Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-05-21
Important Step in Investiga-
tion of Coal Roads.
AFTER THE CONTRACTS
DISTRICT ATTORNEY BURNETT TO
ASK FOR ORDER BY THE COURT.
Petition to Be Signed by the Interstate
Commerce Commission-May
Be Presented Monday.

vigorous effort is to be made by the
President Baer of the Reading Coal and
and officials of other anthracite coal-carry-
to produce certain documents which they
refused at the recent hearing before the
commission in New York to answer and
produce.
The particular documents the originals
of which are demanded by the commission
are alleged contracts among the coal-car-
rying roads limiting the production of coal.
The Attorney Generals Order.
After considering the refusal of the off,
cial to present the contracts to the inter-
state commerce commission the members
of the commission requested Attorney Gen.
eraL Knox to direct General Burnett, dis
trict attorney for the southern district of
New York, to present the case to the United
States circuit court and ask for an order
to compel the officials of the coal-carrying
roads to appear before the commission
answer the questions and produce the docu-
ments. This request was made May 8.
Attorney General Knox gave the neces-
sary directions to Gen. Burnett.
In cooperation with the attorneys for the
complainant in the case, William R. Hearst,
Gen. Burnett has prepared the petition to
be presented to the circuit court 1t was
received by the interstate commerce COM
mission today AS soon as it can be ex-
amined, 1t will be signed, probably tomor-
row, and returned to District Attorney
Burnett.
May Be Presented Monday.
The probabilities are that it will be pre-
sented formally to the circuit court next
Monday.
of District Attorney Burnett from New
York next week, the hearing of arguments
on the petition probably will not be held
until the first week in June.
1t Is understood to be the determination
of the interstate commerce commission to
insist upon an order from the court to
the officials OF the roads to answer the
inquiries which they declined, by advice
OF counsel, to answer at the recent hear
ing. and to produce for the commission 5
examination the books and contracts which
they heretofore have refused to produce
Il necessary the commission will carry the
case to the United Suites Supreme Court
Mr.. Days Statement.
The following statement was made at
the Department, of Justice by Assistant At
torney General Day:
Some time ago the interstate commerce
commission represented to the Department
OF Justice that in an inquiry by it into
the management of the business of what
are known as the anthracite coal roads
certain witnesses refused to answer in
duiries proposed by the commission con-
cerning the business of these roads, and re-
quested that the United States attorney of
New York be directed to present a petition
on behalf of the interstate commerce COM
mission to the United States court at New
York to compel such witnesses to answer
In pursuance of the request of the inter-
state commerce commission, the United
States attorney the Sth of May was
directed to present its petition to the United
States court, and to render the commission
all proper assistance therein"