The Washington times., 1903-01-13

+ JndJ theF waived their rights, % per
cent of the 50 would provide a revenue
OF S3-1o. To this must be added the
regular freight of 81 to Washington. on
which the coal road would receive its
gro rata
If these figures are correct. it can be
readily seen why the supply of premium
coal, as that furnished by the indie
pendent operators is called, is now pre-
dominating the market. II viii mean
that without exerting themselves In any
way the coal roads and their officials
/ are able to reap q greater harvest than
! they possibly could by selling the prod
net Of their own mines at the rate which
they are now charging. S3.75 a ton. From
these last figures would have to be de-
Quoted, of course. the cost of mining and
handling the coal
Compact Cancelled.
This method. so the story. goes. and IT
| is asserted that the facts viii be brought
out by Senator Stewards committee be
/ fore the hearing is completed, afforded
every protection to the magnates and
at the same time afforded them every
opportunity to reap the fun benefit Of
the corner on coal. These conditions
changed, however, when it became known
that q committee of Congress was TO
probe into the secrets of the trade, and
for this reason, and not because the in
dependent operators forced the matter,
the agreement between the independ-
ents and the railroads was Cancelled.
Little doubt is entertained in well in
formed circles that a way has been de-
vIsed for the roads to receive some con
sideration for the giving up Of Their
agreement with the Independents. Con
corning the alleged manipuiations Of
middIemen, it is a fact that in the sale
Of coal to the local dealers the operators
have themselves acted in that capacity.
1t has been practically impossible TO
secure coal from some of the mine own
ers from their own mines. In nearly
every instance dealers have been IN
formed that the mines did not produce
a sufficient amount and that the opera
tor was only able to secure coal which
he had bought from others. To this, Of
course, he was COMPELLED TO add his own
profit, as well as an amount TO cover
the expenses of buying the coal
Stewards Present.
In addition to the immense mail that
Senator Stewart received yesterday re- /
gardinE the coal investigation, he re- /
cei1ed as an evidence of recognition of I
lis excellent work in pressing the in !
vesIigation, a little gold coal scuttle /
g I'll. ell
was diminutive in size and was a most /
attractive novelty.
Immediately upon the assembling OF /
the committee W ". Rand, confidential /
clerk TO the Postmaster General. de- /
liyered to Senator Stewart. il response
TO his call for the same, the proposals I
received January for supplying coal 10 /
the POstoffice Department for the re- /
mainder OF the fiscal year. These pro- f
posals were called for because of certain .
misrepresentation that had been made .
the prices which several of /
the local dealers bid. The Postmaster /
General also transmitted a letter, print
ed elsewhere. giving a complete history
of the efforts Of the department 10 Sc
cure coal since the strike began.
Mr. Johnson Testihes-
Y. Baldwin johnson was recalled 20
the stand and in accordance with the
authority granted the committee through
a resolution adopted at the morning ses-
sion of the Senate, was placed under
oath Mr. Johnson told OF selling coal (
as high as $50 ton in September and
October. but said that he never sold ii
at a higher price than he would be able
to replace it for. To the best OF his
he had not sold over fifty
IONS at that price.
The amount OF Reading coal that he
had secured since the strike was de-
dared of would not exceed 500 or 900
ons- He testified that Meredith. Win
ship & Co. had not advanced the price
IF soft coal above $40 a ton. but that
le had been able to secure only. seven
cen tons from them IN the entire month
# December. A number Of bills for coal
bought were produced to prove the
prices which he had paid. The increased
.ost Of handling coal IN his opinion
made it unsafe to handle at a less mar
in than S., or twice the usual amount
MIR. Johnson said that he was supply
ng the White House, the State, war,
md Navy Building, and the washington
Monument, all under the control Of
JoloneI Bingham. with furnace coal at
$50 q ton and the other sizes at from
to $3.50. The contract was made in Il
he spring.
Dealer Eliminated II
J. a Lounsbury. sales agent of the q
and Reading Coal and Iron q
Company. said that his company was 4.
ntering into contracts with a number -
f the Government Offices TO supply then.
cal He admitted. in response to a query f
rom Senator Foster, that they wera s.
raduaIly eliminating the local dealers
4 the handling OF Government contracts.
With the cars averaging twenty-five tonz ?
0 car, Mr.. Lounsbury said that the a
verage receipts Of Reading coal in this =
ity in December was about sixty-three O
ars day.
To the best OF his knowledge but a a
mall portion OF that amount was needed {
or Government contracts. He WAS not