St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1893-03-18
That Was the Decree Issued
by the Combine to Retail
Dealers.
Damaging Evidence Secured
From the Leaves Of the
Seized Letter Book.
Committee Receives Anony.
nous Letters Showing Up
the Whole Deal.
Pennsylvania Coal Barons
Threaten to Shut Off Ship
mentS Of Hard Coal.

There were several new phases de-
veloped yesterday in the coal combine
investigation. One of the most start
ling, and, perhaps, one of the most
audacious moves on the checkerbOard
was made by Pennsylvania coal baron.
The coal combine down there, it is
claimed, is in league with this North
western bureau. Whether that be true
or not, it is certain that the PennSyl-
vania monopoly or combine is becoming
alarmed at the success that the inyeStI-
eating committee is meeting with. The
barons have resOrted to intimidation and
bulldozing. Yesterday Senator Don
nelly received a letter from them, in
which they threaten to stop the entire
supply of anthracite coal if the investi-
CATION is not stopped at once. But the
state of Minnesota will not cease hos
tilities. The evidence that has been
collated by the committee has been laid
before the attorney general, md that
official will at once begin prosecution
of the combine. Judge Flandrau mas
been retained by Mr.. Childs to assist in
the case Senator Donnelly came into
possession of the
Most Important Evidence
yesterday that has been secured. 1t is
of a most damaging character, and
proves that combine actually existed,
and that it is powerful trust. These
letterScome from some unknown par
ties, and are unquestionably from some
helpless victim to the cuDidity of the
combine. They show tnaI meetings
have been held for the stated purpose
of fixing the prices at which coal must
be sold, for the purpose of timing or
publishing some subscriber to the bureau
who may have had the temerity to have
sold ton of coal at price below the
standard fixed by Rhodes. They also
prove that no retailer can buy coal who
does not subscribe to the bureau and
pay the stipulated price.
''These letters are of more impor-
tance," said Mi. Donnelly, than any
thing we found in the letter book. They
are conclusive, and they are all signed
by John J. Rhodes and by his prede-
cesSOr, or arbiter of the combine. Who
they come from we do not know, for
the complimentary. address has been
carefully torn off each letter. These
will at once turn over to the attorney
general for him to prosecute.
I'VE have given up, with one eXcep-
ton, all the books.' continued the Sage.
''but it was because we have no further
use for them. We have retained the
letter book, however. for it contains
too good evidence to be lost. Still,
should we have given up the books we
could have compelled the combine to
have brought them INTO court upon the
hearing" "euc ,p4.
Text of the Letters.
The letters referred to above are
nearly identical to each retail dealer,
and the ultimatum in each is PUT up
your money and come into the combine
or we will force you out of business"
This left the dealer no option and he
had to come to the terms OF the combine
or quit selling fuel. There are also
several letters relating to the purchase
of coal by the various boards of the city,
and liz them are given uniform prices
for all grades of coal to be bid for, with
instructions to the different companies
to bid that sum and no less, while two
or three of the companies are advised to
bid five or ten cents above the prices
agreed upon, thus leaving not only the
individual at the mercy of the combine,
but the entire community. The same
course was pursued in Minneapolis
when bids were asked for, and the fate
of one dealer who had the temerity TO
bid less than the price fixed by the com
bine can be Judged from the following
anonymous letter which was sent to the
committee yesterday:
Nov. IS. 1S91-Dear Sir: At meet
ing of the board of managers of the
Minnesota Coal association. held this
day, at which each OF the shipping COM
panies was represented. the following
resolution was unanimously adopted:
sit is hereby resolved, That we will
not furnish coal governed by this asso-
citation to any Ietail dealers in Mime
apolis who have put in bids for coal to
be furnished the city of Minneapolis at
less than the prices authorized by this
association Should their bids be accept
eG) except at regular retail prices. Yours
respectfully, JOHN j. RHODES"
An examination of the records at the
court house showsithat at the committee
meeting held Sept. So 1892, three bids
were received, one from the Pioneer
Fuel company and one from Edmund q
Carlson, which followed the combines
schedule, and one from the Northwest
ern Fuel company, which followed the
recommendation of the combine to bid
at an advance. The contract was given
to Edmund d. Carlson at the combine
figures.