The New York herald., 1879-08-29
Mr.. Vanderbilt TestifeS Concerning the
LiLeS that He Rules.
RETICENT on HIS PRIVATE AFFAIRS
Rates for Through and Local Freights
Thoroughly Discussed.
Icy TELEGRAPH TO THE HERALD

mittee and their lawyer. Mr. Sterne. conducted the
business. for while the former. with proper show
Of dignity sat in their places and ceased
lounging about the room, Mr.. Sternc prac-
tised less the art Of prosecuting attor-
ney and general obstructonist. The chairman.
Oh one two occasions actually found It necessary
to check him when he pressed Mr.. Vanderbilt for
the books and papers of the Wagner Sleeping Car
Company which Mr.. Vanderbilt repeatedly declared
not in his custody. 1t did to occur to
Mr.. Sterne. any than it had in the of the
Standard Oil Company. that the proper persons to
give the information and produce the books
the officers Of the company. What his
object in this kind of inquiry may be
no one can discover. unless it is to time.
which has already been frittered away in very
less manner and at . most unnecessary expense to
the State. When the session commenced to-day the
question pending the put to Mr.. Vanderbilt
last night to the amount of stock he in the
Wagner Company. Mr.. Depew. counsel for Mr..
Vanderbilt, objected to this question only de-
signed to draw out from the witness schedule of
his property. and not being within the scope of
the committees duties. The Wagner company
is private company entirely independent Of the
railroads, and has existence in other States
and in the Dominion well in New York. Mr..
Vanderbilt had already stated that he has interest
in this company which is only his private busi
ness The committee had . right to call for the con-
tracts between the company aud the New York rail-
roads. and these are in its possession. 1t cannot
further inquire into Mr.. vanderbilts private
affairs, unless 1t has q rowing commission to
investigate everything and everybody for the graft
fcation Of prurent curiosity. The committee
then changed its ground and. Mr.. Vanderbilt had
admitted that he was a stockholder in tho Wagner
Company, called upon him to produce all it's books
and papers and to show it's receipts expenditures.
contracts, business and net profits. To this Mr..
Depew~ objected. the ground that the
company does business in other States and in
foreign country. and that the Legislature. IL
in session, could not demand its books, papers
or accounts relating to business transacted any
where but in the State OF New York The committee
overruled the objection, and after q useless badger
ing Of Mr.. Vanderbilt who stated that he had no
books. papers accounts belonging to the COM
pany Mr. Depewss suggested that the committee had
better call of Mr.. Sterne and subpoena the off,
GERS of the Wagner company. who were the
proper custodians Of its books and &C.
counts. Mr.. vanderbuts examination will be
continued to-morrov. It is stated that some
Of the members Of the committee will insist that
Mr. Sterne be called . witness. and will require
him to produce any correspondence he may have
HAD with Mr.. McHenry other London parties.
| Mr.. S. ]. Tilden. Andrew H. Green. any Of the
I
with the president or directors the Baltimore and
Ohio and Pennsylvania Central railroads.
4 LEGAL TILT.
Mr.. Vanderbilt took the stand and Mr.. Sterne con-
Quoted the examination Mr.. Vanderbilt was asked
by the committee TO produce documents showing
the amount OF stock. capital invested. earnings and
dividends declared rates of fares and all other infor
nation pertaining to the financial management Of
the Wagner Sleeping Coach and the Wagner Parior
Mr.. Depew objected. saying that Mr.. Vanderbilt
as a simple stakeholder had no right means to
Ns1,1ca tha He 10
the facts called for by the authority Of the COM
mittee either before them in evidence or in
documents As eighty per cent of the Wagner Com
panys business was done outside OF New York State
he thought it out of the power of the committee
| The committee only inquire to the contract
between this railroad company and the Sleeping and
Parlor Car Company and the financial statistics re-
Mr. Hepburn explained tlength the circumstances
of the formation of the committee. the committees
relations with the Chamber Of Commerce. Board OF
Trade and other organizations throughout the state
and its scope and powers He was OF the opinion
not in itself assumption that there anything
wrong in the management of the company. He
thought however, that the committee had full
! power to compel the production OF the statistics
called for.
MT Depew thought the question should be divided.
as there were matter, called for in 1t by the
committee of which MIR. Vanderbilt had no knowl-
edge He also thought that the railroad company
and its counsel should be separated from the car
company and its counsel and that the latter should
be called on for the information desired
| Mr. Burrill, also of counsel for Mr.. Vanderbilt,
thought this committee should exercise its power
and bring before it the persons in whose hands the
documents called for the witness. he said.
has not the information and papers called there
fore the inquiry should be divided.
| ON examination, Mr.. Vanderbilt understood that
| the Wagner Company composed OF ono two
hundred people (ncorporated) he had positive
information the subject. but thought Mr.. Wagner
| had all tho power of management in his hands.
aud that Whatever he did was acquiesced In by the
| DIVISION OF THE EARNINGS.
Mr.. Sterne handed Mr.. Vanderbilt paper. and
asked if the payments therein to the railroad
Mr.. Vanderbilt stated that the amount mentioned
! twenty per cent? was OF the gross earnings. I'VE
Wagner paid the porters and CONDUCTOR The
contract made ut his suggestion. "There Is .
large stockholding interest In common in New York
| ''the stock own in the Wagner Company Is Aloin
] my name; have to have these drawing room cars
! In relation to the oil matter. If shipments werc
satisfactory to u.s." he said. I'VE would
pany when the road built for shippers.
before mentioned aud they violated the agreement.
shippers; Dunkirk. Pittsburg and Allegheny Valley
the road; we did get our share OF the business
from that locality; understand that many rehners
Company failed hold no stock In the Merchants
Despatch Company; the New York Central has no
has; 1 think that for years that company paid
no dividends. but put all It's EARNINGS into
owned by the American Express Company;
the roads of us wished to cripple Il and pre-
ferrcd the cooperative opposing line; opposed this
as the New York central could afford to lose the
business which it controlled; II had about 1000
agents. we bought some OF the stock from the
! press company, and tho other roads did
! the same; the business Of the Merchants
/ Despatch Company almost all first class,
| which the cooperative limos could not get;
the fast freight lines were originally owned by
private individuals, and were subsequently merged
into cooperative companies; sm not stock knolder
! III the Union stock Yard and Market Company; the
company leases and occupies the yards OWNED by
the New York Central" He gave a reason for
leasing IL that the New York Central could not
the cattle yard business at terminal point very
successfully The parties who lease IL control ship
ments and understand IL better than we
do; thought IL good thing that
the 'Evener system broken up"
He broke 1t up. he said because of the dishonesty of
AS il now exists IL that every man acts his own
evener. eve now give shippers rate OF eighty