Evening star., 1896-12-22
THE SEABOARD AIR LINE
President Hoffman Wanted to Change the
Financial Agent.
The Opposition Was Too strong and
the Mercantile Trust Company VIII
Continue Other Matters.

The railroad world has been much ex-
cited for week past regarding the pro-
ceedings of meeting of the board of di-
rectors of the Seaboard Air Line, which
took place at Portsmouth, but concerning
which nothing has until now been made
known. All sorts of rumors have been in
circulation as to what there transp;red
and the accepted belief I'm most circles has
been that the Seaboard was getting ready
to renew active hostilities with the South
ern Railway Company.
MIR. HoHman's Proposition.
The Star is able 10 state on the highest
authority that there is not the slightest
probability that there will be another rate
war between the two companies named.
and that the most earnest efforts will be
made by the managers OF both companies
TO secure as much business as possible at
remunerative rates; also that the special
matter under consideration by the directors
was proposition made by President r.
Curzon HOFFMAN TO take from the Mercan-
tile Trust and Deposit Company of Baiti-
more the financial agency of the Seahoard
Which II has had for number of years.
and 10 select another agent Ii is said that
Mr. norman frankly stated that the rea-
son he wanted to make a change in the
financial agency of the road was because of
the course recently pursued by Gen. John
GIL, the president of the Mercantile Trust.
and Deposit Company. in forming a pool.
the object of which WAS to enable outside
parties to get control of the Seaboard. and
as matter of course. oust Mir. Hoffman
from his present position.
The Opposition Won.
Much 10 the surprise of the friends of
Gen. Gill, Messrs. Louis McLane and c.
D. Fisher. the former of whom is one of
Mr.. Hoffman's closest friends and the man
aging member of the Hoffman-McLane
pool, rallied to the defense of the Mer-
camille Trust Company and took the
grou:id that Ger. Gill had not in MS ac-
tion Re lativa to the conduct of the affairs
OF his syndicate done anything more than
as business man and holder of Seaboard
securities he had perfect right 10 40, aud
that there was no reason tG make a change
In the agency.
subsequently Gen. Gill and President
Hoffman met in Baltimore, and after
conversation regarding recent history. par
ticuiHly OF the SnanoarG Air Line, settled
their differences. and hereafter Il is ex-
pected there will BE- nc friction between
the two gentlemen.
1t is also understood that as a result of
the bridging of the chasm between the
TWO magnates the opposition OF Mr.. Hoff-
mans friends to the reelection of Gen
Gill to the presidency Of the Mercantile
Trust and Deposit Company will cease.
Mr.. Robinson's Death Will Have No
Effect
There is considerable talk among railroad
men as to the probable effect in Seaboard
interests of the sudden death of Mr. Mon
cure Robinson a few days ago. Mr.. Rob-
inson having been one of the pool which
held 5000 shares of the Seaboard stock and
who was also one of those who was unal-
terably opposed TO permitting the Seaboard
20 pass out of the control of the present
management.
1t is not likely that the sad event will
nave any effect whatever in the direction
IN winch the alarm reported was felt as
Mir. Robinsons stock, as is also that of the
majority of the holders is bound up in the
pool arrangement FOR five years and the
agreement, which was drawn up i'm strictly
legal form, cannot be dissolved during that
period except with the consent of three
fourths of the stock deposited.
To Remove the Injunction.
1t is understood that General Counsel l.,
X Watts of the Seaboard will at an early
date ask Judge Hughes of the United States
court at Richmond to name day in Jam
uary upon which the former can move to
nave removed the temporary injunction
granted some months ago by the court to
prevent the Seaboard Air Line from re-
ducing rates
Ihe proposed action of Judge Watts is
regarded as a step that is necessary TO be
taken In order to formally close the legal
proceedings instituted when the active hos
tiltles were going Oh some time ago, as the
case was practically abandoned by the Mer-
cahtile Trust and Deposit Company of Bal
timore, which instituted IT, long since