Evening public ledger. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1914-1942, 1917-03-01

A drop Of at least twenty-five cents n
ton In the retail coal price is expected in
few days II the Pennsylvania Public
Service Commission approves compromise
by which Ave railroads have agreed to re-
ducs the freight rates on anthracite to
this city.
The compromise. n ratified will cut In
two the order OF the Pennsylvania Public
Service Commission, filed In December,
1914, reducing the freight rates on anthra-
cite to Philadelphia. The compromise is
regarded by the complainants In the coal
rate case. which has been fought over a
period Of three years, as a great victory in
the interest Of the public. II was predicted
today by those in close touch with the
case that the agreement II approved by the
commission. will cause a saving Of $4,000, 900
. year to Philadelphia.
Prevailing high prices. and a growing
impatience Of the public over the activities
Of high price gougers, were given today
rs reasons for the capitulation Of the rail-
roads in the freight rate case.
TRINKLE FAvoRs IT
william n. Trinkle. Jr.. special assistant
- Attorney General Francis Skunk Brown
IN the freight rate case. said today;
"The compromise agreement is very
considerable accomplishment from the
standpoint Of public interests, The com
promise. II ratified by the commission.
means cut Of twenty-five cents per ton
in the freight rate of all prepared sizes of
anthracite (: a reduction Of fifteen cents per
ton in pea coal. and a reduction OF Ave
cents per ton in steam sizes, such as
buckwheat and rice coal"
'"will this bring about a reduction in
the retail price of coal?' Mr.. Trinkle was
asked.
the reduction will have indirect effect
on the retail price, unless the middleman
Gobbles all of the advantage in the situa-
tion by refusing to reduce the price"
CONFERENCE SATURDAY
Next Saturday morning all parties con-
oerned in the three-year fight to reduce
coal rates to this city will meet in the
ONCE of Michael ]. Ryan, a member OF the
Public Service Commission. The meeting
will be attended by all the members OF the
commission. Others expected to be present
are:
Ward w Pierson and Harold g. sheriff
attorneys, who represent the complalnants;
Attorney General Brown, william N
Trinkle. Jr.a Charles Heebner. chief OF
counsel for the Philadelphia and Reading
Company. and George Stuart Patterson,
chief of counsel for the Pennsylvania Rail-
road Company. The Central Railroad OF
New Jersey the Delaware Lsckawanna and
Western and the Lehigh Valley will also
be represented at the conference, which was
called by Mr.. Trinkle
II was reported today that Attorney
General Brown had already given his
tentative approval OF the compromise II
was also learned that several members of
the Public Service Commission had signi-
Ned their willingness to ndorse the agree
Snent. 1t is expected that following the
meeting Saturday the commission will an
nounce a date for a public hearing.
At the Saturday conference II is ex-
pected that all obstacles to the proposed |
compromise will be cleared away The |
commission Ia expected to proceed in this |
manner After ii has approved the COM |
promise and has issued a new order on |
the railroads reducing coal freight rates to !
this city, in accordance with the agree |
ment. the first order will he rescinded and
the appeal now before the Dauphin County |
Court will be withdrawn by joint action OF
the Attorney General, Pierson 4 Sherts and
the railroads.
The railroads, II IL stated. will suffer an
annual revenue loss OF at least 1900, 900
. year II the compromise IL approved The
conferences leading to the agreement wereI
Instituted about seven weeks ago, after At
torney General Brown. at the request of
Pierson and Shertz, took action to end delay
In the case. At frst IL is understood, the
railroads advanced proposition which
was Immediately rejected by Pierson and
sheriff. and negotiations were on the point
OF being called off when the complainant MIS-
attorneys were asked to submit a counter
proposition. Finally the railroads and the
attorneys reached deadlock. 1t was then
that Attorney General Brown was called
In. He made suggestions which were ac-
cepted by both sides