Milford chronicle., 1903-01-16
COAL EXPERT CORNlRED
Admits Company Gets Higher Price
at Mines Than in New York.
D. & H. CLOSE THEIR CASE
Strike Commission Refuses 70 Hear
Evidence On Freight Rates - Erie
Company Opens Its Case and Calls
WITNESSES.

demands made by the anthracite min
ers, the Delaware and Hudson Con
pany closed its case before the coal
strike commission yesterday alter
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 its counsel
before the commission is Wayne Mac
Veagh, OF Philadelphia, and Major
Everett Warren. Of Scranton.
General Wilson. owing to the i'll
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 F. Torrey, general coal sales
! agent Of the Delaware and Hudson
Company at New York. who testified
that the company he represents is de-
irving no benefit from the present alb
normal price which the public is pay
ing for its fuel
Mr.. Torrey claimed that in the alb
sence of certain papers relating to the
business he was unable to give the
commission all the information it de-
sired regarding coal prices. The com
mission would not hear any evidence
relating to freight rates, on the
ground that it's 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 65 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 35 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 IS 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. Darrow.
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 s. basis that
you say governs the sales made by
your company"
Eyes. sir. 1 understand we have
been selling coal at or about S6 to
prevent the manipulation of specula-
tors"
"Oh!" remarked Mr.. Darrow. again
resorting to his favorite exclamation. I
Among other witnesses called by
the Delaware and Hudson Company
were 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 it's
case. and after Major Warren read a
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
les during the last 20 years, which
tended to make the occupation of the
miner more healthful. In answer to
questions put by counsel he said there
was no reason for a miner who is in
dustrious to send his boy to work in
the mines, and If he had his way he
would make the age limit for boys in
the mines 16 years and outside the
mines II. The law now is IA and 12
years respectively. He described the
locking system, and said it is princi-
Dally left to the judgment of the dock
ng boss. He was opposed to a check
locking boss. The average doekage
rom April, 1901, to April, 1902, at the
Hillside mines was 31s per cent. and
It the Pennsylvania mines /. .05 per cent.
Captain May further stated that the
most accidents in mines are due to
alls of roof. Many of the accidents,
lie said, were due to carelessness of
he men. They are anxious to get out
# the mines. and familiarity breeds
contempt" he said. Speaking of the