The Washington herald., 1908-08-24
FIGHTS TRUST ALONE
Attorney General Jackson
Has Personal Grievance.
COMPLAINS OF COAL COMBINE
Railroads the Defendants, and New
York official Has n Mass of Evi-
dence Gathered from Various Cities
by Special Agents, with which He
Expects to Prove COIlgsiOn.

Albany. n Y, Aug. 2S-Upon his own
initiative, Attorney General William
Schuyler Jackson has instituted a pro-
ceeding n the Supreme Court against the
so-called coal trust He fled a petition
with Justice Fits. OF Albany, under the
provisions Of the Donnely State antitrust
law Of 1870 IN which It IS alleged that the
various railroads engaged in the trans
p0rtation Of hard coal and their sub
sfdiary companies have effected and are
carrying out an agreement which IN ef-
feet. constitutes a monopoly Of the hard
coal business in this State, and that such
an agreement restricts production and
regulates and fixes the price al which
coal can be soId in the State OF New
York
As a preliminary 20 the trial OF such
an action. By the order granted yesterday
by Justice Fits. the officers. managers,
and sales agents Of the coal and railroad
corporations are directed 10 appear for
examination before Edward Murphy. sec
oud. son of former United states Ssna-
tor Edward Murphy jr-. OF Troy. who IS
appointed a referee TO take this testi-
mouy.
Ts1e ffrsr hearing before the referee IS
fixed 20 take place al the Office OF the
attorney general at the capitol in Albany
on August 81 II IS understood 10 be the
intention Of the attorney. general 70 first
take the testimony Of the general officers
Of the principal corporations in this COM
bInariJu and then 10 take testimony as
20 local conditions In the various cities IN
the State. such as Albany. Troy. Syra-
cuse. Rochester. and Buffalo.
The attorney general expects TO show
not only the existence OF a trust agree
Deut. but the fact that f has been
actually carried out and s. now being
carried out IN al the cities In the State.
and with such evidence the attorney gen
eral VIII ct once ask for an injunction
restraining the further execution Of the
agreement and the dissolution Of the
combination
The proceeding IS brought as a result
OF certain invest aBtfons made by special
agents appointed by the attorney gen
ersI and which have extended over q
period oE several months. In the course
Of these Investigations the special agents
have visited most Of the principal cities
Of the state. and they have submitted
reports embracing a mass OF evidence.
/ which the attorney general considers
amply warrants the institution OF this
proceeding
Railroads Defendants
The various corporations against which
the proceedings are Instituted are as fol
lows; Leh.gh Valley Coal Company, Le-
high Valley Railroad Company. Delaware,
Lackawanua and Western Railroad Com
pany. Philadelphia and Reading Coal and
Iron Company. Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad Company, Pennsylvania Coal
Company, HiusdaIe Coal and Iron Com
pany, Erie Railroad Company. Scranton
Coal Company, New York and Scranton
Coal Company. New York Ontario and
Western RailroGd Company. Lsehigh and
WiIkesbaTrs Coal Company. Central Rail-
road OF New Jersey, Cross Creek Coal
Company, Delaware, Susquehauna and
SchuylkiU Railroad Company, Susquehan-
IA Coal Company. Mineral Railroad and
Mining Company, Union Coal Company.
Pennsylvania Railroad Company. Della
ware and Hudson Canal Company. and
Delaware and Hudson Railroad Company.
and also certain general sales agents Of
some Of the corporations named above