New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-06-19
interstate Commerce Commission
Starts Proceedings Against 214
Railroads, Following The
Tribune'S Disclosures.
VICTORY FOR INDEPENDENTS
General Inquiry Into Anthracite
Monopoly To Be the Most
Sweeping Ever Under
taken in This Country
May Last a Year.
FROM The Tribune Bureau

Washington, June lS.-Ihe most thoT-
o,,gh investigation of the anthracite mo-
nopoly ever undertaken in the United
States involving freight rates, and. it,
directly. coal prices, and striking at the
heart Of the so-called coal trust, was
launched to-day by the Interstate Com
r,erce Commission. which served notice
of the proceedings on PA railroads as re-
spondents.
An inquiry such as was ordered to-
dav was urged by The Tribune in an in
formal complaint to the commission on
May IS, following disclosures printed IN
this newspaper at that time revealing
the tactics Of the railroads monopolizins
the anthracite business a representa-
tive of The Tribune urged a general
p,obe rather than separate hearings IN
each case although forms for the pur-
pose of lodging formal complaints were
procured.
Thus the starting Of the investigation IS
not only 4 big victory for the struggling
independent operators, who have here
tofore obtained redress only through FL
ing Individual complaints with the COM
mission. but also vindcation Of The
Tribunes attitude on the subject.
Inquiry To Be Exhaustive.
Relative to the scope and purpose OF
the investigation the commission or
dered
That the inquiry be made into the
tl9Ai ~
common carriers governing the trans
portation Of anthracite coal from pro.
ducina fields to all points in the United
States east of the Mississippi River and
north Of the Ohio and Potomac rivers,
known as official classification territory.
including domestic and export rates and
shpside or bunker coal rates 70 the ti5e-
water and lake ports.
Il is further ordered that the inquiry
shall ascertain whether the coal is mined
or produced by or under the authority
Of the common carriers engaged in the
TRANSPORTATION thereof, or whether com
mon carriers own in whole or in part
any mine or mines producing anthracite
coal which they transport
Aside from the service Of the notices
on the respondent railroad companies
he commission has not yet determined
nounce that the proceeding will be set
for hearing at such times and places as
shall hereafter be designated. How
ever, il IS believed that almost a year
will be consumed by the inquiry. All
The machinery Of the commission and
the trained experts in its employ will
be in operation against the supposed
trust
Will Demand Reforms.
Indicating that the investigation will
be followed by orders demanding needed
reforms and the abolition Of unjust prac-
tices by the railroads constituting the
monopoly, the commission says;
II is further ordered that this pro
o.sdino and inquiry be conducted with
a View 10 the issuance Of an order or
orders reuuirinq such respondents 10
cease and desst from charging oe-
nsndino, collecting or receiving rates
and charqes for and from enforcing their
practices, rules and regulations govern
inu the transportation OF anthracite eoa'
from points Of origin herein named to
The destinations herein referred TO, in
so far as the same may be found TO De
unlawful, and requiring such respond D.
ents 10 substitute and thereafter to put
in force and effect such rates, rules
practices and regulations relative 70 tne
TRANSFORMATION of anthracite coal as
aforesaid as may be found Just ana
reasonable and not unjustly discrlm
instorw. Including such Joint and pro-
portional rates as in the opinion OF the
commission should be established from
the points Of origin 10 the various des-
tinations referred 10.
Readers Of The Tribune will recognize
that the commission is directing its in
quiry against the practice Of the rail-
roads affiliated with the sO-called coal
trust. or Reading company, in fixing dis
criminatory rates, in some instances al
most prohibitory, for the Independent op-
orators, thereby effecting a combination
that can virtually dictate the retail
prices Of coal. II was against this con-
dition Of affairs that The Tribune
uttered its vigorous protest.
Methods Of the Railroads.
Illustrating the practice, The Tribune
cited the Meeker case, in which the COM
mission awarded reparation of more
than 100000 from the Lehigh Valley
Railroad Company for discrimination
imposed by means OF exorbitant freight
rates, and the Marian Coal Company's
complaint against the Delaware, Lacka-
wanna & Western Railroad Company be-
cause of the latter's alleged attempt to
Etife competition through the exercise
Of excessive and unreasonable rates and
through other bold tactics, including the
fire and diverting stream used by the
complaining concern for its washery. ac-
cording TO the allegations in the bill Of
complaint.
In both OF these cases the methods
adopted by the mine owning railroads 10
crush competition are practically the
same as are now the object Of the gem
eral attack by the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
II was pointed out by the commission
to-day that "the rates, practices. rules
and regulations governing the trans
portation Of anthracite coal have been
the subject Of formal and informal com
plants" meaning that the independent
operators have industriOusly sought re-
dress from the oppressive impositions Of
the big coal combination. The records Of
the commission tell many tales Of this
oppression and Of the unsuccessful
struggles OF independent operators with
the interests controlling the transporta-