St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-02-25
"A QUESTION OF PRIVILEGE.
Senator Leavitt Challenges the
Globe on the Coal Combine.


Senator Leavitt disagrees with the
GLOBES editorial comments upon the
coal combine. He is dealer himself
and he asserts that he belongs to no
bureau or combine, and he holds that
the GLOBE has done grave injustice
to the independent coal men of the
state.
Mr.. Leavitt. rising to a question of
privilege, read the following from an
editorial i'll the GLOBE of yesterday:
1.-The investigation now in progress
OF the legislative committee of the
workings of the Minnesota coal trust, so
far as the few open sessions have dis
closed. presen is the situation in this
way: Every retail and wholesale dealer
in the state is in the combine, procures
his coal through the Northwestern Fuel
company. sells it at such prices as are
dictated by one John j Rhodes, who
| lives in st. Paul. and if he is retailer
pays S25, and if wholesaler $500 year
! to Rhodes for his services and
| the privilege of being a member
OF the tIust. The duties of Mr..
Rhodes are to decide for each locality in
| the state at what price coal shall be sold
| there and send out monthly circulars to
! each dealer, appriSing him of the price
| he must sell the fuel at during the
month: and his only remaining duty is
! to eXcommunicate any member who is
/ proven to cut prices. An eXcommuni-
Gated dealer can get no more coal to sell
/ except at open rates.
'Not an ounce of hard coal can come
into the state except through the North
| western Fuel company; not an ounce
/ can be sold at cent less than the price
dictated by John j. RhoueS. and the
power of these two autocrats is barri-
! caded by every coal dealer in the state. -
In view of the statements made by
myself" Mr. Leavitt then said, ''at the
time the committee upon the investiga-
ton of this subject was appointed, l
deem it put just to myself and my asso-
| clateS upon this floor that l should not
allow these sweeping charges to pass
unchallenged. | wish it to be distinctly
understood that [ speak only for myself
and my associates in the coal business,
! having no knowledge outside of per-
J sonal experience regarding the subject
under consideration. | deny that the
| Greenleaf Lumber company, of which l
am IL member, ever paid John j.
Rhodes, either directly or indirectly,
S25 or any other sum for the purpose of
becoming a member of the alleged
trust, or any trust whatever,
| for tie purpose of controlling
! the price of coal or any other
commodity; that the Greenleaf Lumber
company ever received from John j.
Rhodes or any other person, company or
corporation, any circulars. cards or quo.
tatiOnS, debating or suggesting in any
manner as to the price that coal should
be sold for In any locality where said
lumber company is retailing coal, and
! that no attempt was ever made by any
person or persons to influence or dictate
as to what price should be charged for
coal at such places; that the Greenleaf
Lumber company is not now and never
has been a member of any coal trust Oh
combination of any kind, character OF
description since have been a member
of the company, or at any other time
and respectfully request the chairman
of the committee investigating this
subject to inquire of any or all witnesses
examined whether these statements are
true or not"