Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-02-28

Mass. at the Brockton fair and this
man told him he could serd him a car
taqt would cost him from S5.25 to S. 50
per ton landed at Lewiston. Later
however. this man told him he had
n1adc mistake and that he had no
right Ia ship coal into Maine. which
was out ot his district. He thought he
could fix ii all right, however. hy pay
ing Randall &. McAllistcr Il commission
of ~ cents per ton. Mr. Hayden tes-
tilted that he understood that the
Portland firm got this commission on
al coal sent into Maine for auaran-
tceing the bills. or something 0f trat
sort He finally got his coal in lewis
ton for 50 per ton
MIR. Wilson-Did this man Murphy
tell you that Randall & McAlister got
81 cents commission Ca all the coal
that comes into Maine"
Mr. Hay den--Yes. sir. A man by the
name OF Curtis or some such name is
connected with ii. believe.
Mr.. Wilspn--You'r right. There IS u
man nv the name of Curtis in thc coal
business in Portland.
j. Carleton Miller.
The first Portland dealer called was
]. Carleton Miller. treasurer of the
Dcering Coal & Wood co. In 1912, this
firm handled about 1000 tons, the
most ii which WAS for the retail trade.
This was The largest season because
several other Smaller firms had been
absorbed. Usually the coal used by this
firm comes through the hands OF
Bestcn commission house and is han
died by water.
The usual questions in regard to
priea were asked an6 the figures given
by Nj. Miller We're found TO correspond
with those of Other Portland dealers
Asked To give an estimate of the eX-
pensc the firm IS under :'ir. Miller said
that 1t cost them Sl6t gle ton 70
handle coal in 1911
Replying To Senator Maxwell, Mr.
Miller said that it had generally been
the custom 10 add si-l5 cross To the
cost nf a ton This allowed i ret profit
Of 10 cents a ton. Mr. Miller was asked
how he found the 10 extra pounds OF
a long ton to pan ont and replied that
it was generally good for about 100
pounds of coal.
George L. Gerrish.
The first real spirited opposition that
the members of the special committee
have not met came when George l..
Gerrish, treasurer and general man
ager of the big A. r. Wright co. OF
/ Portland, came on the stand.
Attorney General Wilson asked him
how much coal he handled in 1912 and
received the information that it was
y per cent. of what was handled
| ir 1911.
Put how much was handled in
| 1917 was asked
THAT | don't care to state" was
the reply. Mr.. Gerrish then added:
| Il wish to be understood in this mat
| ter. 1t is my purpose to answer ev-
cry question that can be Of amy bear
/ ing on this investigation, but some 1
| shall refrain from answering when
they concern the private affairs of my
corporation. | have no authority TO
| divulge the private business Of the
company"
| It's for the committee To decide
whether this investigation shall 80
on remarked Mr.. Wilson.
! \ conference of the members of tho
committee followed and Senator Nor
"
were of the opinion that the question
j ing should continue and then they
would decide later whether Mr. Ger
IRISH should answer the questions.
A good part Of Mr.. Gerrish's testi-
mony was voluntary. lie said that
from September, 1912, 10 January
| 1913. the coal secured by his company
| had been premium coal but up To Sep
TENDER. the company coal had come
| along regularly The company coal
during The summer had been bought
! at the usual prices, but from Sept. -
| To Jan. /, G535 tons of premium coal Of
| broken and domestic sizes had been
secured Since Jan. !, some low pre-
! MUM coal had been secured
| The average cost Of all coal from
| September. 1912, to January, 1919. was
| $3.50.
L. T. Carleton.
| The examination of Mr.. Gerrish was
interrupted TO allow L. T. Carleton OF
Winthrop 10 testify. Mr. Carleton stated
! that about two years ago some people in
| his town had clubbed together for Tho
! purpose of buying their years supply oil
coal He had been delegated to make
the purchase and had interviewed several
! dealers in Portland but had been refused
the coal.
| They asked me if I belonged to the
coal dealers association" said Mr.. Carrie
ton, land when / told them | didn't they
I said l couldn't have the coal l too
i them / thought our money ought to be as
good as anyone's and that | could Duy
groceries or anything else by wholesale
from wholesale dealers, but that didn't
make any difference / couldn't get the
| coal"
After Mr. Gerrish had resumed the
| stand the famous bylaws presented al
| the hearing, last week, were. again intro
| duced. Mr.. Wilson asked:
| What does it mean when it says
| Members who shall offend shall be sub
! ject to the same conditions as wholesale
members %
i don't know" was the reply. II have
never heard of anything coming before
the executive committee in regard to this
| except seven or eight years ago. Their
| soft coal was under discussion
somewhat lengthy discussion followed
\ m ha