The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1906-02-15
THO SOFT COAL TRUST
Bituminous Trade League Denounces
Railioad Combinations.
srIrLro ALL COMPETITION

independent Operators Fear to Openly
Complain Owing to Consequences
Usually Inflicted BY Pennsylvania
Ra,Iroad-Victims Of Discrimination
Washington. Feb. IL Representa-
tive Gillespie (Tcxas) made two unsuc-
cessful attcmpta In the house to obtain
consent to have included in the house
record a letter from the Bituminous
Coal Trades League Of Pennsylvania
denouncing The alleged combination oil
coal carrying railroads TO control ana
regulate the output OF coal in the
United states Both times Representa-
tive PAYNE New York;. the Republic
can floor leader. objected. and Mr.. Gil
lespie finally abandoned the effort.
The letter which is referred to as
petition for relief, was prepared by
Frank G.. Drane. secretary TO the Btu
mlnons Coal Trades League OF Penn
sylvania
Mr.. Drane calls attention to Mr.. Gil
lespie's resolution and the threatened
strike Of the hard and soft coal miners.
and claims there has existed for n long
time combination of the Pennsylva-
mia railroad with the anthracite and
bitpr.inous coal mining and shipping
companies TO stiGe all competition in
violation Of tho antitrust laws
Mr. Drane says il Is unfortunately
true that not one Of his associates in
the Biuminous League would be able
To give sworn testimony before an in
vcsticating committee q congress, as
I'VE have never been able 10 get eyi-
dcnce sufficiently strong to enter suit
AZ law. nor have We been able to get
the independent operators united so as
20 tss. The Elkins law, many fearing
the consequences the Pennsylvania
railroad officials know so well how TO
inaict upon operators who dare openly
complain
lie recites the grievances TO which
the Independent operators ere subject
ed through alleged discrimination. par
ticularly the soft coal operators in
Pennsylvania. Virginia. Maryland and
West Virginia. and says the indepeud-
ents are helpless The letter asserts
that the Pennsylvania railroad has es-
tablished rules that only certain mar
kets can be supplied by one region,
and that the private cars OF the soft
coal trust have unlimited choice Of
market TO ship coal in. according 10
the demands therefor
He charees that the soft coal trust
always fixes a price which gives the
trusts ord the roads hauling coal 10
market an excess profit over and above
the price tho independent operator can
get: that the hard coal railroads are
all common carriers and miners and
shippers OF their own anthracite pro-
duct. that The railroads pool and regu-
late The price Of hard coal by selling il
direct 20 the dealer TO be sold to he
consumer az the prices fixed by the
railroads
All that the independent bituminOus
coal operators want il Is stated in con-
clusion. is provision in the new inter
state commerce railroad bin that will
make the interstate commerce commits
sion the final court. with power TO dis
close an determinations. not only as
10 regulation Of railroad rates, but also
to hear and relieve complaints Of ship
pers against transportation companies,
both rail and water. and combined and
10 stop Determinations by the railroads
and trusts combined by giving the In
terstate commerce commission full
power in the premises"