New-York tribune., 1903-04-23
70 ASK For HIGHER RATE
FOR coal TO TIDEEr -4T'ER.
ErJudgc Campbell Says Nesc-
Workers Whine Likc Whipped Dogs.

The co.,-i-,,a4;cr, er the hearing before the
Interstate Commerce Commission yesterday on
rl7e charge thaS he coal carrying railroads
ororate in vioI2tio. of the antitrust lav by
combining to rastr.ct the output Of coal and
destroy co1npetI ior by d:scriminasc clg against
the frdependcnt coal 1linini companies N favor
n corfar,aries con rolled by the "a aGroads was
rnarEzed by the refusal Of counsel 20 submit IN
evidence contracts between the coal roads and
the coal companies. and passage 81 arms be
tween Clarence =. SI1ea-r and ex-JuCr;e Camp
heu. counsel for The Res ding road. y which tie
latter lost his temper.
Mr.. Shearn said the contracts would show the
creation OF 4 monopoly; that the coal companies
had 10 power over the output OF their niae5
because they could only set rid Of the quantity
;he railroads were willing to take from them,
aad that -he "a alronJs would not handle the coal
.n surcient quantity TO reduce the price to the
corsurl2e-. Analysis OF the contracts would
show that ley. were really contracts for the
carriage aad not for the purchase OF the coal.
The action of the coal roads al the end OF the
recent coal strike. couase, said. proved his
point
These companies" he said brought the coal
10 this tidewater for 80 per cent of the price
u So ton and then turned it back again to the
coal companies TO be sold for So 10 $50 a ton"
Where do the complaints come from?' inter
.-upted ex-Judge Campbell. with every appear
ance Of anger. From the independent compa-
nies7 No. From the owners OF the palaces about
Central Park the crowded tenement houses and
the business buildings IN the lower part Of the
city? Yes. II the price OF coal is reduced will
your rents be reduced? Not bit OF It. Cheaper
coal is the hysterical demand OF your news
PAPER not Of the thinking public
Il thought It would come to that interrupted
MI Shearn We can afford TO be content un-
der the criticism when we remember what was
said about Mr.. Roosevelt when he appointed
arbitration commission to try TO bring to
end what he deemed appalling public
lauaity."
We viii show the people Of New-York the
factst shouted ex-Judge Campbell I'VE VIII
show this commission that for more than
quarter of a century the people of New-York
have wrung the bowelr out Of the coal regions
nf Pennsylvania. practically getting their coal
for nothing. and whine Ike pack Of whipped
dogs when a decent remunerative price is asked
ny the miners Here is where the surplus comes,
and here the coal is cheaper than anywhere
else. You pay less than 1 pay in Philadelphia.
You don't pay enough. and ] am going TO appeal
TO the commission to order the rates on coal to
ridevater advanced"
We appreciate very much Mr.. Shearn re-
plieo the courteous words of the representa-
tive Of the diZinely ordained agent OF Coo IN the
coal regions. Tire people Of New-York City, of
Albany. OF Buffalo and Of Boston will be CRATE
ful for the comparison with whipped dogs be-
cause they objected 10 being robbed'--
4 think the hearing is going beyond even the
wide limits purpose 10 allow put IN Chair
man Knapp Of the commission mildly.
Nj Shearu and Judge Campbell laPsed into
silence
Mr. Ross representing the Delaware Lacka-
wanna and Western, admitted possession OF
contracts with individual coal operators, but de-
dared the coal was bought under q provision
II the railroad company's charter, at the mine;
-orseouently thar the question Of transportation
iie not enter into the contract and therefore
tho commission had no jurisdiction Counsel
sar each Of the railroads summoned one after
mother to produce their contracts. declined IN
substantially the same language.
The commission, following the usual course,
certified the point raised TO the United states
Circuit Court. where a decision will be rem
sered If the decision be adverse 10 the railroad
Companies appeal will be made TO the United
states Circuit Court Of Appeals In such case
= viii be several months before the hearing
m