New-York tribune., 1904-10-25
RULE AGAINST COAL MEN
Commissioners admit E0idence Re
garling Chicago Prices.

ghe hearing before the Interstate Commerce No'l
mission on the charges brought by William ran
dolph Hearst alleging eoiiusion on the part Oi -
coal carrying railroad companies IN hAlhs s1I1
maintaining the price of coal at tidewater was Fe
r.,n,e6 Yesterday The specific complaint Is thaI
The railroads involved IN the alleged trust nave
axed excessive charges Cor coaT IN restrain o.
sraSe and IN defiance OF the Sherman Antitrust
law. The complainant has sought to produce , eve,
dsnce 70 compel the reduction OF The price OF co''
at fidewafer and furthermore 20 secure the punish
Eneut of the alleged conspirators
The srs, witness called for the plaintiff was ROD
srt H. Crum. OF Chicago, member OF the ). b.
sarburn Company. G mercantile agency Of that
cify.
Ffa .sfs that he was not acquainted with the An
shracite Coal Dealers Association
Hare you ever attended a meeting OF this or
xanization ir The Grand Pacific Hotel. in Cheago :!
be asked
..Did you ever attend meeting Of this body held
sry, here else"
NO sir"
The witness identified q number Of price cards.
setting forth the retail price of coal for March
Ap~il May and June 1914 a. having been printed
ll his arm Counsel submitted these cards as evil
denoe but their admission Nas objected TO as not
material.
SAID Clarence J. shearn Nr. Hearsts counsel;
We are endeavoring to show that the prize Ts ,s rs
can show thar The price is hNed by egreeInent IN IN
fss9 u ,at T rs i5e pPne E Is fxed elsewhere and
viii so support the charges that lhese Iatts
coal
DO YOU expect 20 prove by this evidence that the
ssle price OF coal at tidewater Wss uns"fniF ny
shearn asked
NO. aot directly; but the evidence Is OF oo-
sohors-.ve character in showing that the Fespon-
dents mere engaged IN combinations to nN prices
elsewhere and would therefore strengthen the CON
se,tjon that they did tx prices At udewater.
A recess was declared. and after i Chairman
Knapp OF the commission announced thst the chi
osco price card and circulars should be admitted IN
evidence.
R.H.M NJ. Claggett agent Of the Phiadephia and
Reading Coal an6 Iron Company. IN Chicago was
tie next witness. Mr.. Shearn asked him;
Have YOU evsr met a Ar. Merriwether, X Platt
OF the Lehign Valley Company. or Mr.. schenck. OF
the Delaware, LackaHanna and Western Railroad
Company a. the Grand Central Hotel. in ChicagoY
We there sometimes al luncneon. ShS"eIsu
was luncheon the only purpose OF your meet
wen. We sometimes discussed the coal bust
4Dis vo9 ever discuss the price Of coal?'
Reference was sometimes made 20 the price OF
Tie memoranda Of meeting held in September.
ssol. were produced. and objection was Ialseo 70 70
wanted 10 know what pertinence the details OF
ahese meetings had. Mr.. Shearn said;
9here never vas such damning evidence pTodgioed
ion 20 nave been defiant Of all restrictions OF the
Anti-Trus: Law.
''IIave the wholesalers IN Chicago agreed on the
price of coal rron time TO timer asked Commits
Eioucr Clements.
i never agreed any price
Wei. hoE l. it, persisted Mr.. Clements, that
prices have 10 uniform. that is. the same
smonE 100 100 retail dealers, month in and
saonth out. year in and year oUt?'
Z don't know" answered the witness.
Sir. Shearn asked the witness ABOUT a resolution
which had been passed a meeting OF the whole
s8ltrs IN Chicago permitting certain dealer 70 sell
damaged coal q reduced price. The witness was
asked why 4 necessary for the wholesalers
40 pass resolutions permitting a retailer sell
s.rder ihe schedule price II there restraint
on agreement. The witness said be didnt know
anything about the memoranda which mentioned
sGCh q resolution.