The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-14
SENATORIAL INVESTIGATION.
Cause of High Prices-President Cas-
salts Official Statement.

WASHINGTON, Jan. 13-W. A. Baum,
of the j. Maury Dove Coal Company, was
the principal witness before the Senate
coal famine investigating committee to-
day. He said so long as the company
had coal on hand from last year II had
not charged to exceed s7.25 per ton; also
that the price for Reading coal never had
exceeded that figure, but that on independ-
ent companies coal it had been necessary
to charge more. The company. he said
is selling coal that cost s1094 per ton at
sl2 He said the delay in securing coal
was due to the lack of railroad facilities.
In reply to questions from Senator Stew
art as to what forced the price of coal up
Mr.. Baum said that the independent deal
ers had forced the advance.
1T was a stand and deliver process,
suggested Senator Stewart, TO which the
witness responded that he himself con-
sidered the advance a case OF robbery He
did not believe the Reading Company had
advanced its price by either direct or In
direct means. However, the Reading had
not been able TO meet the demand, and
the people had insisted on having coal
regardless of the price. Mr.. Baum de-
clared that there had been no coHusion
between the Washington dealers and the
independent coal operators
This testimony provoked a statement
from Senator Stewart that he proposed to
summon some of the dealers before the
committee. 1.-The man who puts up prices
of coal now, with the result of causing
the freezing of women and children, Is
shark he said. II don't know, he
added, that we can punish them by law.
but We will give them chance to ex-
plain"
J. F. Legge, terminal agent of the Balti-
more & Ohio Railroad Company, said the
coal rates of that line are the same as
formerly, and that there had been no dis
elimination against Washington in favor
of Baltimore.
Charlotte Smith. president of the Impe-
she had never been able to secure more
than half a ton of coal at time from
that association, but that they always
were able to get bucketful or a bushel
at time. Then they had to pay prices
which made the coal cost $40 per ton.
Senator Stewart to-day received another
letter from v. Baldwin Johnson, the local
coal dealer who has refused to answer ques-
tions put by the committee. Mr.. Johnson
says that he regards his further appear
ance before the committee unnecessary
and reiterates his view that he is right
in refusing to disclose any further in
formation that he thinks involves an in
vasion of his rights.
the following official letter from President
A. j. Cassatt. of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company:
I'm reply to the inquiry contained in your
favor of the = inst beg TO say that the
mines owned by this company furnish less
than one-half of the anthracite coal which
1t transports, the remainder being made
up of coal purchased from private opera
tors by the agents who sell the railroad
companies coal. The contracts under which
the agents purchase this coal provide that
the price at the mines shall be based upon
the price the coal brings when sold. After
mining operations were resumed our agents
proceeded to sell the coal from our mines,
as well as the coal purchased from the pri-
vate operators at the circular prices, which
were fixed at 80 cents per ton only above
the price prevailing before the strike The
individual operators. however, protested
CONTINUED ON PAGE g. COL A.