The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1898-06-29


is charged on the hard product" He
was not wholly sanEuine that the con-
vcnton would find n solution, but was
hopeful. He suggested that a recon-
mendation should come from Mt. Car
mel from where the hard coal boom
cmanated
Voris Auten, a Mt. Carmel repre-
sentative, then occupied the floor. He
spoke in a hopeful vein believing the
convention would be prolific of some
thing which might not solve but.which
would lead to a solution of the ques-
tion. The United States constitution
and national and state laws were plain
i'm their opposition to freight disCrim-
ination. Pennsylvania laws say mo
unjust or undue discrimination" shall
be allowed by the carrying compan-
les, rail or canal. "Freights Of like
character shall not be carried in the
same direction and in the same man
ncr at different proportionate rates"
said Mr.. Auten, quoting in substance
state law.
THE HOOVER SUIT.
In the suit Of Hoover VS.. the Penn
sylvania Railroad company at Belle
fOnte action was brought according
TO the state law which entities recovery
Of three times the amount of damages
from freight discrimination. The de-
Cision was for the plaintiff but was
reviewed in an opinion by Justice
Green of the Supreme court who held
that carrying companies had the right
under the law to make special con-
tracts, which seemed to have been the
case in the Hoover suit, and the lower
courts decision was reversed.
Mr.. Auten offered two suggestions:
First, that the matter he brought for
chilly before the interstate commerce
commission; second, that new legisla-
| tion to obviate discrimination be
| brought about.
The following committees were ap-
pointed: Organizaticn-A. \. Helm,
Shamokin; r. J. Pepper, Ashley, q. w.
| Klein, Hazleton; j. II. Fellows, SCran-
| ton; ID. Bolich, Mt. Carmel; d. b. Ath-
| erton, Scranton, and G. b. Thompson
Pittston Tcsolutions-Daniel Duffy, St.
| clair; John w. Parker Mahonoy City,
| NJ. +. DOYLE, Shenandoah; Colonel +.
| l.. Hitchcock, Scranton; Il. c. Parker
Wilkes-Barre; Rev. w. II. Zweizig. Gill
| berton, and Edward O'Donnell. Girard-
| y
Wilkes-Barrc: w. w. Thorne, Voris
Auten, Mt. Carmel; L. j. Wilkinson, r
q. Seller, w. {, Hack, w. G. Thomas
| Pittston.
! The committees were given permis-
| sion to remain in the session and were
| directed to later prepare reports and
| suggestions for presentation at the
evening session. Each delegation was
|
| president.
a half-hour was then devoted to oper
| discussion.
| George S. Boyle of Wilkes-B Barre
| COntpnded that original charters to Goa
| carrying roads once afforded ample
protection to the people. The people
| themselves now constituted the COrpO.
rate power which makes discrimination
| possible; they elect Legislators to he
servants of the railroads and should
| reform themselves in the selections o,
| representative legislators or expect tC
| suffer the consequences.
A BIG PROFIT.
For every $500 expended by railroad!
in carrying hard coal $1,000 was made
| in profits. For each ton of coal fol
| which the miner receives 1872 cents
net, the railroad company gets about
$40 in frcightaEe to New York
Someone challenged Mr.. Boyle's state
ment that miners received only 49,
cents per ton for coal mined. In repl!
he said the sum was the net prof
after paying for labor, powder, oil
etc.
John II. Fellows, of Scranton, as
Cribed corruption among the state OK
ecutiVes and legislators as the cauls
of the trouble. They were nearly al
servants of the railroad companies, h
said.
II. f.. Paine, of Scranton. referred t
the stand made twenty years ago b,
Pittahurg against servitude to tn
Pennsylvania Railroad company.
new railroad seventy-cight miles lonj
was built to Youngstown, O., Whor
connection was had with three bi
lines. The result was that the ship
ping rates We're cut i'm the middle the
and have been so cut ever since.
was strange but true Mr. Paine said
that the Pennsylvania company as wei
as the PittshurE region had been benc
fitted by the move
Permanent relief for this region, Nh
Paine explained, would come with
| new road TO the SeabOard, a road tha
would establish fair haulage rate
If the present trouble was beaten owe
one stump by the business men an
other elements, it would appear lik
the devil ON top Of another. 1t wa
not going 10 be any holiday eXper
ence. Good ammunition and much q
| Ia hot
implement Of warfare i'm the presen
case than the proposed new railroad.
Walter Wolff, of Ashland; Mr.. OMa
ley Of Mahanoy city, and w. "
Thorno, of St Clair, spoke briefly. Th
latter emphasized a fact missed by III
two preceding speakers. He shove
that a rate-cutting road from any sec
tion of the anthracite fields wOul
force other roads to meet the rates
they would not be able to compete
the open market with the former roa,
Nothing could be expected from II
= legislature. Something might be a,
COmpished by a universal and Conccl
trated movement throughout the an
thracite fields, eliminating in commi
tees to get definite answers from Il
companies. If the answers were N
favorable and immediate then the o
o ganization could take some other step
GRIFFITHS TALK.
William Gritiith, of Pittston, Of II
geological survey, was, on request
= G. b. Thompson, of the same cit
asked To address the gathering NJ
Grifiiths said the disproportion of owl
ership was great between the carryir
companies and individual operator
The companies owned nearly all II
e hard coal in the state. One-half Of II
J hard coal product was used i'm Ne