Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1903-04-25
Lawyer Challenged to Show ANY Illegal
Acts Committed by Operators
BUSINESS MEMS CRITICS ARE SCORED
Coal Baron Tired of Men Who Think All
Seek to Evads Law
FoRGETS DETAILS OF CONTRACTS MADE
Refuses to Produce Documents, A.
sertinE Nothing Improper ia Con-
tanned I'm Agreements Asked
for by Commission,

NEW YORK, April 2S-Georse F. Baer
was the chief witness before the Interstate
commerce commission TODAY.
lie said about GO per cent Of the mining
properties In the anthracite region was
owned or controlled by the PhiladelpbIa
ana Reading company and about 2l per cent
OF tne coal produced was produced by r.
MI. shearn read from the Pepnsylvania
statutes showing that companies incor-
porateu as carriers we're deferred from
mining or manufacturing and asked II the
oPeia'iOn OF the Reading Coal G. Iron com
plnS was NOT In violation Of that provision.
ue Philadelphia Coal Iron company
exists under the statutes of the state az
pennsylvania" replied Mr.. Baer. "It does
not evade any laws of the state or Of the
united States ! shall be glad to have tho
question tested in any form you may Sc
lect." may
Mr.. Baer added that some Of his contracts
WIN the coal operators we're for purchases
ana some for transportation The coal wns
purchased by railroad company. which
had authority in its charter TO deal in
coal. ~
Seeks to Protect Public.
He never believed there was any inten-
lion TO build the railroad protected hv
simpson and Watkins. It first occurred TO
MIN to buy up the stock of the TemnIe
company's charter to buy the simpson ana
Watkins oollerIes. Mr.. Watkins. he gaid
mad a scheme to establish a great frelrht
company in New York to buy and sell ooaI
and consolidate the different sales agents
with one company. He wanted TO head of
Ihis company as 1t would have hurt his
companies and the public, because the cost
OF carrying coal would have been high. n
like pOn6itinno
his stockholders TO do again as they had
done.
, Even IL It be in violation Of the iaw?"
asked Mr. Shearn.
Il welcome you to proceed in any court
OF the United States" said Mr. Baer, rising
ana facing The lawyer, s"and II you ear, how
we have violated any law we will undo n.
IL we are guilty, go to the proper forum
and prove II: I'm tired of you people who
dream you represent the people, trying 10
make out that all business men are trying
to evade the law"
Does your statement include the presI-
dent OF tho United States?" Interrupted Mr..
Shearn.
Il have no criticism to make of the pres
ident OF the United States said Mr. Baer.
Continuing, witness could not recall de-
tails of his contracts with the coal com
produce the contracts he would abide by
his decision.
J Fred F. Chambers. secretary, and Or
lando Post auditor, Of the Delaware, Lack
awanna 4 Western, we're called but on
advice of counsel refused to produce or
discuss any contracts entered into by their
company and the coal mining companies
Large Companies MaEnnnImOus.
E, B, sturgis, coal operator OF scran-
ton, refused TO produce similar contracts.
Mr.. Sturgis was one OF the promoters of
the proposed independent railroad to tide
water He said the scheme was dropped
when the railroad offered the operators
better terms. He also denied that the coal
operators profited by the big prices paid
for coal during the strike. For one month.
he said, he got So a ton. but the large
prices were made by the retail dealers.
The conduct of the large companies" he
said, during the past year was magnan-
lmous' II hurt us, but benefited the public.
The. companies could have made mIllions
Of dollars. but they kept the selling price
down to IS at tidewater and when we. the
coal miners, thought we ought to get higher
prices because OF the scarcity and the de-
mand, the companies notified us that for
three months we were released from our
contracts and might sell our own coal at
cur own prices"
DR.. Herbert M. Howe Of PHILADELPHIA said
he vas one Of the committee which waited
on the railroad presidents and appealed for
better terms than 60 and 40 per cent for
the coal operators. 1t was immediately
after the 10 per cent advance to the miners
In 1901 The agreement raised the per-
centage from go to 65 per cent for the on.
orators, who in their turn we're to turn
over the whole output of their mines 10
the companies.