The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1904-05-28
COAL TRUST
President Baer Testified In Hearing
In New York.
PRODUCED COPIES or CONTRACTS

Strike.
New York. MAY 25.-The Interstate
commerce commission renewed It's III
ouiry into the anthracite coal trau'
ON a complaint against the Philadel.
phia and Reading Railway company
and other coal carriers. which was
continued from last September. Inc
first witness called was President
Baer of the Philadelphia and Reading.
ON April 4 the supreme court OF the
United states decided that Clarence j.
Shsarn. attorney. had the right To dS
mapd answers 10 his questions relai'
ING IN the contracts between the rail
roads and operators. by which con
tracts il is alleged. the coal trust will
be established as Il fact and will be
proved 10 exist i'm violation of the
sherman antitrust law.
The decision also compels the TEN
pie Iron company and other operating
companies 20 produce in open court
their contracts with the carriers
Mr.. Baer produced the contracts be
tween the Temple company and Simp-
son q Watkins. of scranton dated
February 27. 1899. The copies were
filed as evidence For the Temple Iron
company Mr. Baer was one of the
signers. The firm of Simpson a Wat
sins transferred 10 the Temple com.
pany AN the firms collieries in the
Iackauanua ana wyoming Valley re-
sions
Mr. Baer produced also the contracts
between the Temple Iron company ana
the Guaranty Trust company of New
York as trustees ana the Lehigh Val
ley Central Railroad OF New Jersey.
Delaware. lackawanua and Western
Erie. New York. Susquehanna and
Western and Philadelphia and Read
ing companies Indicating the railroad
companies as gu1untors of the pay
meut %. the bonds oi the Temple Iron
company
Mr. Baer could not recall the pres
ent cost ton OF mining coal. He said
the cost varied from month 10 MONTH
and year TO year bu' tad been higher
since the strike commission decision
thau before that time Meanwhile btu
miuous prices had decreased ne said.
and anthracite prices had to be re
ducod 90 meet H.
Mr Walter former president of the
Lehigh Valley was next called to the
stand by Nr. Shearn. He said the Le-
high Valley. and be presumed the other
carriers as well, entered into the TEN
PIE Iron company agreement as protec-
ton against the proposed socalled in.
dependent railroad that was being
planned by the independent operators.
The Lehigh Valley. he said was threat
ened with a loss of tonnage and IL
meant 10 hold on 20 at least the ton
maze il had. The executive commit
tee of the Lehigh Valley directorate
authorized the contract with the Tenn
pie Iron company
In answer 10 questions. Mr. Walter
said that the tonnage agreement was
not binding on the Lehigh Valley nor
on any of the roads. II was an under
standing based on the territory and
the number OF collieries naturally
tributary 10 the various roads and was
not entered into To restrict trade
Mr.. Baer was recalled he first was
questioned by members Of the com
mission. and said the Temple Iron
company was "a very good business
proposition" he saw no reason why
the guarantor companies shonld ever
be called upon for funds. except, pos
sibly. at times of strike or of unfore
seen great disaster. In the event OF
ordinary losses the Temple Iron com
pany should be able to care for itself
unassisted
"On a per cent. basis the Reading
ought 10 make 100000 a year said
Mr.. Baer and until It does reach
that figure ] will not agree that the
price Of coal is too high"'
He said in answer to Commissioner
Prouty that reduction in freight tariff
would not necessarily mean lower
prices for coal 10 the consumer if the
operators thought they could get more
for their product. The allegation that
the carriers purposely tied up coal
traffic in winter or failed to furnish
cars 10 cOllieries has no foundation in
fact. said Nj. Baer. There was
freight congestion last winter to a de
gree not known in many years. and
was due to physical conditions. He
continued:
"The Lord. thought II may shock
you, Mr. Shearn. was responsible for
that It was one of the things over
which we had no control"
QUAY HAS CHRONIC GAsTRITIs
There Are No Complications And He
Has Excellent Chance Of Recovery.
Beaver. Pa, May Ex-senator Quay
has an excellent chance of recovery
This is the statement Of physicians
who held a consultation. DR.. Max Elm