The Minneapolis journal. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1888-1939, 1902-12-31
Juggling With the Price Of Coal by
Brokers and Dealers Is Chi
A. Cages Trouble.
The Railroad Committee Of the City
Council Discovers the
Difficulty. 4 (.
One Car Changed Hands Seven
Times and Was Held in the
Yards Three Weeks.
New York Sun Special Service.

Chicago, Dec. Smuggling with car
loads of coal by brokers and spectators III
Chicago to force still higher the present
exorbtant prices was found to be one of
the important causes Of the shortage of
fuel, according to evidence brought out at
the inquiry begun by the railroad commit
tee Of the city council yesterday. III
1t was learned from the testimony of
leading railroad officials that immense
quantities of coal have remained in the
cars on the tracks within the city for
days while brokers and dealers consigned
and reconsigned the shipment among
themselves at slight advances in price,
practically shutting off the fuel from the
public :.,~
John w. Conveys, trainmaster of the
Pennsylvania road, told the aldermen of
one instance of a car thus changing hands
seven times and being held in the yards
three weeks in this way. -''- T~@
""Tfis ;reconsignment dodge seems to be
the local seat of the shortage trouble -
was the way Alderman Race summarized
the result of the first session of inyestiga-
ton. Its an outrage that such specula-
ton should be permitted when the city Is
IN such dire straits. If the railroads
would stop the practice Of cornering coal
under the reeonsignment cloak they
would give some relief \. -
The Attorney Generals Work. H.
While the city council committee, in
session in the aldermanic chambers, was
probing local conditions and seeking for
some means of relief for the people. Attor-
ney General Harnlin, on behalf Of the state
administration, was examining railroad
officials, coal opera tors and dealers at the
Palmer House., with view to securing ac-
ton by the railroads along the line Of
their duty as common carriers to trans
port enough coal to meet the emergency.
The attorney general would not say what
action might be taken, but it was inti1nat-
ed that mandamus, injunction or quo war
ranto proceedings might be called into use
II conditions were found to require drastic
measures.
The inquiry was private, being in the
nature Of personal conferences with the
representatives of the railroads and coal
companies. Although the attorney gem
efal was not empowered to compel any
ono to testify in such an informal way,
the possibility that he might bring ad-
Verse legal action perhaps aided him. All
OF those asked to give information re-
sponded. 49,. - zs III =. ~. +.TE /.
800. Spectators Keep Away. IS w, ~.
"A. conspicuous and significant feature
Of the aldermantc inquiry was the alb
. sence of the coal dealers and operators
who had been invited to attend and give
their assistance In the effort to place the
blame for the serious plight Of the city in
regard to the fuel famine.
Practically all the, railroads had repre-
sentatives present who told freely what
their lines were doing and offered sug-
gestions for further action to remedy the
situation. - ....
In sharp contrast with the active CO.
operation of the railroads with the alder
manic committee was the action Of the
dealers and operators in staying away
from the investigation as if by precon-
Ia
only coal man who was present and took
part In the conference. It was learned
that there was a Coal Operators and
Dealers association in Chicago and Aid
erman Friestedt intimated that the pres
ent condition may be due to a combina-
ton on the part of the dealers to keep up
the prices.
Members of the aldermanic committee
will meet with Attorney General Hamlin
at the Palmer House to-day to cooperate
with him in any measures of relief that
may seem feasible,