The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1892-02-25
A TEST WILL BE MADE
ATTORNEY GENERAL HENSEL At
NTACkS THE READING DEAL.

He Will Enforce the Constitution and
Bring All who Have Violated within
Its Control - Inspired by the Com
plants of Cassatt and Powderly.
HARRISBURG, Feb. 24.-It has been de-
cided by the attorney general to proceed
against the Reading Railroad company.
Mr.. Hensel last evening addressed let
ters to A. J. Cassatt, A. Mcleod, presi-
dent of the Philadelphia and Reading
Railroad company; ]. Rogers Maxwell,
president of the Central Railroad of
New Jersey; f. p. Wilbur, president of
the Lehigh Valley and L. V. Powderly
relative to the Philadelphia and Read
ing railroad deal. The following is q
copy of the letter addressed to Mr.. Cas-
satt.
To Mr.. A. J. Cassatt, 3O5 Walnut street. Phila-
delphia:
SmLThc governor Of the commonwealth has
referred to me your letter of Feb. 10, relating
TO the recent arrangement effected between
the Lehigh Valley Railroad company, the Cen
trail Railroad Company of New Jersey and the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad company,
whereby II is alleged the control Of the first
two named companies has been acquired by
the last named in violation of the constitution
of the commonwealth and to the prejudice of
the interests of the community. l am in
structed by the governor to take such action as
will enforce the constitution and bring all who
have violated within its control. In q recently
published statement L said n was the usual
practice of this Office 'to entertain any respect
able complaint of the abuse, misuse or use of
corporate franchises and upon due notice to
give full hearing to complaint and complained
against" and when IL is made TO appear that
the public interest is affected and the circum-
stances render II proper and necessary that the
commonwealth intervene, and resort is had 20
the courts wherein by fit judicial processes in
quiry is made ar ."dgment is reached"
In accordance tn that practice and refer
ring to the subject matter of your letter, beg
to inform you that l have fixed Thursday,
March 3, at l2 o'clock noon as the time when
and the chamber of the supreme court at Har-
risburg, as the place where l will hear the COM
plant you have already made or any further
matter bearing upon the subject thereof which
you may desire TO present, either in person or
by counsel; that have notified the presidents
OF the Lehigh Valley Railroad company, the
Central Railroad Company of New Jersey and
of the Philadelphia and Reading Railroad
company OF this appointment, and that they
will then and there be given like opportunity
to be heard in reply; and have called upon
them to furnish me then, or previous TO that
time, copies of the leases or agreements under
which they have made the arrangements COM
planned of. l have also fixed the same time
and place for the hearing of n like complaint
made by Mr.. T. V. Powderly.
Very truly yours,
w. U. HENsEL- Attorney General
Cassatt and Powderly Gave Him a Tip.
In the attorney generals communica-
ton TO Mr.. Mcleod, president of the
Philadelphia and Reading Railroad COM
pany, attention is called TO the letters
received from A. j. Cassatt and T. V.
Powderly complaining that the consti-
tuition of the state has been violated by
the lease of the Lehigh Valley and Jer-
sey Central railroads. Mr.. Mcleod is
also informed of the date of the hearing
and is requested to transmit at his
earliest convenience, or to produce at
the time Of the hearing, copies of the
agreement or lease alleged to have been
recently effected.
A letter similar to that directed to
Mr.. Mcleod has been sent by the attor-
ney general to j. Rogers Maxwell,
president of the Central Railroad of
New Jersey, and E. p. Wilbur, presi-
dent of the Lehigh railroad. A letter
has also been addressed to 7. V. Pow
derby, Scranton, Pa, in which the at
torney general calls attention to the
hearing on March 3, and says:
l will hear the complaint you have already
| made, or any further matter bearing upon the
| subject thereof, which you may desire TO pre-
sent either in person or by counsel, and that
have notified the presidents of the Lehigh Val.
| ley Railroad company, the Central Railroad
Company of New Jersey and Of the Philadel-
phia and Reading Railroad company of the
appointment, and that they will then and
there be given a like opportunity to be heard
| in reply, and l have called upon them to fur
| nish me then, or previous to that time, copies
| of the leases or agreements under which they
have made the arrangements complained Of.