The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1896-12-10
THEY ARE INDIGNANT.

i'iLi hNL lNUluNANl
baltimore 4 OhiU Statement Offend, Nr.
Mayer. Frlrnd,- ltr,cnt I mputatlons ~
wrong-Dolng.
washington Star: Startling develop.
mcnis viii, II Is expected, be made In
the affairs OF tho Baltimore h Ohio
Railroad Company as che result OF II
meeting OF tho Baltimore rcorgnniga.
ton committee Of that company, which
llns been called To tnkc place IN Ball.
more Friday next.
The subject TO DO considered will, Il
" unicrgtoOd, be the ng-dclcrrcd re.
port on the condition of the Baltimore
y ono, M aScertainGd by Expert Ste.
phcn Little. on November 30, 1895, and
Tor during the little more than seven
years previous or covering the period
during which Mr.. Charles +. Mayer
wnH president.
The publication Of the report has
created the most Intense excitement IN
almost every city In tho east and tho
friends OF Mr., Mayer are determined
that he and the board OF directors who
were In office during the years 1888
'9j shall not rest under the imputation
that they were the cause OF the wreck.
Ing OF one OF the finest railroad prop.
critics In the world.
THE report of Mr.. Little" snId n
member OF the Reorganization com.
mtttee last night to Il Star reporter,
states plainly that the road was
trnudulcntly managed during the per-
Tod OF Mr.. Mayors administration. The
gentlemen referred TO IN tho report
do not intend to rest under that i'm
putation, aud. as | understand 1t, the
committee intends also TO use every
legal means to bring the whole truth
In reference TO the history OF those
years. 10 far rs Il relates to the DUltl-
more d Ohio, GO light aud to place the
responsibility where Il belongs.
THE people who know Mr., Mayer
and his former C~O-laborcrS In the board
OF directors, know aS firmly as they
can know anything outside OF matters
with which they have direct personal
contact that not OF those referred
TO In Mr.. Little's report would wrongly
convert n single dollar TO his own use,
and there they are charged 9Th care
less business methods, which, have. Il
more than $4,000. 900.
at will not. ! believe, be very hn-d
TO prove when the proper time comes
that the. eyes OF Mr.. Mayer md che
other directors were 'bandaGcd' as 10
the true state OF Baltimore 4 Ohio
affairs, and that II errors were com-
mitted they were the result OF plnc-
Ing too much confidence IN subordl-
nate officials.
1T was expressly understood when
Mr.. Mayer accepted the presidency of
the Baltimore x Ohio In 1855 he was
not to be called upon TO bear the more
onerouS duties which had heretofore
been attached to the presidential Of
flee. but that he vas only TO exercise
a general supervision OF the great mat.
tiers with which the company had TO
deal.
For this purpose the affairs OF the
road were 500 after Mr.. Mayer took
charge, divided into three departments.
viz: Financial. physical and traffic. The
financial department was placed In
charge OF First Vice President Orland
Smith; the physical division, which
embraced every detail OF construction
and OF operation. the purchase OF roll
Ing stock and equipment and rights
OF way. erection OF terminal facilities
and n multitude OF other matters, was
under the direction OF Second Vice
President Thomas VI. King, and the
details OF traffic, 50 far rs passengers
were concerned, were In the hands OF
Third Vice President Charles X. lord,
with freight matters under thu direc-
ton OF Freight Traffic Manager Frank
Harriott.
AS to how contracts were made. or
what provisions they contained, It is
not belieyed that Mr, Mayer knew
anything about them until the respec-
tive paper was laid before him for his
approval or disapproval. AS 4 matter
OF fact he approved Of nearly every
thing that his subordlnateS did
mean his advlScrs-and he could hard
~ be blamed for that. They had. 1t
was presumed, made 4 careful study OF
the various questions. with n view OF
recommending to M. Mayer the best
course 10 pursue for the interests OF
the company, and II he could not de-
pend on them, who was there from
whom he could gain, any reliable
knowledge?
az It be suggested that he ought TO
have devoted more time TO personal
consideration OF the various matters
which It now appears got the company
into the hands of receivers, Il can be
t~ruthfully said that Mr.. Mayec tried rs
hard co co~nscientiously perform tile
duties OF his high position as any man
who cver occupied the office. and that
there arc no reasons why he should
be made the vicarious Offering for the
sins OF others. nor do his friends In
tend 10 permit It to be done.
Speaking FOX myself. but also, as |
know. rejecting the Views OF many
prominent holders o. Baltimore & Ohio
securities, / am free TO declare the be-
lief that 4 full and unpreJudiced eN-
animation OF the books and properties
OF the Baltimore & Ohio railroad. such
as we propose to make 1t permitted by
the court to do so. will clear Mr.. May
or and his board OF directors OF all
blame OF wrong-doiaG, and expose to
the world those who are responsible
for the insolvency of that one great
company"