Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1903-01-08
THE PRg |! !: COAL
Hearing Into LEGAL Con-
dit:ons Begun.
THE DEALERS j: TESTIFY
IN ROOM OF SENATE DISTRICT
COMMITTEE.
J --!fy
Facts Brouhta1a Out Under Senator
Stewards Resolution-The
Inquiry.
THE DEALERS j: TESTIFY

oSuCi ocd1e1o WHO were interested III Tie Ot-
veiopments were also present Senator
Stewart had been designated as subcom-
nittee to conduct this inve stfgation, but SO
great an interest had been manifested in
the matter that other senators came into
the room during the Investigation. Senators
Foster of Washington, Mallory, Foster OF
Louisiana and Wellington were present,
and showed their interest in asking ques-
lions of witnesses 80
Mr.. Charles Moore. clerk of the commit
tee, was also present and questioned wit
neSSeS at times.
The first witness was Mr.. William King
of William King & Sons His testimony
was very brief. He said that the coal he
received under the agreement with the
Reading was sold at s7.25 and $50. while
the other coal that he was obliged to buy
In the open market brought higher price.
]. Maury Doves Coal.
Mr.. j. Maury Dove was the second wit
ness. and after testifying briefly he called
upon Mr. Smith OF his Office, who was fortt-
fled with bills for the purchase of coal
from Independent operators and from deal
ers in the open market
Mr.. Smith said that during the past sum-
mer he had sold coal at 1915. For that coal
he had paid at the time $575 and $3.50. Mr..
Smith of Mr. Doves office was then ques-
toned He had freight bills which he read.
He said that their supplies Of Reading coal
had averaged since the LIST Of January two
and one-quarter tons per day.
This was the coal that was received I'M
der the contract made in the fall, and 1t
was sold at $7.25 per ton.' 1t was totally in
adequate, however, to supply their trade,
and in order to get some coal here they had
gone into the market and made the best ar
rangements they could.
One lot Of coal Of 500 tons they had
bought for $9.45 at Port Richmond. They
had to pay freight on that coal to Wash
frer hat 4~13w Ill
cents a ton, but they were notified that 1t
would be $3.50 per ton. They protested
against this excessive rate and the matter
was now a subject for negotiation. and he
$1.25 ton. This coat came around by
water from Philadelphia. instead of by rail.
because it was impossible to make a ship
l' That e coal. he said, which is now being de-
livered. is made up Of the following items
Of expense to hissfrm: Cost at Port Rich
mond. s9.45 per ton; freight. $1.25 per ton:
Ing. IA per ton: tetai: s1osl. This h coal. he
said, is being sold at $12 a ton. 1t is one Of
the very best qualities: of anthracite coal,
being Lehigh coal.
Senator Mallory asked how he accounted
for this difference In the price.
Simply because they are selling for what
the market will stand. replied, Mr.. Smith.
Mr.. Smith said that a. good deal Of this
difficulty had restfted from the miners in
sisting upon taking their Christmas holt
days in spite of the danger that threaten
ed the country .ysG .-s ~.
He said that if fire minerssin the Reading
Company had workedg during. the. holidays
the output of that eOal would have been
availa BILE and tina tswould have prevented to
some extent the ;shortage and would have
tended to Keep doJfE the price. il-: -
Increase& Cost Of Coal. '''t.
Mr.. Smith said he had just sent back to
Whitney & Kennerer bills for 1000 tons of
coal which he could not exhibit 11
For that coal he had paid at the mine s.
a ton He said that ordinarily the freight
from the mines to Washington is So. He
said that the coal that they paid So for at
the mines from the Independent operators
would ordinarily have cost 1926. The price
Of So ton, which was given him in Decem-
ber had since that time. or within four
weeks been increased to $3.50.
He had also a proposal from George W.
Bailey Co. Of Philadelphia of coal at
$S.25 per ton at the mines. That coal in
Washington. without the charges for han
ding and dumping, would cost $10.25.
Mr.. Smith said they had no agreement
with the Reading company to the rate
at which coal would be given Them but
that everything possible would be done to
keep up the usual conditions, and he be-
lieved that the company had done every
thing it could.
He again asserted that the fact that the
miners had taken their holiday was the
cause Of much Of the trouble. He said that
there was a lack Of humanity In this
course.
Senator Stewart asked If there was any
humanity in charging $3.50 for coal at the
mines.
Mr.. Smith said that his remarks applied
to the miners.
THE inhumanity of the operators" re-
piled Senator Stewart must have affected
the miners
Mr.. Smith said that If the miners had
worked then his company would not have
been forced to buy coal from the independ-
ent companies.
Mr.. Dove here made an explanation of
the difficulties he had been under. He SAID
that ordinarily he required from 500 to
1000 tons of Reading coal daily at this
time Of the year. Instead of that they are
getting about two and one-quarter tons a
day from the company. and the balance is
secured from Independent operators.
He Kept Ills, Agreement.
/ c. H Fishbaugh testified that he bought
his coal from the Reading company. It
cost him S. Is a ton on the tracks here, and
he sold it for 81 for furnace and $7.25 for
egg. stove and chestnut: He had bought
none from independent dealers. He had
kept his agreement with the Reading COM
pany, and they had kept their agreement
with him. The only trouble was that he
could not get enough coal.
keeping his agreement with. the company.
Average Cost $50 Ton.
Mr.. Perry johnson OF alohnsen Bros said
his firm had not purchased coal from the
Reading. because they Were located on an
other railway. They had bought the most
of their coal from Hills & Co.. and the
amount bought from that source was about
one fourth of the amount needed.
They had paid $40 f6f broken COAL and
$500 for egg, stove and nut at the outset.
but since then had paid as high as 5000
for it. He estimated that the average price
Of most Of the coal he had bought was SO
a ton In the beginning all Of this was
dumped together and sold at the uniform
price Of $3.50. Reeentlyi however. they had
been selling coal tat prices based on, the
prices which it cost them. They are now
SEEING coal at SD, and get about three
fourths of their Supply from outside deal
ers, having to pay more Tor 1t. He did not
know much about soft coal. as his til m cid
not handle a great deal OF it..
Supplies Big Consumers.
Mr.. william A. sLeechs Of Meredith. VIM
ship & Co. said his company were whole
salers only, and their principal customers.
were the gas company: and the street rail-
way companies. They dealt in soft coal,
which they sold at So 10 4 ton in Washing