The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1906-09-25
COAL INVESTIGATION BEGUN
. BY Commissioner PROUTY
Much Interesting Testimony as to How
Control of Wyoming Product
Is Exercised.
Judge Spence of Evanston Makes Charges Against Union Pa
Cific-Sat Lake Dealers Combine

Commissioner Prouty then asked it
counsel for the Union Pacific company
were present. Farley Williams, attorney
for the oregon Short Line, arose and
asked what company was meant-the
Union Pacific Railroad company or the
coal company of that name. Commission
er ProIty said the two companies were
identical, as the railroad company holds
all the securities of the coal company.
Mr.. Williams then said he was present to
IND out the scope Of the investigation, as
sorting that no complaint had been filed
and the officials Of his company were
present in obedience to subpoenas Com
missioner Prouty explained that the Salt
Lake sessions were to be a continuation
OF those held last week in Omaha. and
under the provisions of the Tillman-Gi-
lespte senate resolution the commission
would endeaVor 10 secure all testimony
relative to coal holdings Of the Hartman
and other railroads and other matters
such as discrimination both in rates and
supply Of shipping facilities.
Railroad Men on the Stard.
The morning session commenced shortly
after 10 o'clock. The meetings are be-
ing held IN the Federal building court
chamber The witnesses examined dur
ing the morning session were u. II.
o Brien, local agent of the Diamond Coal
* Coke company and a member OF the
Citizens Coal company of Salt Lake; W.
ii. Bancroft. vice president and general
manager of the Oregon Short Line; J. A
Reeves, general freight agent Of the same
company, and Judge Robert S. Spence OF
Evanston, Wyo. These witnesses were
examined by Commissioner PrOuty. John
! t. Marchand, attorney for the commits
sion. and his assistant, Elmer Z. Thomas.
Farley l. Williams attorney for the Or
egon Short Line i'm Salt Lake: Judge
Lacey of Cheyenne attorney for the
! Union Pacific Coal company, and r. NJ.
Allison, Jr., attorney for the Rio Grande
Wetern. Denver q Rio Grande and Utah
Fuel company. We're present
J. j. McAuiff official StauOera 7,her- for
the commission, is taking the testimony.
which will be transcribed and put into
shape Tor reading by congress.
Thomas Snedden, superintendent OF the
diamond coal a Coke cOmpany's property
at DlamOndville, Wyo.. and Superintend-
ent p J; Quealy of the Kemmerer COM
az this mornings session.
Mr.. O'Brien Testifies.
T.. H. OBrien was the first witness
called 10 the stand Mr.. O'Brien said he
/ was local agent for the Diamond Coal &
Coke company and a stakeholder in the
Cltizsns Coal company Of Salt Lake.
which handles the Diamond cOmpanv's
annual shipment to Salt Lake. amounting
y about 10000 tons. Attorney Marchand
opened the examination Of this witness.
Mr. O Brien confessed that he did not
know the name Of the president or seCre-
tery or the Diamond company. His knowl-
edge of the OfficehOlders in this COM
pahy began and ended with the fact that
{
question witness said there is no coal
dealers association in Salt Lake. Wit
| ness denied any knowledge Of any freight
rates on coal to any points from Dia-
mondYille outside Of that 10 Salt Lake
Slfo per tom The rate Of S175 per ton,
said the witness. applied to coal in any
number Of carload lots. Witness said a
reduction of IS cents on this rate became
effective June 10. This. he explained was
a storage rate and was accompanied by
reduction Of p cents per ton on coal
also. The reduction OF 80 cents. witness
explained. was refunded on coal held in
storage by dealers until Aug. 81. when the
reductions were called off. Witness did
not know if the reduced rate was filed
with interstate commerce commission or
not. Witness then explained that the
price OF kemmerer, Union Pacific and
Denver & Rio Grande Goals was in each
instance sos per ton. RE said he could
no. explain how this uniform price was
charged or who had the fixing Of prices
in charge denying that he had anything
To do with il. When pressed for a more
definite answer, Mr.. O'Brien said he pre-
sumed the retail dealers fixed the price
OF coal LAS retail dealer don't you
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