The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-04-09
COAL INQUIRY TO
BEGIN this. WEEK
Distribution Of Cars and Alleged
Discrimination to Be In
vcstigated.
HIGH OFFICIALS SUMMONED \
Proceedings Will BE First Of Kind
Held Under Congress
Resolution.
HIGH OFFICIAL SUNNI 0NED
Special to The nmcs-D,spatch.)

(. . . .
PHILADELPHIA, April s.-Independent
coal operators who FOR years have de-
carcd that some of the coal-carrylng
companies are interested financially In
the trade. ana thus make a profit on pro-
ductlon, as well as on transportation,
were greatly pleased yesterday over the
announcement by Chairman Martin a.
Knapp Of the Interstate Commerce Com
mission, that that body will convene IN
this city on Tuesday to make an invcstl-
CATION to learn whether the railroads, di-
rcctly or indirectly, have any interest In
the coal or oil which they transport as
common carriers. AT this Investigation,
which will be the first OF It's kind held
under the joint resolution Of Congress. 1t
lis expected that much light will be
thrown on the secrets Of the. companies,
and that some of the inside workings of
the producers and carriers will be made
public.
Those SUNNI a
In addition to summoning General Man
ger Atterbury and General Traffic Agent
Searles, Of the a Pennsylvania Railroad ;
Vice President voorhees or me l Ian ths
Reading Company to furnish complete
list Of its stockholders by April 18th. ,Tnis
Is also to include Il statement showing
what ana now lllHv uIuhlcS NGlS 'o.rH
at the las. annual meeting The commits :
sion will permit the companies to ne
statements at the end of the sessions eoV7T
erlng any pertinent facts a .a All, +,
conducted by William a. Glasgow, ) r..
Of this city, and Edward 3. Whitney, OF
New York, Mr. Glasgow us Ms n Intnrpna ~
lawyers hrsye : on the legal sideaof the coal
question In the East was q, only !, re-
Gently tina, through his efforts TIE no d5al y
make connection with spun. hlilit ,, nS
a West Virginia coal company, which they
had previously refused to do
The special subject OF Inquiry, accofuins
10 Chairman Knapp, will be the syst9pl o.
car distribution and It's effects. rms, 70
the independent operators IS one Oh VIC NO
most vital points.
What Operator Says.
"While We cannot prove actual repateS :,
i lhe distribution Of ears ~ me ra.lroaa,s
orders" declared an operator. "Th re. m, !.
dependent operator may have an ,, op'p ,he
ri sayd Vii wi e give rs only half as many
cars. while at the same line they VIII
furnish TO another colllery all ne cars nIa
they want 1t hs w aone w on a a dIscrim-
mated against lust rs much as though q
rebate we're given to our competitor . ~
coursq they know that We t o1t p,t nnlS
oVor their lines, and when We demonstrate
they say that they give us as many cars cars
AZ they car, In accord,sahce VII ou'al'o
III In, litigation growing out Of just o suon
alleged neutrality-suspicious. Att4'rIneya mea ret
before Judge Mcpherson In the United
States District Court yesterday nnd ASH ASK,
Cd on behalf Of THO Mitchell 1nS Gonl ana ma
railroad lie compelled to produce its
books for tho henefit Of the Mitchell Com.
pany The plaintiffs alleEe thai the n1pN :
ma Nil chell Company and also Of rebates,
Judge Mcpherson reserved his decision 4