The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-26
(By Associated Press.)

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May 25.-Several
Interesting developments marked the
closing session of the Interstate Com
nerce Commission investigation into the
alleged discrimination by railroads in the
distribution of cars In the bituminous coal
field The commission adjourned to-day TO
meet at time and place to be decided
upon later. Next week the members OF
the commission will so to Washington to
examine the evidence presented during
the hearings in this city and it Is likely
the Investigation will be resumed In that
city either the latter part OF next week or
early the following week.
Testimony of a sensational character
was given to-day by F. Albertson Boyne-
burg, general manager OF the Reikalu
Brothers, coal operators, with Offices IN
this city.
He stated that within the last two
and half years his company's car
supply had been so inadequate that the
business had been practically ruined.
He declared that other companies had
heen favored In the distribution of cars
and said he had no doubt that discriml-
nation had been practiced against his
company because It had failed to make
gifts of stock to the railroad officials.
He gave It as his opinion that President
A. J. Cassatt was responsible Tor the
discrimination
Made Allowances.
Through railroad employees 1t was de-
yeloped that for number OF years ana
until recently the Berwind-White Com
pany's coal was shipped to tidewater
without being weighed. Instead the rail-
road estimated the weight of each car
by adding Z per cent. to the, capacity OF
the figures stencilled on the car.
It was also shown that the Susque-
hanna Coal Company, which is owned by
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company. mas
the exclusive use OF GreenVllle Per-
New York harbor. and has virtual
monopoly of the sale of bunker coal to
tugs and small steamers. 1t was brought
out that certain coal companies are
given allowances for operating branch
lines or spurs from their mines to the
main line, and that the railroad made
this allowance to tho Latrobe- -Connells-
vile Company, when the spur was oper-
ated by the railroad,
II, II, Large, assistant coal freight
agent of the Pennsylvania Railroad. was
questioned concerning allowances to coal
companies. Mr.. Glasgow asked the witt
ness IL any allowance was made to the
Pennsylvania Coal and Coke Company.
Mr. Larke said NO because that
company operated Its branch voluntarily,
and that the Pennsylvania Railroad
"Hasn,t the Pennsylvania Coal and
Coke Company complained that the rail
road refuses to make 1t an allowance
for the same work for which allow
ances are made to other companiesY'
~ believe there has been some COM
plaint."
Business Ruined.
f. A. yon Boyneburg, general manager
for Rekard Brothers and Company, mine
operators, testified that the business of
the company had been practically ruined
through inability to secure cars. From
4 100 cars in 1901 the supply was reduced
gradually to SEQ In 1905. The witness
said that at one period his company WAS
compelled to sell coal that cost $1.4S to pro-
duce as low as s1O5, In order to keep
the miners at work The mines, he said
had been operated at loss for the past
two years and a half, He had COM
pianed, ne said, to almost avery official