The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-04-23
Sensational Outburst at the Hearing
of Hearst's Complaint Against An
thracite-Carryfng Roads.
COUNSEL FOR THE READING
REPLIES HOTLY TO THE NEWsPA-
PER MANS ALLEGATIONS.
Says Gothamites Whine Like whipped
Dogs When a Remunerative Price
Il Asked by Miners.

NEW YORK, April 22-Hearing on the
complaints Of William r. Hearst against
the Pennsylvania and other railroads was
continued to-day before the Interstate-com-
merce Commission. Mr.. Shearn, counsel for
the complainant, called for all the contracts
entered into between the Lehigh Valley
Company and the Lehigh Valley Coal Com
pany explaining that he expects to prove
by them the differences between the actual
price of carriage charged by that company
and the published schedule price charged
to the independent companies. He said the
contracts will show that the Lehigh Valley
Coal Company is to receive for all its coal
65 per cent. Of the price realized by the
coal at tidewater.
Judge Campbell, Of the Reading, and Mr..
Kerr. of the Ontario & Western, protested
that no such conditions obtained on their
roads.
Mr.. Shearn said the contracts would show
the creation of monopoly; that the coal
companies have power over the output
of their mines, because they can only get rid
of the quantity the railroads are willing to
take from them, and the railroads will not
handle the coal in sufficient quantities to
reduce the price to the consumer. Analysis
of the contracts. he said will show that
they are really contracts for the carriage
and not for the purchase of the coal. These
companies he said, brought the coal to
this tidewater for 35 per cent. of the price
of So per ton, and then turned 1T back again
to the coal companies to be sold for $l2 to
SIS tom
Where do the complaints come from?'
interrupted Judge Campbell. From the in
dependent companies? No. From the own
ers of the palaces about Central Park. the
crowded tenement and the business build
ings in the lower part of the city Yes If the
price of coal is reduced will your rents be
reduced? Not a bit of IL. Cheaper coal is the
hysterical demand of your newspaper not
Of the thinking public. We will show the
people of New York the facts. We will
show this commission that for more than
quarter of a century the people of New
York shave wrung the bowels of the coal
region Of Pennsylvania, practically getting
their coal for nothing. and whine like a
pack of whipped dogs when decent and
remunerative price Is asked by the miners.
Here is where the surplus comes, and here
the coal is cheaper than anywhere else.
You pay less than | pay in Philadelphia.
You don't pay enough, and / am going to
appeal to the commission to order the rates
on coal to tidewater advanced"
I'VE appreciate very much" Mr. Shearn
replied. 1.-The courteous words of the repre-
sentative of the divinely-ordained agent of
God in the coal regions. The people of New
York city. OF Albany: of Buffalo and of Bos-
ton will be grateful for the comparison with
whipped dogs because they objected to be
robbed"
II think the hearing is going beyond even
the wide limits we purpose to allow" put in
Chairman Knapp of the commission
Mr.. Cowan, of the Lehigh Valley Conn
pany, made long argument against the re-
quest TO produce the contracts called for
Mr.. Shearn asked the commission to order
the production of the contracts Mr. Gowan
denied the existence of any such contracts
as Mr.. Shearn described
Mr.. Kerr argued that the contract I'm
question is a matter of bargain and sale:
that title to the coal passed at the breaker
and the question of transportation-the only
question of which the commission has an
thority-is not involved.
The commission decided that the Iehieh
Valley Railroad should produce the con-
tracts demanded. Counsel refused
W. w. Ross. representing the Delaware.
Lackawanna & Western, also refused a
similar demand. He declared that the coal
was bought at the mine and that. conse-
quently. the question of transportation does
not enter into the contract, and the COM
mission had no jurisdiction. Counsel for the
other railroads declined to produce their
contracts
The commission certified the point raised
to the United States Court. where decision
will be rendered.
George A. Waterman, secretary OF the
Central Railway Company Of New jersey.