The Houston daily post. [volume] (Houston, Tex.) 1886-1903, 1897-02-26
AFTER THE COAL COMBINE.
Scuator Lexow's Committee Con.
tinues Its Work.
TESTIMONY OF RAILROAD OFFICIALS.
\ Wholesale Grocer from st. Louis
TcstiHcs Concerning Factors and
the sugar Ncnniag Company.

New YORK, February vJ,-The alleged
coal combine wac che object OF Inquiry TO-
day Ivy the Joint legislative committee ON
trusts. President Sam Sloan OF the Della
ware. backawanna and Western road was
on hand early. lie was the FIRST witness
called. In reply TO a question by Senator
l.eNow. Mir, Seoan said that a conference
OF coal road mon was held in this city In
1896. Tho rhIadelphSa aud Reading, the
Lehigh Valley. the Now York Central. the
Delaware and Hudson, the Pcnnsylyansa,
the Now York. Lake Erie ana Western,
the New York, ontario aud Western and
oshor roads were represented Witness
said the conference lasted several hours
and tlat II was understood every man In
the conference had pledged his honor TO
ntalnaaln the allotmcnts us,portoned them
In tho coal carrying trade.
Tho Witness w.us questioned at length
regaiD'ng the price OF coal and its tluc-
tuations. but failed 10 throw any light on
the subject. always referring the particu-
lar matter of inquiry to some other OFF,
cial. lie said, however. that he thought
che combine had right to fix the price
OF It's own commodity
President Thomas of the Erie road was
the neNt Witness. lie said his road had
received a Z per cent allotment OF the
coal to he cafr4,d to the combine
Senator Lexow read the uilotments made
the various companies AMI the witness
said ithcy were correot, to the best of his
recollection.
HAS Il not come to your notice that tho
sllcs agents meet and Fix a uniform rate
1T has not.
''ls thero a uniform rate2''
u ann sorry 10 say there Is not"
Witness siiid that the restriction OF the
output increases the demand for coal by
the consumers.
''rhe question of the amount Of coal to
he produced was never discussed at any
mecMnS | have ever attended added
President Thomas. who denied that tho
purpose OF the conference IN lSa6 WAS To
raise the price OF coal. lie admitted that
the question wtua d3scussed hut no doti'
nita- action. ho said, had boar taken IN
that regarsi. The az thratte coal. he tcs-
tihed. bad fallen somewhat In market
price. owing to the use of oil and gas as
-. II. Ggbbons. treasurer of the Dcla-
we're, lAcNiNAnna and Weatt rn road.
and Charles A. Waller, treasurer OF the
Delaware and Hudson, also testified hriei-
~ without adding material Information
Richard II. Williams, general sales
eiecr- oi tho Eric ru'aroad, testihed that
It was customary for ssales agents to meet
IN conference ami discnss the output
why WAS Il that coal was Mcroared n
cents ton after the conferences In 1867
Because we considered the price too
Edwin H. lioldin, vice president OF the
Delaware LaclOnwanna ana Western, tCs-
titled to having exclusive charge Of the
sale OF conl IN hts company.
And YOU ny the price OF che coal7"
Yes, siT.
wal You explain how q WAS tina, after
This presidential conference IN ispG the
price of coal wcnt up ~ cents TONI"
PRIOR 10 that time the price Of coai
was abnormally low, ruInously low
In speaking Of lhe allotmonts decided
upon at the conference, wstnNss snNi that
the company he represented strcnuously
insisted upon producing al the conl that
IT could sell, and added that Il had pro
cestied along tho lSnes they laid down
ever since.
The subject of combination. In tho Goa
trade was dropped temporarily while the
committee lstencd to the tositmony oi
Frames " kronmng, a wholesale grocer,
dong business at st Louis, regarding has
experiences with the sugar reflncries.
Mr. krcnninR said he had refused 20 ac-
cept the factors asTeemont OF .the Amer
loan Sugar Refining company, and IN con-
sequence could not procure that cumpany's
product without paying an exchange of ~
cents pcr larrel. He sdenffhed a copy OF
said 10 retailer Of sugar in St Louis
could continue IN the sugar business. Wit
moss further Nentiiied copies Of telegiNins
sent 70 brokers and factors IN 81. Louis
would not be accepted until the factors
agreement was compiled with During the
grind Ing season In the South. the Amer
ican sugar Refining company lowered the
rrice 81 sugar IN 81. Louis by a quarter
OF q cent A pound below the price at
which II Is gold In the East. lnme-
d.ntcly after the close of the grinding
season they caused the price OF the prod
uct to be Increased in ST. Louis. IN reply
10 a question, witness said that factors
had TO choose between selling the product
CT tho American Sugar Refining company
and foreign sugar,
"Do Won consider yourself at dlsaa-
vantage because you can not secure the
sugar of the American Srgnr ReAr!r.e
company" asked Senator Mccnrren,
~ do, ycs because the sugpr ran only
be had for o few months m the ves,r,"
"Can YOU get any sugar from the Amer
lean Sugar Refining. company outside o..
the grinding season "
mo, sir"
The witness pnii he was confronted with
similar state OF affairs bv the coffee
kings ana the American Tobacco com
pany. IF he did not. he sad. sign n fac
tors" agreement with these concerns he
could not continue IN business
The w.tnnss added that n there was
larger tarifr put on foreign sugar his firm
would have to 20 orM Of business or take
the alternative and sign faotorbs agree
mert With tho Lost witness today the
committee closed taking testimony for tho
resemt. Under tho terms of resou-
tioH creating the committee III reports
should bc ready TO lay before tho ,eg!s-
lature on March l. hut Chairman Lcxow
announced that he would ask for an ex-