The Washington times., 1901-09-02
OWNERSHIP OF RAILWAYS.
Testimony Presented to the Indus
trial Commission.
Transportation and Allied subjects
Treated in n Recent !oturne-be-
fence of Ticket Brokers - some
views Regarding Public Utilities.

The Industrial Commis sion has publish
ed a review of the second volume of tes-
timony adduced before that body upon
the general question of transportat ton and
allied subjects il comprises summary
of the statements OF witnesses without
rocomrr1e r1entiatfons or conclusions, except
few which are obvious as to facts. The
review does not constitute the final re-
port of the commission upon the subjects
treated.
The volume takes up and discusses at
considerable length the anthracite coal
situation, showing the relation OF the rail-
roads to the industry, their establishment
of a community of interest. also the
relation to independent operators, ana the
matter of freight rates. Speaking OF the
restriction of output and the allotment of
tonnage the review, among other things,
says:
1T is said that the anthracite mines
could produce at least 60,cW,Oo tons oil
coal annually although one witness, at
least. Is disposed to question whether TINS
could be done. in view of the necessity
of executing a considerable amount of So
called dead work in order to keep up the
production. The actual consumption of
anthracite coal has never yet exceeded
especially. as indicating the necessity for
some limitation of production, that the
demand for anthracite coal. most of which
is used for domestic purposes. is extreme
ly unequal as between different seasons
OF the year
The report then goes on to discuss the
subject Of prices and their relation to the
alleged combination.
OF the duration of the anthracite coal
supply the following statement is made:
witnesses differ as to the amount of
anthracite coal stH remaining in the.
ground. Estimat as to the duration of
the supply at present rates of production
range from so to 200 years. The mines in
the Wyoming field. which were the most
accessible, are being rapidly worked out,
and the great reserve is in the Southern
or Schuylkill field where the Reading
Company has very large coal holdings.
In this field the coal lies deeper and in
thinner seams. and 1t is much more ex-
pensive to mine The late president of
the Reading Company says that one OF
the chief reasons why it has not develop
ed its lands more rapidly is because
the cost of mining was so much greater
that coal could not be produced prohtably
in competition with other fields. In the
future the more difficult mines will have
to be worked, and the Readings lands
will become more valuable.
In view Of these conditions as regards
the distribution of the anthracite supply,
witnesses agree in holding that the cost
OF mining has advanced in the past and
will steadily advance in the future. The
improvements in methods of mining and
handling coal do not Keep pace with the
added difficulties arising from the neces-
sity OF mining deeper and less satisfac-
tory seams. The price OF coal Will neces-
sarily advance hereafter, it is maintained
If it Is to be mined probably al all, al
though the advance will be slow. One
prominent witness doubts whether the
output OF the anthracite mines Will ever
be much greater in year than at pres
ent
MIR. Lindenberger. chairman of the
committee on hostile legislation of the
American Ticket Brokers Association,
gave very extended testimony before the
Industrial Commission on the subject of
ticket brokerage
Mr.. Lindenberger asserts that the
greater part of the business of ticket
brokers is carried on with the support and
connivance of the railroads. This was
especially true before about 1885, since
then railroads are so in harmony and
maintain rates so strictly that they are
less tempted to secure the services OF
brok eTs. The motive of railroads in this
practice is to get competitive business,
and that is perfectly legitimate. Through
the brokers they can cut rates secretly, or
even without cutting rates they can sell
more tickets because of the employment
of such agents. The witness does not
think that brokers could carry on busi-
ness profitably without some such sup
pert from the railroads.
MIR. Lindenberger asserts emphatic;tlly
that the business of ticket brokerage Is
entirely legitimate If a railroad makes
a reduced rate for any class of tickets.
it ought TO make no difference to it who
uses the ticket or any part ot 1t. The
Supreme Court of New York has held that
n. hNNa#s hat
railroad company undertook to carry
the holder OF a ticket from~one place to |
another for a given rate, it cost no more |
to carry one person than another.
MIR. Lindenberger denies the weight OF |
the charges that brokers sell forged and |
fraudulent tickets and tickets with alter |
ed dates, and that they resort to other
fllegitimate practices, such az persudding |
conductors not TO cancel tickets, but to |
sell them. He asserts that instances of
fraud are extremely rare. if they occur
at ali. The American Ticket Brokers
Association, which includes 5S5 members,
has in its constitution a declaration that
no member shall engage in any practice
which shall bring discredit upon the pro |
fession. Unless by specific contract with
the passenger in writing. members must
guarantee to passengers that their tickets !
will be honored. Mr.. Lindenberger asserts |
that no member of the association has
even been arrested for fraud or charged
with it, and that even railroad officers
will certify to the high character Of these
brokers He adds that the charges
brought against ticket brokers by rail-
roads are not usually speciilc, ana seldom
mention names
This witness denies also that there is
any general public antipathy to the bust
ness of ticket brokerage He asserts that
the petitious and the resolutions OF com
mereial bodies. brought TO bear by rail
road companies in advocating legislation.
are secured by great pressure ana are not
typical The railroad companies them
selves recognize that antl-scalllhs laws
are-pot popular with the masses
Prof Frank Parsons, President OF the
National Public Ownership League, pre-
sented before the Industrial Commission
an elaborate argument IN iakor OF lhe
Cove rnrncnt ownership of public utilities
in general, and with especial reference TO
ra firoads teipgraphs. and telephones.
The general arguments whlch ne prlhss
forward apply, in his opinion. with some
what VARYING degrees OF emphasis. TO all
these classes Of pubic utilities, as well
as TO gas and electric lighting plants,
street railways. and other similar enter
prises in cities. Officers of raliroads give
little Testimony on this subject apparent
Iy considering Government ownership of
railways not live question at present
Prof Parsons holds that the relative
merits Of public and private ownership
of railways and other utilities must be
opeTation nor by financial results, but
by the general effect on civilization, gov
ernmeut, and progress lie says that
under private ownership material inter
ests alone are considered. and that the
interests of the owners of the utilities
are the first aim, often to the great in
Jury OF the public Not merely do eXces-
sfve rates result from this aim, but there
are many other evils. such as discrimina-
tfons between individuals and places in
the charges and quality of service. over
capitalization and stock speculation, i'll
treatment of labor. disregard of public
a.