Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-06-12
HEADS OF ROADS
ARE TO Be HEARD
At |. C. c. Hearing of CoaI-Car.
rying Railways.
BY FORMAL INVITATIONS
Inquiry Resumed by Board in Phila-
delphia Today.
THE CLAIMS FOR COAL LOST
Relations Of Railroads to Companies
shown-''Pennsy" Operates All
Cars on Noted Pier.
THE CLAIMS FOR COAL LOST

PHILADELPHIA, Pa, June 12.-The
presidents OF the big coal-carrying rail-
roads will be given an opportunity to APP
pear before the interstate commerce COM
mission and make any statement they may
desire. Commissioner Cockrell said today
that invitations would be extended TO the
presidents of the Pennsylvania, Baltimore
and Ohio, the Norfolk and Western, the
Chesapeake and Ohio and the New York
Central railroads to appear before the COM
mission. No subpoenas would be issued for
the heads OF these roads. and their appear
ance will be entirely optional with the of.
ficials.
You cannot condemn a man without a
hearing" said Commissioner Cockrell.
It has been the purpose OF the commis-
sion to permit the pres sdents of the coal
roads to make any statements they may de-
sire. but we are not yet ready We want
all the testimony we can get from the SUBJ
ordinates and then fhe case in its entirety
will be before the commission and the rail-
road presidents.
First Testimony Today.
The commission resumed its inquiry today
into the relation of the railroads to the coal
and oil interests. The first witness was
Robert L. Franklin, assistant freight claim
agent of the Pennsylvania railroad, who
detailed the method of investigating claims
made by coal companies for coal lost In
transit.
commission with eight claims, the numbers
of which were furnished by Mr.. Glasgow.
He was excused in order to procure the
claims.
the much discussed Harsimus pier in New
York harbor came up again when X. +.
Cochran. superintendent OF the pier, was
called. Mr.. Cochran was an interesting
witness and gave an intelligent explana-
ton of the system on the pier. The Ber-
wind White company, 1t had been testified
by previous witnesses has the exclusive use
OF Harsimus pier. which was built by the
Pennsylvania railroad and paid for by the
coal company.
Mr. Cochran testified that space of 126
feet on the pier is used by the Pennsylvania
railroad for coaling its tugs with anthracite.
This fact he said, handicaps the Berwlnd-
White company, as the latter Is compelled
frequently to wait until the railroad bins
are filled before the coal company can
fill it's own bins.
An Important Revelation.
superintendent Cochran said 1t is the prac-
tice to load coal into barges without con-
signment In order to have it in readiness
for orders from vessels. The bill of iading
given to the barge captain is made on the
weights furnished by the railroad. Another
bill of ladng is furnished to the vessel, I.
J. Kelly, superintedent of delivery.
The most important feature of Mr.. Coch-
rams testimony was his statement that the
Pennsylvania railroad operates all the cars
on Harsimus pier. both those belonging 10
the railroad and the coal company ears The
railroads locomotives are used and raliroaa
employees operate the locomotives Berwlho-
White Company employees are prohibited
from handling the cars.
1t Is in evidence before the commission
that the Berwnd- White Company is allowed
cents ton by the railroad for performing
this work.
what was the Improvement made to the
pier in 1892" Mr.. Glasgow asked the wiz
ness.
.'It was a new addition which the Penn
sylvania railroad uses exclusively. with the
exception of ffty-five feet.
Are you aware that the Berwind-Wmte
Company paid the railroad for that I'M
provement?
Paid Railway for Work.
The witness had no knowledge on that
subject 1t is In evidence that the Berwind-
White Company paid to the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company the sum of $4,000 for
these improvements.
Cross-examined by Attorney Heebner.
counsel for the coal company Superinteno-
ent Cochran said he did not know that the
Berwind- White company made monthly set
cars on the pier. Mr.. Cochran further
testified that while all bills of lading are
made on estimated weights furnished by
the railroad, the purchaser is enutled 10
demand the actual Weighing of the coal.
Asked If he knew of any instances where
the coal was actually weighed. Mr.. Coch-
ran said the fuel furnished to the Both
street and the ll6th street power houses
OF the New YORK CITY rah"ay - anyways
weighed. &C,
tendent T. ]. Kelly, was asked as TO the
manner in which the bills for coal TO yes
sells are made out He said they are based
on the estimates made by George Johnson,
of towboats. and the steam
ship agents.
Glasgow.
Protest Against Examination.
Attorney Heebner here made aFvigorous
protest against "this line of examination"
He wanted to know what was to be gained
by it. The shipper and the consignee;; he
said, were satisfied with the method OF
rendering the bills
.sThe Eerwind- White and the steamship
representatives estimate the weight OF the
coal,' Mr.. Heebner continued. ana the piiis
are rendered on their guess. There is the
uncertain element of portion OF the coal
remaining in the barge when II Is mol All
taken by the vessel But we don't taily
the number Of tubs taken from each barge
when number Of them are loading ves-
sel with fuel We take the total number
Of tubs dumped into the steamship.
ssThen how do you apply the residuer'
asked Commissioner Cockrel
1--WE don't apply IT, re5oined Mr.. Heeb-
ner shipper and buyer seem to be sat-
fsied and that is all there Is to 4.
ssWelI that's a proposition. and would
like to hear it explained" said Mr.. Cock
relI.
II don't know how you are going to fnd
out" responded the lawyer,
We'll. we win stagger along some way.
iuterjec4ed Commissioner Clements- k
your method IL such that we cannot learn
what we want to know. We VIII have 70 do
without the information