Evening star., 1896-12-08
THEY ARa( INDIGNANT
Mr. Mayors Friends Object to Baltimore and
Ohio Statement.
1S !u =
Imputations of Wronsdoins and
Carelessne.s k4sented-Courts
to BE Appealed To.

startling developments will, 1t Is ex-
pected, be made in the affairs Of the Bal
timore and Ohio Railroad Company as
the result OF meeting of the Baltimore
reorganization committee Of that company.
which has been called to take place in
Baltimore Friday next
The subject to be considered will, 1t is
understood, be the long deferred report
on the condition Of the Baltimore ard
Ohio. as ascertained by Expert Stephen
Little, on November 80. 1895, and for dur
ing the little more then seven years pre-
vious or covering the period during which
Mr. charles F. Mayer was president.
Inc publication of the report has created
the most intense excitement in almost
every city In the east and the friends CT
Mr. Mayer are determined that he and
the board Of directors who were In Office
curing the years 1SSS'95 shall not rest un-
ger the imputation that they were the
cause OF the wrecking of one Of the finest
railroad properties in the world.
ihe report of Mr.. Little,' said men,
Der or the reorganization committee last
that the road was fraudulently managed
during the period of Mr.. Mayors admin
istrat1on The gentlemen referred to in
the report do not intend to rest Under that
lmputation, and as I understand 1t, the
committee intends also 20 use every legal
means to bring the whole truth IN refer
ence to the history of those years, SO far
as 1T relates to the Baltimore Ind Ohio.
10 hght and to place the responsibility
where 1t belongs.
The people who know Mr.. Mayer and
his former co-laborers 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 one OF those referred to in Mr.. Little's
report would wrongly convert a single dol
lar to his own use, and there they are
charged with careless business methods,
which have 1t is alleged. resulted in the
misuse of more than $12 UD.OGO
1T VIII not 1 believe, be very hard to
prove when the proper time comes that
rectors were 'bandaged as to the true state
of baltimore and Ohio affairs, and that If
errors were committed they were the re-
suit OF placing too much confidence In SUBJ
ordinate officials.
1T was expressly understood when Mr..
Mayer accepted the presidency Of the Balti-
more and Ohio in 1883 he was not to be
called upon to bear the more onerous duties
which had heretofore been attached to the
presidential office, but that he was only to
exercise general supervision of the great
matters with which the company had to
deal.
For this purpose the affairs of the road
were soon after Mr.. Mayer took charge
divided into three departments viz: Finan-
cial, physical and traffic. The financial de-
partment was placed in charge of First
division. which embraced every detail Of
construction and of operation. the purchase
OF rolling stock and equipment and rights
of way erection of terminal facilities and
multitude of other matters, was under the
direction Of Second Vice President Thomas
NJ. King, and the details Of traffic, SO far
as passengers were concerned, were in the
hands Of Thirds Vice President Chas. K.
Lord, with freight matters under the di-
rection of Freight Traffic Manager Frank
Harriott.
LAS to how contracts were made, or what
provisions they contained, it is not believed
that Mr.. Mayer knew anything about them
Until the respective paper was laid before
him for his approval or disapproval. AS
matter of fact he approved Of nearly every
thing that his subordinates did mean his
adyisers-and he could hardly be blamed for
that. They had, 1t was presumed, made a
careful study of the various questions, with
best course to pursue for the interests of
the company, and II he could not depend
ON them, who was there from whom he
could gain any reliable knowledge?
IF 1t be suggested that he ought to have
devoted more time to personal consldera-
ton of the various matters which it now
appe hrs got the company into the hands of
receivers. it can be truthfully said that Mr..
Mayer tried as hard to conscientiously per-
form the duties of his high position as any
man who ever occupied the office, and that
there are no reasons why he should be
ade the vicarious offering for the sins of
others, nor do his friends intend to permit
1t to be dore.
Speaking for myself, but also, as
know, rejecting the views of many promi-
nent holders of Baltimore and Ohio securi-
ties, l am free to declare the belief that a
full and unprejudiced examination of the
books and properties of the Baltimore and
Ohio railroad, such as we propose to make
If permitted by the court to do so, will
clear Mr. Mayer and his board of directors
of all blame of wrongdoing, and expose to
the world those who are responsible for the