense with the retailers and conduct the
retail business themselves. In reply,
| the witness said he had heard vague
i rumors to that effect. but could not say
as to their truth.
4 Several other witnesses testified in
the same strain, thohgh it was very
evident they were reluctant to do so,
and it required considerable pumping tc
get any information of value.
/ J. e. Haycock. q retailer. said that
some of the dealers had refused at GER
tain times to sell the witness coal Hs
didn't know the reason. He demanded
an explanation, but received no salts
faction. TIE companies in question
were the Northwestern and the Lehigl
. Coal company He thought the troubl,
was cut in the price of coal