The Washington times., 1903-01-11
COAL MEN QUESTION
COMMITTEES RIGHT
TO QUESTION THEN
Others May Follow Mr..
Johnson's Example.
MAY NOT ANSWER QUERIES
Supported by Legal Opinion, But Still
Afraid Jail Sentence Might
Follow.

A number OF the local coal dealers
who have been summoned to appear be-
fore the subcommittee of the Senate
/ District Committee that is investigating
the cause OF the present coEdftion Of the
/ local coal market are seriously uues-
/ tioning the right of the committee to
Dry into their business affairs. It is
/ probable there may be others beside Mr..
johnson who viii refuse to answer
questions put to them by Senator Stew
/ art and the members of his commit
/ tee
/ IN this position they claim they are sup
/ ported by J. ]. Darlington a member Of
/ the local bar, who, they say, has in
/ formed them that in such a position
! they viii be supported by a decision Of
/ the Supreme Court Whether or not they
/ win stand upon their alleged rights and
make direct issue with the committee
/ they themselves have not as yet deter
mined. Despite the legal advice deveraI
( of them have sought, the memory of -he
thirty days in jail of the secretary OF
/ the sugar trust under similar cireum-
stances is still fresh in their memories,
/ and there are few at the present time
/ who care to run any chances.
/ That it IS for the good of the com
munity and of the country at large
that those persons should be located
who are manipulating the corner on
/ coal they do not deny. They appear
( 20 be equally disturbed at the daily evi-
dences Of suffering that are brought to
their attention, and yet they are AFRAID
that questions may be asked that VIII
/ embarrass some one
Challenged Certain Statements.
This is not surprising when taksr in
connection with the fact that ccrtain
Of the local dealers have chaI-
+ lenged the statements made upon the
stand during the two days the Senate
! committee has been conducting the hear
! ing. That most Of the Washington deal
ers are acting in good faith and are
honestly striving to assist TIE eonuIt-
tee in quickly reaching a profitable con
eIusion there is little doIbt. II is equally
/ certain that one or more Of the dealers
who have already teen before he com
mittee have not been frank with them.
The charge that misrepresentation have
been made TO the Senate committee has
been openly made by several of the coal
dealers of the city who have kept
abreast of the situation.
II is hoped that the appearance Of A
W Machen upon the stand tomorrow
Viii shed some light upon the soft coal
situation. Mr, Machen. it is said. is of
the opinion thar all of the coal wanted
can be secured at $3.50 per ton at the
mines il transportation can be provided
for it. Representative Dayton OF West
Virginia is equally certain that at the
present time coal can be obtained al as
low price as so cents a ton in the Vir-
ginia regions. With the positive state
ncrts of these gentlemen It seems prob
able that there may be interesting de-
xeIcpments ct tomorrow's session Of the
committee
The other witnesses who Will be called
upon to testify before the committee to-
morrow are Prof. David T Day. of the
Geological Survey; Charles Werner,
James A Tumelty, W NJ Harper, J. a
LouEsbury. local agent of the Philadel-
phia and Reading Coal and Iron Com
pany: Y. Baldwin Johnson. Albright (
Barker, and Johnson Bros.
MI. Johnson's Position.
Y. Baldwin Johnson was seen last
night with reference to the request by
Senator stewart 10 divulge the names OF
Jhe shippers with whom he has had
dealings. Mr.. Johnson said he wished to
be entirely fair with the committee and
public at large in the matter and was
willing 10 diyulge any and all inforlna-
ton he considered the committee and
public should know AS TO information
which might concern other persons with
whom he had dealings he did not feel al
liberty to say, unless with their con
sent. His views. Mr.. Johnson said, were
fully expressed in his hitherto unpub-
Hshed letter to Senator Stewart ia re-
lation to the matter.
Mr.. johnson said he had already COM
munfcated with the shippers with whom
he has dealings and viii be perfectly
willing and glad to diyuIge the names Of
those who have no objection to his so
doing Mr. Johnson's views. as express
ed in his letter to Senator Stewart. fol
low:
Letter to Senator Stewart.
In declining to divulge the names of
the independent operators and shippers
who have furnished me coal, at lay re-
quest, Notwithstanding their high prices
/ wish lt to be clearly understood that
intend to convey no dlsrespect to the
honorable committee with whose mo-
tfves I am. on the contrary, in deep
sympathy, but my attitude is due en-
tireIy to my gratitude to those ship
pcrs who have been kind enough to
furnish me coal when ! could get II from
no other source, and through whose ef- /
forts in behalf it has been made
possible for me never to be without
coal! Had dependcd entirely upon the
Philadelphia sand Reading Coal and Iron
Continued on Second Page)