The free lance. (Fredericksburg, Va.) 1885-1926, 1910-11-05
CRAVE: CHARGES
laCkawanna Accused OfPlOt
to Ruin Rival.
COAL TRUST ARRAIGNtD TOO
Marian Coal Company Charges Rail-
road With Plot to Destroy 1t
Allege Pate Discrimination
and Incendiansm.
COAL TRUST ARRAIGNtD TOO

Washington, Nov 4 - A sweeping
d1nunciatiou OF the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna 4 Western Railroad company.
IN which II is charged with repeatedly
attempting to drive a competing com
ran, out OF business and an arfaigh-
menl OF the sO-called "anthraciie coal
tust," are contained in complaint
fled with the interstate commerce
commission by the Marian Coal com
pany. OF Wilmington. Del. Reparation
il he sum OF S55.2S9, because OF alleg-
Cd excess charges, is demanded.
The statement sets forth allegations
o. one OF the most remarkable series
OF business embarIassments ever figur-
Ing before he commission. 1t not only
attacks the alleged unjust and dis
crilnnative rates TO which the Marian
company has been subjected as based
on monopoly maintained through the
device OF the Temple Iron company.
the directors OF which are the prcsi-
dents OF the railroads. constituting the
anthracite coal trust but charges at
tempted dictation OF production, inter
ference with prospective purchasers OF
the plant. diversion of water supply
ami heaping Of fuel on fire that had
threatened destruction to the Marian
companys washery at Taylor Pa.
The Marian washery is on Lacka-
wanna division switch. which also
serves three collieries alleged to be-
long to the Lackawanna interests. The
complaint sets forth various acts as
preventing equality of conditions as
between the Marian and alleged IA
lored competitors who constitute the
trust" Some of the acts charged
against the company are.
Charges Against Company.
That il attempted to compel the
Marian company to sell its product
to the Lackawanna on an agreement
as to output restriction that would
have driven the Marian company out
% business.
That the Lackawanna refused TO
4AOlt IdtcSf lONdi VI iAtSi StoNS'
That the Marian company finally Of
Tered its property for sale. and the
Lackawanna having obtained. in conf
dence. the names OF the bidders, no
tilted all bidders that If they bought
he Marian property they would buy
law suit.
That the Lackawanna deliberately
routed the Marian company's products
over longer hauls at higher rates than
were imposed on favored shippers.
That the Lackawanna deliberately
built two dams to divert water from
the Marians coal washery.
That connecting carriers refused to
put into effect through joint rates that
would absorb the prohibitiye switch
| ing charges of the Lacxawanna.
Charges Of Ineendiarism.
That in 1906 the Lackawanna. when
notified that a fire on its culm bank
threatened destruction to the Marian
property, not only sent word TO the
Marian people that. as it was on the
Lackawanna's land lit was nobody's
business" but deliberately dumped
new fuel on the fire, causing destruc-
ton OF $4,000 tons Of the Marian's val
liable material and costing $1,000 ex-
pended in saving the Marlan's culm
bank from destruction.
That the Lackawanna charged the
Marian company 80 cents ton for
hauling its coal 5000 feet from the
washery to a Central Railroad Of New
Jersey connection so as to equal ex-
actly the additional price for coal the
Marian company might have obtained
along the Central's line. Other ship
pers had a much less rate.
There are many other allegations in
the yoluminous complaint.
The Marian company asks that
fair rate schedule to tidewater not ex-
ceeding 70 cents a ton on rice and
barley coal be set by the commission
and that existing discriminatory prac-
tees by the railroad company be abol-
lshed