The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-23
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many Interesting and most valuable facts.
The resolution under which 1t proceeded,
tho so.cnlled Tliman Gillespie resolution,
simply directed the commission to inquire
whether tho roads owned tho coal ml,res
which produced the coal which they
transported to market, or the wells which
produced the oil which the roads trans
ported, ETC. IS s39}.
The investigation developed that the
coal mines are, n.,many, Instances, con-
trolled by railroads, and, that there Is, or
was, a combination or combinations on
the part of the roads by which they
kept certain coal out of Scertain mar
kets-in other words, that lines wh'srh
should compete had divided the MAJ
kets betweent themselves, thus giving
each monopoly, maintained by favor
itism in rates. H 33 5,5, 4 !,
Pennsylvania Situation.
While this was Of the very greatest
Importance, the most important result
q of the inquiry, probably, was the dis
covery that certain officials of the Penn
sylyania, and even cheap clerks, who
had to. do with the distribution Of coal
cars among the various mines along the
line of the road, had been given stock
4 in certain companies, as well as sums
Of money in return for favorit.sm in
the distribution Of cars.
The record OF the investigation covers
nearly 1000 typewriter pages. While all;
this will be printed, the hearings will be
dgested for tho use Of Congress. How
much the commission has discovered that
will be useful in the prosecution Of the
roads by the Department Of Justice, or
whether such prosecutions will be UNI
dcrtaken, Is unknown 5s &. Y.
1t would seem that the commission has
developed very clearly the fact that there
& is need for the amendment to the rate
bill which has been agreed upon by the
conferees, providing that roads shall not
own coal and oil lands.
Vice president Thayer of the Pennsyl-
Vania. told the commission as much in
his testimony yesterday. The investiga-
lions OF the commission did not extend
Into the oil industry and its relations
Z to the carriers, else the conferees3 might
lave refused to eliminate the provision
in the amendment alluded to prohibiting
owners of oil wells from owning the
pipe lines used In conducting the product
10 market. It is well-known that sena-
tors and Representatives have been fol-
lowing the investigation very closely
and there can be no doubt that the re-
suits have had much 10 az with rate
legislation. jE.5 .is @
The Last Day.
The last Gay Of the hearing developed
nothing of extraordinary note,
James r. Gardner. OF New York, a
mining expert. and an officer OF coal
companies controlled BY the Erie Rail-
read almost entirely for fuel purposes,
was on the stand for some time, but
Ills testimony developed nothing to show
that the Erie was operating Its mines
to the detrment or discrimination Of
others.
Mr.. Gardner was conducted through a
line Of questioning regarding the owner
ship by railroad companies OF coal mines.
The answers established the fact that
the witness unQualinedly was In favor
of such ownership
The only other witness was Joseph
Auerbach, OF New York member Of
the firm Of attorneys who conducted the
transfer Of certain stock of the Fairmont
Coal Company. Mr.. Auerbach testified
that SO far as he was aware, none Of the
stock SO transferred went to any officer
or empioye of the Baltimore and Ohio
,Railroad. .fsis G4.tsf5