Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1906-07-03
PRIVATE CARS.
Pennsylvania Committee
Seems to Favor Them.
Tells Who Should Have Pfeced-
ence in Distribution Of Cars.
Report Is Presented 10 Company and Stamp.
ed With Seal Of Approval.

PHILADELPHIA. Pa, July "A pr"limi-
nary report of the special committee or
the board of directors OF the fenllSylTa-
mia isIilrua! CO., recently appoliitcd 10
inV"stig tie the condition OF coal cars
as revealed at the hearings % tht m
tcrStatc Commerce CommlSSloh' was
submitted today to the full p"arH OF
the company. After short dISruSslhn
the report was unanimously approved.
The committee after stating that it
had carefully considered the testimony
taken by the Interstate Commerc~
Commission. says that the testimony
showed that Of more than 300 opera
tors Of bituminous coal mines, situated
on the lines of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Co, less than 10 operators IN all
have testified that they believed Them
selves to have been unfairly disrrmi-
mated against, either in the dlStribu-
ton of coal cars, or i'll the matter OF
siding connecting mine workings with
the railroad line
"Fifty-one of the more than 12?,OoO
officers and employees of the Penn"ylVa-
mia Railroad" the committee says.
"Xern examined before the Interstate
Commerce Commission and Of those
Witnesses Il We're shown to nave ac-
qur"d, in various ways. interest IN coal
companies or properties, alleged, bul
not proven, to have Received undue ana
unreasonable preference il the dlStrl-
butiUu Of coal cars or in the conStlrH-
ton of eidingS. Despite the pubic mn
preston to the contrary, derived from
the fragmentary publications of the
evidence in the newspapers, the testi-
mory Of the witnesses examined before
thu commission does not prove that
there have been III fact any undue or
unreasonable preferences, either in tho
distribution of coal cars or in the con-
struction Of sidinSS.
TIL. committee says that it has re-
cciv.u replies from all officers and en-
ploy i having charge of the distrlbu-
ton If ears to inquiries made by me
commit e regarding car distributions,
but until the companyS records Oh the
daily movements Of cars can be exam
inrd the committee Will be unable 10
know whether the distribution of cars
varied from the rules governing inc
same.
The committee calls attention to
many difficulties encountered in tn"
distribution Of cars and says:
"rrher" must be a fair system OF pro
rata distribution, but whatever the
system, there will inevitably come per-
icds when the demand for Will exceed
the supply Of cars. Under such condl-
tinns. priority must be given first =
SINNERS VINO furnish coal to the COM
pany's engines, the next to those whose
tulnIlment of contracts will keep other
railroads in operation, prevent nuhlcl-
palities from being left in darkness, or
enable steamships to sail. etc.
.'rhc question of the Independent or
nriyatcly owned coal cars is not q new
mlc stion. not one which admits OF an
| of hand solution.
..The Pennsylvania Railroad Go. was
| chartered on the theory that the COM
pany would build the line and tn" snip
| rDrS would furnish their own means OF
TRANSFORMATION. The greater portion 81
tho, coal tonnage of England is moving
TODAY in privately owned ears. The use
| of such ears on the Pennsylvania iln"S
| il not peculiar to a few favored snip
| uprS They have been used from Inc
| h,ginning Of coal tranSportatiuh.