Evening journal., 1903-01-14
COAL EXPERTS
ARE CORNERED
Admits Company Gets Higher
Price at Mines Than in
New York
NO EVIDENCE ON FREIGHT RATES

Philadelphia, Jan. 14.-Having occu-
pied nearly three days in calling wit
nesses to testify in opposition to the
demands made by the anthracite min
ers, the Delaware and Hudson Com
pany closed its case before the coal
strike commission yesterday after
noon, and the commissions attention
was then called to the conditions ex-
isting in and about the collieries op-
Grated by the Erie Company. This
corporation manages the Hillside Coal
and Iron Company and the Pennsyl-
vania Coal Company, and It's counsel
before the commission is Wayne Mac
Veagh, of Philadelphia, and Major
Everett Warren, of Scranton.
General Wilson. owing to the ill
ness of Judge Gray, again acted as
chairman of the commission, and was
several times called upon to intervene
in the personal tilts between oppos-
ing counsel over the admission of GER
tain evidence
One of the principal witnesses called
before the commission yesterday was
Thomas +. Torrey, general coal sales
agent Of the Delaware and Hudson
Company at New York, who testified
that the company he represents is de-
riving no benefit from the present alb
normal price which the public is pay
ing for its fuel
Mr.. Torrey, who said he had charge
of all sales made by the company on
direct examination said that his COM
pany was selling coal on a basis of IS
per ton on board cars at New York,
and under Mr.. Darrow's cross-flre ad-
mitted that at many points within 25
miles Of its own mines, Carbondale in
! cluded, it was selling coal at Sc per
| ton.
Mr.. Torrey claimed that in the abb
sence OF certain papers relating to the
business he was unable TO give the
commission all the information 1t de-
sired regarding coal prices. The com
mission would not hear any evidence
relating to freight rates, on the
ground that its jurisdiction did not
cover that phase of the coal industry.
Mr.. Torrey explained that the Della
ware and Hudson Company had no
control over coal prices In New York
harbor; that it turned its tidewater
coal over to the Hillside Coal and Iron
Company at Carbondale. and that his
company gets Go per cent. of the cir
cular tidewater price in New York
harbor, and that it derives no benefit
from the present abnormal retail
prices. The Hillside Company (owned
by the Erie) receives the other 80 per
cent, but allows the Delaware and
Hudson a portion of this for hauling
the coal 40 miles from its mines to
the Erie's tracks. The tidewater price
of coal, he said, was So for domestic
sizes. He did not know what the
/ dealers were getting for the coal in
New York, beyond what he learned
from hearsay. The company did, he
added, sell coal to dealers in New
York state and in New England at
circular prices. He could not give
the prices at certain places or the
prices during 1901 without referring
to his books. and he promised to have
/ them for the commission later.
What is your company charging for
coal at Carbondale?" asked Mr.. Oar
row.
Witiess Aesitated in answering.
Haven't you sold coal there for as
high as s6?"
THAT may be-"
isn't It a fact that you are selling
coal at many points within 25 miles
of your mines above the IS basis that
you say governs the sales made by
your company"
"Yes, sir. understand we have
been selling coal at or about So te
prevent the manipulation OF specula-
tors.
"Ohl" remarked Mr. Darrow. again
resorting to his favorite exclamation
Among other witnesses called by
the Delaware and Hudson Company
} we're two physicians, who gave testi-
mony tending to show that the occu,
patton of a mine worker is not so un.
! healthful as physicians for the miners
have stated; a real estate agent, who
] testified to the amount OF property
owner by miners of the company, and
an employe OF the Delaware and Hud
son Company who made an investiga
tion of wages paid TO bituminous min
! ers, which showed that their pay was
under that received by the anthracite
miners.
The Erie Company then opened its
case, and after Major Warren read g
statement of what the company in
tends to prove. began calling wit
nesses. Captain w. A. May, OF Scran
ton, general superintendent, was the
first witness. He told OF the improve
ments made in and about the collier
ies during the last 20 years, which
tended to make the occupation OF tn,
miner more healthful. In answer t
questions put by counsel he said ther,
was no reason for a miner who is in
dustrious to send his boy to work II
the mines. and II he had his way h
Qrrsf1d tho o0, t~,ft 60. 49, {.