The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1889-04-27
INSIDE VIEW OF THE B. AND 0.
interview With Senator German.

Interview Win senator 0OrAlsAn'
Senator German was in Baltimore last week,
and in reply to a question in reference to the
controversy about the Mt Clare shops said
II have always refused to be interviewed OF
to make any public statements in regard to
the affairs of the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad
Company since have been a director. In
view, however, OF the fact that the officers of
the Baltimore and Ohio Company have made
public the resolution which | offered at the
board meeting on Wednesday last-a resolu.
ton which was hastily drawn after the board
had met. and Of which there was no copy
except the one in the hands Of the secretary
Of the company together with the resolution
offered by Mr.. Frick as a substitute for mine,
accompanied by certain statements which
take it the press have received from the same
source they did the resolutions, | think am
at liberty to make short statement The
facts in the case are simply these;
about year ago, when the company was
in the midst Of its financial Difficulties the
then president, Mr.. Spencer, reported that, the
rolling stoek--that is, the engines and cars
was in such condition as to make il absolutely
necessary that It should be largely increased;
that the demands of the company required
moro than could be constructed within the
time allotted at the shops Of the company at
Mt. Glare, and that he was under the further
Impression that economy, as well as time,
required him to make contracts with private
establishments, aud thus ignore Mt Clare
entirely. / and other directors objected.
We demanded that if the engines and cars
could be constructed at Mt. Clare at or near
the same price at which be could contract
with Baldwin and other works for them, then
Mt Clare should receive the order. An ex-
animation was made by Mr.. Spencer, and
the result was that be decided to give Mt
Glare an order for all that the shops there
could turn ont, which. underStand, is about
four engines per month.
sAfier Mr.. Spencer retired and Mr.. Mayer
became president further additions TO The
engine aud car equipment were authorized BY
the board at a meeting at which | was not
present, and so far as know no intimatioE
was given that the policy of the company as
It has existed for over thirty years, Of keeping
up its own shops for construction, was to be
abandoned. While in New York week
since was informed By gentleman, who is
not and never has been connected officially
With the b and o., that the policy Of the
company was to be changed as soon as the
present order was filed at Mt Clare, and no
more new work was to be ordered at those
shops. Upon my return to Maryland was
waited upon BY committee who we're deeply
interested in the rumor, which had also
reached them, that such a change was to be
made.
AT meeting Of the finance committee on
Monday last stated fully and frankly to the
president and the members Of the committee
present the statements that had been made 10
me, and that had denied that there was any
snch purpose in yseu. To my establishment
and regret was informed by Mr.. Mayer that
such was the purpose Of the officers Of the !
company, that they were Of the opinion that
Mt. Glare should be used only for repairs, /
and quite discussion took place as to the
propriety OF this action.
ssWhen the board assembled on Wednesday I
no reference was made by the officers of the
company to this radical change Of policy, and 4
the opinion Of the directors was not asked, /
and became satisfied that in this maiter--as
in nearly all others involving questions Of
moment--the matter was TO be arranged and
concluded, and then brought to the board
for ratification. hastily drew up the resolu-
ton which has been published, and the result
is known.
I'm my opinion the policy about TO be
entered upon is unwise in the interest of the
company, is detrimental to the interest of the
and If one Of the reasoas assigned
be true, that is, that the skill of our mechanics
is DOT equal to that of those north and west of
us-humiliating in the extreme. have
labored under the impression that the policy
of the b. and o. from the beginning, ike that
of the Pennsylvania, the Erie and the other
trunk lines. of having the plant and skilled
operatives sufficient TO construct a large part
of the engines and cars required, was abso-
lutely necessary to protect the companies
against outside combinations, and added
largely TO the prosperity Of the communities
which gave the companies their being and
their trade. At all events believed il was
the height of uuwisdom to make this change
unless the strongest reasons we're given
therefor, but we have been favored vithnone
such. On the contrary, my information is
that the engines now being constructed at Mt.
Glare are equal in every respect to engines
constructed at any other works in the country,
and that the average cost viii compare favor
ably with the cost Of those of like character
purchased elsewhere. And the action Of the
board on Wednesday East will probably pre-
vent full investigation by committee upon
which both opinions ought to be represented.
The state directors and those OF the city, with
one exception, took the same view that did, !
but we were in the minority, and could do no
more than protest.
81 will not be led into any general discus
ZION Of B. and O. affairs, and would not have
aid this much but for the publications, which
we're unquestionably authorized by the officers
IF the company; but in that connection must
notice statement which appears in the Bal /
.imore Sun Of the 18th instant, to the eject
that as Senator German appeared as the chief
director, the controversy is said to have as.
,nmed semi political turn, and be was
charged with having political ends to serve
When was appointed director il the road
IN the part Of the state the affairs of the
,oaapany we're managed, as they always have {
,een, by the private stakeholder directors, or
zsher BY the officers selected by the private
aockholder directors, without the slightest
Interference on the part Of, or consideration
or the views Of, the state and city directors. :