New-York tribune., 1903-01-14
CAUSES OF SHORTAGE.
President Cassatt's Explanation
The Washington Coal Inquiry.

Washington Jan. 13.-W. A. Baum OF the j.
afa1ry Dove Coal Company was the principal wit
ness before the Senate Coal Famine Investigating
Committee to-day. He said so long as the com
pany had cosl on hand from last year II had no'
charged TO exceed 81 25 ton; also that the price
for Reading coal never had exceeded that hsute
but that the independent companies coal IL hau
been necessary to charge more The companS' ne
said. is selling coal that cost SlOs4 a ton at AZ
The delay in securing coal was due 10 uhe i@0>
of railroad facilities in Washington.
In reply TO questions from Senator Stewart as
TO what forced the price of coal up. Mr. Baum
said that the independent dealers had forced the
advance.
at was a stand and deliver process. suggested
Senator Stewart, to which the witness repheo
that he considered the advance a case or roppeT!-
He did not believe the Reading company had ad-
vancd its price by either direct indirect means
However, the Reading had not been able TO meet
the demand and the people had insisted on nav
ing coal regardless of the price. Mr.. Baum de-
clared that there had been colluson between
the Washington dealers and the Independent coal
operators
This testimony provoked a statement from Sena-
tor Stewart that he proposed to summon some OF
the dealers before the committee. 1he man VINO
puts up prices of coal with the result of caus-
ing the freezing of women and children Is
shark he said. 81 don't know. he added, that
punish them by law, but we VIII give 'heil
chance TO explain
] F. I,egee terminal agent Of the Baltimore and
Ohio Railroad Company, said the coal rates of that
line the same formerly, and there had been
discrimination against Washington in favor OF
Baltimore.
Charlotte Smith, president of the Association of
Tmpecunious Working Women, said she never had
been able to secure more than half a ton of coal
time for that association, but that II al
ways able TO get a bucketfu or bushel at
q time; then it had to pay prices which made the
coal cost so ton
Senator Stewart to-day received another letter
from '. Baldwin johnson. the local coal dealer
who has refused to answer questions put to him by
the committee. Mr.. johnson says that he regards
his further appearance before the committee
unnecessary, and reiterates his view that he is
right in refusing TO disclose information which
he thinks involves invasion Of his rights
Senator Stewart also received the following Of
fetal letter from President A. j. Cassatt- Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company:
In reply to the inquiry contained in your favor
of January g. beg to say that the mines owned
anthracite coal which it transports the remainder
m up b OF 6o sell f6e
companies coal. The contracts under which the
at the mines shall be based upon the price the
coal brings when sold.
agents proceeded TO sell the coal from our mines,
Operators at the Circular Prices which were fixed
at 50 cents per ton only above the prices prevail
however. protested strongly against this, holding
that & the agents Nere bound @ to sell their eGa at
counsel, 1t concluded that their demands
has BEEN no distinction that tt the pnbc Knew of
between the coal mined by the company and that
mined by individuals, but that the coal from
the mines which this company controls is being
sold at the circular prices and the coal of the pr
yate operators who ship lines is being
sold at the best price tnat can be obtained, the
is drawn, and this accounts for the ap
parent increase in the proportion of coal shipped
by private operators.
1t is very easy account for the shortage in the
ceal supply The strike, lasting nearly
six months, caused falling off in the output of
some 24ooo.00o tons. The output during the winter |
months has been sufficient to supply current
demands. the deficiency being made up from stocks |
accumulated during the summer, but this winter |
began with absolutely stock on hand. either at
shipping places or in coal yards In private |
shipped since active operations resumed than
ever before during a like period il has not been |
sufficient to supply the demand, has II been |
possible supply enough bItuminous coal make |
up the deficiency in anthracite. A much larger
amount of bituminous coal was moved all the |
railroads of the country during the last than
ever before. the bituminous tonnage of the Penn
sylvania Railroad alone its lines east Of Pitts
burg being 100000 tons greater than that OF the
nearly all absorbed by the regular |
demands caused by the activity OF the Industries |
using that fuel that there but little left to /
supply the deficiency in anthracite
While the coal carrying railroads generally are |
making every possible effort to increase the move
ment, regret to that do not think the pres
ent conditions will improve much for several |
months TO come. So far as this company is con- |
cerned no Efforts will be spared, ana, in fact
ders have been in force for time past to give
preference to coal shipments all others, both
in the supply of and in the movement.