The Wilmington daily Republican. (Wilmington, Del.) 1890-1902, 1897-02-26
COAL BlRoNS TESTIFY.
Before New York's Trust Inves-
tigating Committee.
WOFUL DISPLAY OF IGNORANCE.
Men Who Are Powers In the Coal BusI-
ness Declare That They DO Not Know
the Present Price-The Committee Con-
Cludes Taking Of Testimony.


ness Declare That They DO Not Know
the Present Price-Ths Committee Con-
cludes Taking Of Testimony.
New York. Feb. 26.-The alleged coal
combine was the special object of in
quiry yesterday by the joint legisla-
tive committee on trusts. President
Sam Sloan, of the Delaware, Lacka-
wana and Western Railroad company,
was the first witness called. In reply
to question by Senator Lexow, Mr..
Sloan said that q conference of coal
road men was held In this city in 1895.
The Philadelphia and Reading, Lehigh
Valley, New York Central, Delaware
and Hudson. the Pennsylvania, the
New York, Lake Erie and Western, the
New York, Ontario and Western, and
other roads were represented at the
meeting. Witness said that the con-
ference lasted several hours, and that
1t was understood that every man in
the conference had pledged his honor
to maintain the allotments apportion-
ed them in the coal carrying trade.
Mr.. Sloan could not remember the
price of lump coal at that time. When
asked what was the necessity for in
creasing the price of coal after Feb. /,
1895, he responded: Goal at that time
was low in price. We thought we had
the wight to fix the price on our COM
modify"
President e. B. Thomas, of the Erie
railroad, the next witness, declared
that the restriction of output increases
the demand for coal among the con-
sumers but asserted that the amount
to be produced was never discussed at
any meeting he attended. He did not
know, he said, that the price of coal
had been increased after the confer
ence. In reply to the question What
is the price of coal now?" he responded;
Il do not know, but think slight
increase In price had been made In
1895 over the price charged in 1896"
F. H. Gibbons treasurer of the Del
aware, Lackawanna and Western rail-
road, testified that the price of coal
was higher by 40 cents ton in 1885
than at the corresponding period of
1895. He too declared that he did not
know the present price.
Edwin r. Holder, vice president Of
the Delaware, Lackawanna and West
ern. testified that there were no stated
meetings Of coal agents. He declared |
that prior to the 1896 conference prices |
were ruinously low.
Richard H. Williams, general sales |
agent for the Erie railroad, testified |
that it was customary for sales agents |
to meet in conference and discuss the
output for the succeeding month. He
recalled three or four such conferences
and admitted selling directly to re-
tailers. Witness said that the Septem-
Der circular would show an increase of |
81 ton had been made within the
year preceding the date of the confer
ence of presidents held prior to Feb. /,
1896.
The subject of combination in the
coal trade was dropped temporarily
while the committee listened to the
testimony of Francis H. Krenning,
wholesale grocer doing business at ST.
Louis, regarding his experiences with
the sugar refineries. Mr.. Krenning said
that he had refused to accept the fac
tors agreement in vogue by the Ameri-
can Sugar Refining company, and in
consequence he could not procure that
companys product without paying an
extra charge. Witness said that the
factors had to choose between selling
the product of the American Sugar
Refining company and foreign sugars.
Foreign reflneries sell at a lesser price
than the American company because
they are satisfied with a smaller mar
gin of profit; owing to the cheapness
Of labor in Europe compared with that
In America. Witness said he was con-
rronted with similar state of affairs
with the coffee kings and the Ameri-
Fan Tobacco company. If there was a
arger tariff put on foreign sugar his
lrm would have to so out Of business
'r take the alternative and sign a fac
ors' agreement.
Clinton w. Wisner, of Walden, N. Y,
'ice president of the Stevens Coal
company, and Joseph B. Dickinson,
ales agent Of the New York, Ontario
md Western railroad company, also
estified. The latter declared that i'm
nediately after the conference of pres
dents 1t was found that bankruptcy
vas staring the company in the face,
Which necessltated the increase in the
rice of coal which followed. P. B,
Teller, of the Lehigh Valley and Wiki
sbarre Coal company, was the last
illness.
With this witness the committee
losed the taking of testimony for the
resent. The report should be ready
lay before the legislature on March
but after adjournment Chairman
exow announced that he would ask
n an extension until March 9.