The Austin weekly statesman. (Austin, Tex.) 1883-1898, 1897-03-04
A ST. LOUIS WHOLESALE GRO
GER TESTIFIES BEFORE
LEXOW'S COMMITTEE.
WHAT A HIGHER TARIFF Would Do
Forced to Sign an Obnoxious Fac
tors Agreement-The Coal
Trust Investigated.

New York, Feb. 25.-The alleged coal
combine was the special object of inquiry
today by the joint Legislative committee
investigating trusts. President Samuel
Sloane of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Railway was on hand early,
having been subpoenaed yesterday He
was the first witness today.
In reply to questions by Senator lexow
Mr.. Sloane said conference of coal roads
was held in this city in 1896 Witnei
said that the conference lasted sever;t
hours, and that it was understood thai
every man in the conference had pledged
his honor to maintain the allotments ap
portioned them in the coal carrying trade.
Witness was questioned ut length regard.
ing the price of coal and its fluctuations,
but failed to throw any light Oh this sub
ject, always referring the particular mat
ter of inquiry to some other official.
He said, however, that he thought the
com Dine had the right to fix the price of
its own commodity"
President Thomas of the Erie was the
next witness. lie said his road received
/ per cent allOtmcn; OF the coal to be
carried III the combine.
Senator LeXow read the allOtments
made the various companies, and the wit
ness said they were correct to the best
of his recollection.
HAS it not come to your notice that
sales agents meet and fix uniform
rate"
1T has not"
"Is there uniform rateT'
II am sorry to say there is not"
Witness said the increased demand
caused an increased output.
THE question of more coal to be pro-
duced was never discussed at any meet
ing l attended," said Mr.. Thomas, when
questioned as to the meeting of 1896
raising the price of coal. He said no def
mite action had been taken in that regard.
The price of anthracite had fallen in the
market owing to the use of oil and gas
as fuel.
Il. S. Gibson and Il. S. Walker of the
Delaware and Hudson also testified with
out adding material interest to the pro
ceedings.
Mr.. Walker testified that it was Gus
tomary for sales agents to meet in con-
ference and discuss the price of coal for
the succeeding month.
How was it the, price of coal rose %
cents ton in 1862
Because the price was too low"
w. H. Holden, vice president of tho
Delaware, Lackawanna and Western
company, testified to having exclusive
charge of the sale of coal in his company
And you fix the price of coal?'
"Yps. sir"
will you explain how it is that after
Nhe presidential conference in 1896 the
price of coal went up 70 cents ton?"
prior to that time the price of Goa
was abnormally low; ruinously low.
In speaking of other matters decided
upon at the conference witness said that
the company's representative strenu
ously insisted on producing all the coal
it could, and added that coal had been
produced along the line ever since.
The combination in the coal trade ques.
ton was dropped temporarily while the
committee listened to the testimony OF
+. II. Kennard, wholesale grocer do
ing business at st. Louis, regarding his
experience with the sugar refineries. Mr.
Kennard said he had refused to accept
the factors agreement of the American
Sugar Refining company, and in consee-
Quence could not get that company's
goods except by paying 30 cents addition
al per barrel. He added that no one not
having a factors commission could con-
tinue in the sugar business in st. Louis.
During the grinding season in the south
the American Sugar Refining company
lowered the price of sugar in st. Louis
by 1-2c pound below the price at
which it is sold in the east. Immediately
after the close of the grinding season
they caused the price of the product to
be increased in st. Louis.
In reply to questions by Senator Nc
Carren witness said the factors had to
oh hafyp onl inc ha IF M
American Sugar Refining company and
foreign sugar.
"Do you consider yourself at disad-
vantage because you can not secure the
sugar of the American Sugar Refining
company" asked Senator McCarren.
81 do, yes; because the sugar can only
be had for few months in the. year."
Can you get any sugar from the
American Sugar Refining company out
side of the grinding season."
"No. SIR"
Witness said he was confronted with
n similar state of affairs with the coffee
kings and the American Tobacco compa-
ny. If he did not, he said, sign a fac
tors agreement with these concerns he
could not continue in business.
The witness added that if there was n
larger tariff put on foreign sugar his firm
would have to go out of business or take
the alternative of signing factors agree
ament.
This witness was the last Of the day.
Under the terms of the resolution Great
ing the committee its report should be
ready to lay before the legislature by
March /. but Senator Lexow announced
that he would ask for an extension until
March 8.
RETURNED TO HER HOME.
TAYLOR Tex Eeh Observation-Disclosures