The San Francisco call., 1898-05-07
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aged railroad magnate sought to enter tain those who were within the sound of his voice. He related with much particu- larity the incidents of a meeting of Bos- ton bankers that occurred away back in the early sixties, when he and the other
 members of the Big Four had nothing be- tween them and starvation save a cash loan from the Government of $60, GOO 900 and a land grant that might have con- stituted kings domain. The bankers, he said, wished to buy his bonds for 50 cents on the dollar but he, fired with the spirit Of his own great worth as a finan- cier, told them that he would "see them further In hell than they were out" before
 he would take less than 75 cents on the
 dollar. Thereupon the bankers immedi- ately capitulated and the future magnate
 was soon on his way back to his asso- ciates with a million and a half dollars jingling merrily in his inside pocket.
 Strange to say Huntington could not remember how this money so bravely won had been invested, but he remembered perfectly the name of each and every one of the twelve bankers who had weakened at his furious onslaught He even sought to relate a few personal "reminiscences of from doing so in time to save the official stenographer from stroke of pen paralysis.
 Chairman La Rue wanted to know what had been paid for the construction of the Central Pacific Railroad. Hunting ton was willing to tell all that he knew about the matter, though he warned the commission in advance that the transac- tion had occurred so many years ago that his memory was liable to play him false.
 Ut Is my recollection" he said, that the contractors undertook to build the road for all of the bonds and about $6O,- oVO,OoO worth of stock l think there was also some slight cash consideration also but just what it was has slipped my memory"
 Commissioner Hinton wanted to knew Ii 1t was not fact that the men who composed the Western Development Conl- pany were also the incofporators of the Contract and Finance Company. Hunt ington admitted that this might be true, put contended that even if it were so the Tact could not be seized dpon 10 furnish evidence or any illegal acts on the part cf the organizers of either corporation.
 Tt is not unlawful for men to con- tract with themselves,' he said, "provid- ed they be organized into two separate ana distinct corporations, as was the case which the road could be built a fact that of itself would justify the means if any justification were needed. I am sat- isfied with the part I took In the matter, and that goes"
 This sentiment, though somewhat sIaeg- fly expressed, seemed 10 afford the old gentleman no small amount of satisfac- ton, for he immediately settled back into another reminiscent period that only end ed when he had relieved himself of an other chapter of self-praise.
 Tn those days he said "the people thought we had accomplished a great undertaking, and that we were great men. They would almost have erected a monument in commemoration of our acts-not that I wanted any monument or have ever wanted one for anything that have done. 1 am very well satis- fled with myself and my work
 During the course of the afternoon the Commissioners propounded innumerable questions intended to elicit some informa- tion regarding the cost of construction of the various lines of the Southern Pa cific system, but were unable to gain any definite information on the subject Hunt ington had either forgotten or had never known. The session proved as fruitless of results IS others that have preceded 1t. An adjournment was taken until next Wednesday afternoon.