New-York tribune., 1901-02-20
SAYS RAILROADS GET ALL.
INDEPENDENT COAL OPERATORS AT
THEIR MERCY. THE INDUSTRIAL
COMMISSION Is TOLD

John Q F4oddock president % the Plymouth Coal
Company. the principal witness yesterday be-
fore the su6-commttee on Transportation Of the
Industrial Commission. his testimony occupying all
OF the morning session. Mr.. Hoddock said that he
had heea an independent coal operator since 1857
To- term was dif7cut dehne. bur near as
he could say independent coal operator was one
who disposed of his own coal on contracts made In
advance He ADDED that matter of fact most
of the coal Of independent operators was disposed
of 70 railroad companies. II was not to an oPer-
stor's advantage send the coal here in the cars
Of the road and place IL on the market himself
professor Ripley brought that the greater
number Of independent operators are in the north
EN- REGIONS The witness said n the schuylkill
rer4nns the Pennsylvania and Reading had had
no dirleultv IN buying out the independent oper-
stors as early as rhe beginning OF the seVenues
There were several causes The raliroaos some
times would advance money 70 operators. ana as
a result OF such advances would ultiTnatelT acquire
the rrorerrv Violent labor troubles had made II
,,,rleass-t 10 - iaentiAed with mining in that re-
ggor ens many he'd disposed Of their holdings on
that account ! refer 70 the Molly Magures
ssis the witness AT that time they were et the
beieh- Of their strength. ana were we'll organized
They made awful threa:s ana carried them cut IN
the most ruthless and wicked manner. That drove
MANY irFe-erdent operators out OF the Schuylkin
region and the railroads had difficulty in seenr-
ing whatever property they wanted"
In the winter II 1854 s. Mr.. Haddoek said. the
70 mine only tventy-seven DAYS in three months
He had made representations 70 the railroad for
The better part OF two years without avail ana
finally had served notice on the railroad company
that he must hold them responsible for any loss
ars % selav n the supply of cars After that ne
hsd had no more trouble or late the independent
euerators had been able secure measure OF IN
dependsnoe hut fl had been considerable cost -
themselves.
When pressed 70. more information he referred 10
vrhN ad
,-ated against by the Leh!gh valley 70 such an ex-
-sr+ ths- thev had 70 build railroad forty miles
long 20 re sble 20 bring their coal 70 uoewafeF
After that all sorts of concessions ana privileges
nad been given 70 them by the railroad companies
entering the anthracite regions In the course or
some testimony on labor in the coal regions II Nas
brought out that as a result Of present day eondl-
r,-rs an he coal market the operators are realiz
ing small fortunes from their so-ealled waste
,,eans, which are enormous and for which they
have paid 10 lshor cost.
.Yau saw there is movement on foot by the rail
reads "a increase the price they pay for anthracite
coal independent operators from % peI cenL he
price now Peid. 70 6 per cent OF 'ide"ater Prcs'
.FoT what length Of time would such contracts
Tag nc life Of the rroPsTsyr, .,-,,,- sr,n
contract would virtusly 30 out of business-sell
He would cease 10 exist as an Independent oper-
ator. YES. All his coal Mould have 10 go TO the rail
road with which he has the contra -.
an contemplated contracts have heen 'consummated
-as they viii be-the railroads entering the
anthracite regions will control over 81 per cent Of
the entire output 4 that commodity. Ny HAD
dock said he believed the claims Of the miners in
the last strike Just. lie believed in eOmpul-
s0rv arbitration where the interests of the public
are involved 10 such extent would result from
q coal strike.
Anthracite Coal Operators Association The iuce-
pendent operators association. was examined al
The afternoon session. tie said of the
smaller operators had sold out 20 larger coal con-
panies, who his year had been increasing their
holdings considerably. Most OF the members OF his
association sold their coal 20 larger companies not
the railroads. The members 30 the association
were generally signing the new contracts. In which
the railroads aCreCd pay g per Of the tide
water price. The company only agreed 10 take
what coal IL needed-not the entire output He did
not think there vas any dscTlmlna ton against the
independent operators In the control OF cars
Al this point the hearing was adjourned until to-
day al loS0 a. m. Mr.. Harris. who has presided
af the sessions thus far. said after the afternoon
session yesterday thar Mr.. Morgan PROBABLY would
not be called upon 20 testify until Tomorrow.