Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-15
PROBING THE RAIL WAYS
The |. c. c. Queried B. and O.
Vice President.
IN BALTIMORE YESTERDAY
Some Very Interesting Facts Are
Brought Out
REGARDING COAL COMPANIES
Railroad Officials Holders of Stock
Formation of New Corporations
Discouraged.
IN BALTIMORE YESTERDAY
COAL COMPANIES

BALTIMORE, Nd, April 1.-THE inter
state commerce commission held its second
days meeting in this city today to con-
tlnue It's inquiry into the regulations and
rates of railroads In handling coal at east
ern points. Among the witnesses examined
today were Third Vice President Potter
OF the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad Com
pany and T. T. Boswell, manager Of the
Merchants Coal Company.
Vice President Potter said that the Balti-
more and Ohio Railroad Company dis
couraged the formation of new coal COM
panies and the opening of new mines. He
acknowledged that the Baltimore and Ohio
Company controlled several of the coal
companies and that the policy Of his COM
pany was to limit the movement of coal to
the market requirements.
He said that recently the Baltimore and
Ohio had written the Independent coal COM
panies. some of whom have complained Of
discrimination against them, and offered
to do all 1t could to supply them with the
cars they wanted; and that In at least one
case the railroad got very hot reply to
this letter. He admitted that he had form
erly owned stock in the Belmont Coal Com
pany. but had sold 1T two or three months
ago, and that he Is now the owner of bonds
issued by that company.
Stock Given as Bonus.
Inc STOCK came 10 me, ne SAID, as a
bonus when 1 bought the bonds. 1 paid 20
per cent of the par value of the stock as an
assessment. One Of the reasons why sold
the stock was that came to the conclusion
that ought not to hold any stock acquired
in that way In any company on the line of
the Baltimore and Ohio. as it might create
a wrong impression. 1t might be thought
that l would be influenced in my dealings
with the coal companies"
II tn w
Glasgow, jr., attorney for the commission,
he said that during 1906 the Baltimore and
Ohio paid the Belmont Coal Company from
80 cents to 81. .05 a ton for coal and 90 cents
a ton for slack, against 40 cents ton
for slack and So and 90 cents a ton for coal
from Baltimore and Ohio Coal Company
during the same year, and that much larger
quantities were bought from the Belmont
company
A Matter Of Good Policy.
He said he approved of the contract with
the Belmont company after he had con-
suited the president of the Baltimore and
Ohio In explanation Of why he paid a
higher price for coal to the Belmont COM
pany than to the Baltimore and Ohio Coal
Company, both Of which are situated in
the same territory, he said:
1.-THE Belmont has large organization
to keep up, while the other is smaller
concern. The larger company asks big
ger price, and we pay it because we think
1t good policy to support the company that
can insure us supply of coal at all sea-
sons"
Witness said that among the coal COM
panies owned by the Baltimore and Ohio
railroad are the Fairmont Coal Company,
the Consolidation Coal Company, the Som
erset Coal Company and the Clarksburg
Fuel Company.
IT. d. Boswell of the Merchants Coal
Company testified that among the Balti-
more and Ohio officials who own stock in
his company were General Manager Thos.
Fitzgerald, Assistant to the President Geo.
M. Shriver. Charles E. Ways of the freight
department and Mr.. Anker, superintendent
of floating property.
Dorsey Cork of Mount Clair, w. Va, for
merly in the coal mining business, testified
that he was unable to secure siding from
the Baltimore and Ohio company until he
agreed to sell his coal to the company.
General Superintendent Arthur Hale of
the Baltimore and Ohio described the COM
pany's system of distributing cars to the
mines.
The commission adjourned to meet again
in this city on April II.