The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1903-01-14
Wholesalers Charged with Forcing
Retailers Not to Sell Coal at Less
than $40 a Ton.
TESTIMONY AT WASHINGTON
RAPACIoUs DEALERS DENOUNCED AS
SHARKS BY SENATOR STEWART.
Statement from President Cassatt that
Shows Coal Roads Are Not Re-
sponsible for High Prices.

CHICAGO. Jan. 13.-It is believed the
special grand jury which is investigating
the fuel famine and its causes has secured
important evidence against Indiana and
Illinois operators, Chicagos wholesale
dealers included. 1t was said to-day that
} evidence had been presented to the jury
relating to an alleged agreement drawn
I'm March last year. and which is said to
govern a dozen mine operators in the
Clinton, Ind, district, with Walter s.
! Boyle and the Crescent Coal and Mining
Company as the Chicago factor. 1t is
charged In the evidence presented that
Mr. Boyle appears as president of one of
the Indiana mining companies making an
agreement with himself as president of the
Crescent Coal and Mining Company. 1t
is said that these mines were compelled
TO pool their outputs to be disposed of by
the Chicago factor.
In getting at the facts the jury to-day
called before Ii Max Eichberg, of the Wa
bash Valley Coal Company. and recalled
Charles w. Gilmore and Norman S. Birk-
land. officers of the Crescent Company.
who were before the jury for time yester-
day. a number of railroad men also were
hand when the jury began its work to-
day, representing the Burlington. the Wa
BASH, the Illinois Central, the Monon and
the Michigan Central. and were called In
as fast as their testimony could be heard.
w. II. Abrams. of the Building Manag-
ers' Association, also was witness, and
g said to have given valuable informa-
tion concerning the maintenance OF a room
by the Coal Dealers Association where
secret conferences were held at regular
intervals prior to the starting or the pres
ent investigation. He also declared that
his association had found that dealers de-
layed delivery of coal in good weather,
rzalN1 20
deliver in rough weather, thus compelling
building managers TO consume their en-
tire stock of coal on hand.
Edward t. Bent. secretary-treasurer of
the Illinois Coal Operators Association and
q man of many other official titles, was
questioned again to-day. He had with
several organizations with which he is
connected, and which IL is believed will
disclose much valuable information. He
maintained that the Illinois Operators AS
sociation and the Northern Illinois Soft
Coal Operators Association We're simply
organizations for the purpose of transact
ing business. as with the mine workers.
and that they had nothing to do with
prices the extent of the output.
Mr.. Boyle was asked about the contracts
his company has with the mine operators
rs 1t not true" he was asked, that your
corporation controls the entire output OF
the State of Indiana?"
1T is not" declared the witness. 1.-THE
Crescent Coal and Mining Company" he
> continued, distributed only about per
cent OF Indiana coal, or about $50. 900 tons
q year. The word mining was inserted ir
the companys name simply because II
sounded better and gave the concern pres
tige."
Among other witnesses summoned were
c. r. Parker. coal traffic manager of the
Illinois Central Railroad. F. A. Fuller, OF
the Chicago & Alton, and General Manager
w. A. Gardner. of the Chicago & North
western.
Proof of how the large coal dealers
sought to compel the small dealers to sci
coal at the price quoted by the alleged com
bine reached the jury this afternoon wher
Henry Peterson, one OF the small dealers
testified. According to Peterson, he visited
the offices of a large coal company some
time ago and was given a price list He
had been purchasing his coal from this
company and was instructed he declared
to sell the coal at SO ton. He had mum.
ber OF customers whom he knew could no,
afford to pay such prices. and he sold them
the coal at the cost price without deductins
the cost of hauling. AS a punishment for
doing this Peterson claimed that the com.
pany refused TO sell him any more coal. and
he has not been able TO buy any since from
any of the other large dealers because OF
word sent out that he would not keep ur
the price.