Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1896-11-12
COAL CASE VERDICT.
VIII II Ar ct tho Local Retail Coal
Make.

Today a NEWS representative made
sons invsstigations with y view 10 ~.
oertaining whether the oon eviction yes.
terday Of the members OF the coal
combine would have any effect on the
local fuel market, as this IL n qaery In
tho minds Of many citizens, created by
tho verdict.
The nrst dealer spoken 10 said he had
no Idea whether OF not tho verdict
wopli have any effect on the local cosl
market, or what tue eject wouli be IN
case one should appear. He denied
that there had been any coal combia.,
aud thought the verdict utterly unjust,
though 1e was not orc u the defend.
ants.
J. W. whitehead IT,, who became
prominent last year through the fight
he made against the cJmbine, said
that, In his opinien, the verdict would
probably cause the producers OF tho
coal 10 sell 10 any person who wished
10 buy, without discrimination, anJ
that the number Of retailers In this
city would necessarily become greater.
lie did not think. howover, that prices
hN AhtNAtls ~ NhtN
would continue ~ bs governed by the
producers. Mr.. Whitehead Ia the only
independent retail dealer In the city,
and hs TALKED from a corfespon dlng
standpoint. He discussed at some
longth, aud In an intelligent manner,
the coal situation Ia this city anu
vicinity.
T.. l.. Carpenter, o; tho PlsasAnt
Valley C0sl company, popularity
understood 10 have been the ceatrai
Dgufe iu the coal combine, and one OF
the defendants who were yesterday
convicted. when asked what effect, In
| his opinion, the verdict would have on
the local coal market, replied.
"None whatever. There IL no coal
combine anu has been none since
August lst,. lsD5. Tho verdict was
rendered either under n misappfehen.
sion Of facls. or In response to public
clAmof"
"But the producers have been refuf.
Ing 10 sell except 10 certain parties, have
they uoi2"
ayes" replied Mr.. Carpenter, "and
they will continue 90 10 do. We have
q right 10 refuse 70 sell coal 10 any per-
ION who ~ an Objectionable custo meT.
Judge Hallei. IN his charge u the
Jury, said wo nai right 10 refuse 10
cell to any person 10 whom We might
object, but t1at two or more producers
mad not the right TO combine 10 ~
agtsemsnt not 10 sell 10 apy particular
person.
while the NEWS representative
was converting with Nit. Car.
pontof. number oil the lattef'e
ffirnds came up and guyed him
on his chances Of going to prison. Mr..
Carpenter expressed the opinion that
the sentence would be Only nominal.
The situation Ia this, Tue producers
OF coal may, n thoy choose, enter into
u taeit agreement us to the persons to
whom coal IL 10 DO sold at Wholesale.
II this agreement shall bo 30 secret, OF
Of SUCH an iDta ngible character that II
cannot be proven In court, the existing
lia,n, may be ptrpeiuatej. hut unless
the coal producers arc thoroughly
united, aud have implici, conf.
denco In each other, some Of
tbsm arc likely 10 begin selling coal 10
"Outsider." As soon Hs the way Ia
opened for Any person who chooses
10 become retail dealer, 10 buy
coal by tue carload, at the ssmv
price now being paid by the
present retailers, the number OF retail
dealers will unuuubtolly Increase, and
there will BE- some cutting OF prices.
IL 10 not improbable that this verdict
may result IN the breaking up Of the
combine entirely, ami IN the oonse.
| quent breaking down OF prices all
along the llne. II wAs n surprise 10
the defendant, who oonfldsnlly ex.
psottd an atquitlal.
IL this verdict does not result IN
making the coal market m free iot All
~ are other branches OF commerce,
tho next legislature will undoubtedly
be called upon 10 take action In tue
matter,