Show GETTING EVEN ON THE STRIKE Independent Op Operators Forced Up lip Price of Coal Coa 4 NO PUNISHMENT FOR THEM 4 PROGRESS OF OP SENATE TEES INVESTIGATION Washington Jan 13 W A 4 4 Baum of or orthe the J Maury Mau Dove Coal company compa was the principal witness before beCore the sen senate senate senate ate coal famine investigating commit committee tee today The company he said is selling coal that cost oost per ton at 12 12 In reply to questionS from Sen Senator Senator Senator ator Stewart as ax to what forced the price of oC coal up p Mr Mi Baum Daum said that the independent dealers had forced the advance It was a stand sta d and deliver process suggested Stewart to which the witness responded that he himself considered the advance a case of rob robbery robbery robbery bery Mr Baum declared that there th re had been no collusion between the Washington dealers dea ers and the independent ent eat coal operators This testimony provoked a statement I from Crom senator Stewart that he proposed to summon some of the dealers before the committee I Cannot Be B Punished The man wIo puts up prices p ices of oC coal now with the result Of Sf causing the 1 i j freezing of women and an children is a 1 I shark he said I do not know he j added that we can enn punish them by bylaw bylaw bylaw law but we will give them a chance to explain J F Legge terminal agent of the tl e Baltimore Ohio Railroad company compan said that the coal c aJ rates of oC that line are the same as formerly and that there had been no discrimination against Washington in favor of Balti BaIt Baltimore Baltimore more Charlotte Smith president of the As Association Association of ot ImpecuniOus us Working Wo Yo Women Women men said saM she never had been able to secure more mor than half halt a ton of eoal coal at ata ata ata a time for Cor that association but that they always were able abl to get a bucket bucketful bucketful bucketful ful or a bushel at a time Then they had to pay prices which made the coal cost ost 20 per fier ton Letter From Cassatt During the day Senator Stewart re received received received an official letter from President A J Cassatt of the Pennsylvania Penns Rail Railroad Railroad Railroad r road company compan in ln which he says sa s In reply to the inquiry contained in n your yourI I favor of the I beg to say that the mines s owned hy by this Hiis company furnish less than of or the an anthracite anthracIte anthracite coal which Jt It transports the remainder being made up of coal cal pur purchased purchased purchased chased from private operators by the agents who sell sen the railroad ceal The contracts under which the agents purchase this coal provide that the price at the time shall be based upon the price the coal brings when sold After mining operations were re resumed resumed our agents proceeded to sell the coal from our mines as sis well as the coal oal Purchased from the private operators at the circular prices which were fixed at 50 cents a i ton only only above the prices prevailing before the strike The in individual individual operators however protested strongly against this holding that the agents were ere bound to sell their coal c at atthe atthe the best obtainable prices and after consulting counsel it was as concluded that their demands q would Jd have to be pe pea e acceded cedea a to Distinction Made Heretofore there th rc has been no dis distinction distinction distinction that the public pu lic knew of be between bet tween t een the coal mined by the company and a d that mined by individuals but now that the coal from the mines which this company controls is being sold at the circular prices and the coal of the private private vate v t operators who ship over our lines Ines is i being sold at the best price that can cali calibe be obtained bt in d the distinction is drawn and this accounts for the apparent in increase increase increase crease In the tIle proportion of ot coal shipped by private operators Op p It Is very easy to account for the shortage short ge in the anthracite coal supply The strike lasting nearly six months caused a falling failing oft off in the output of some tons The output dur during durIng during ing the winter months has never been sufficient to supply current demands the deficiency being made up from the stocks accumulated during the summer but this winter began with absolutely no stocks on hand either at shipping places or In coal yards or in private I cellars and while more coal has been i mined and shipped l since active acUe opera operations operations were resumed than ever before beCore during a like Uke period it has not been sufficient to supply the demand nor has it been possible to supply enough bituminous coal to make up the de deficiency deI in anthracite I Serious Outlook A much larger amount of bituminous I ous coal was moved over all the rail railroads railI railroads roads of the country during the past I year than ever before beCore the bituminous tonnage of the Pennsylvania railroad alone on its lines east of Pittsburg be being beIng being I ing ton ons onn greater than for the previous year but the increased output lof Jf of bituminous was wan nearly all aU absorbed by the regular demands caused by the industries using that fuel so that there was little left to supply the deficiency In anthracite an While the railroads generally are ar making every possible ef of effort effort fort to increase the movement I regret to say that I do not pot think the present conditions will improve much mu h for sev several eral months to come So far as this company is concerned J no effort will be spared and in fact fa t have been In Iii force for lor some gome time past to give ghe preference ce to coal shipments over Oer all others both in the supply of cars and andin andIe in ir the movement |