Las Vegas daily optic. [volume] (Las Vegas, N.M.) 1880-1908, 1904-06-29
It May Be
j. W. B. BiddIe
Morton's Successor. Man
Who Resigned Fortune
a Year For $4,000

In connection with the coming re,
tirement Of Paul Morton of the Santa
Re to enter the presidents cabinet as
secretary Of the navy. the Los Angeles
Express has the following:
Regret was mingled with gratif.
cation at Santa Fe headquarters when
II became known that Second Vice
President Paul Morton would sever
his connection with the company, the
result Of his appointment as secretary
Of the navy.
Mr.. Morton is known personally TO
every Santa Fe employee attached to
Los Angeles headquarters. and he il. a
general fayorite, due to his uniform
courtesy to subordinates. no matter
what position they occupy.
He was last in the city about three
months ago, when he Investigated the
request for a reduction in the orange
rate.
The naval secretary for years has
enjoyed the friendship and esteem Of
nearly the entire business commun.
ity, not only in Los Angeles, but every
where in California, and no one knows
the needs OF the state better than
Paul Morton.
For years Mr.. Morton has been IN
the habit of making two trips a year
to Los Angeles. and he eve has neg
lected an opportunity to come to the
state at other times in order that he
might study for himself the progress
made in its material development.
AS secretary Of the navy Mr.. Nor
ton will be in position to render to
California exceptional services from
time to time, that department being of
value to the entire state, because of
the extensive sea coast, with navy
yards and other government property,
at Mare Island, Vallejo, San Diego
and other parts, including San Fran
cisco.
In his new position Mr.. Morton re-
signs a salary stated to be 100000 a
year for $4,000 a year, the pay of an
American cabinet officer, but as he is
a mar of wealth the ~pecuniary loss
cannot affect him. News of the ap
pointment was telegraphed to General
Manager Wells, of the Santa Fe. early
in the day, Mr.. Wells being in San
Francisco.
Mr.. Morton's resignation leaves a
vacancy in the Santa Fee, and the opin
ion at local headquarters that w. b.
Biddle, freight traffic manager, will re-
ceive the promotion. With Passenger
Traffic Manager George I. Nicholson,
Mr.. Biddle is directly in line for the
g honor, and the presumption is
that the last named will land
In the event of his elevation J. f.
German, assistant freight traffic mana
ger. who was promoted from the po-
sition Of general freight agent a few
weeks age, will be appointed freight
traffic manager, although Assistant
Traffic Manager. W. IA. Bissell, ranks
Mr.. German in length Of Santa Re ~
vice.
Next in line Is Edward Chambers,
general freight agent Of the Santa Fe
divisions in local jurisdiction, who now
is enroute 10 Chicago, and who may
not return TO Los Angeles in bis pres
ent position, y
In the event the Morton vacancy is
filled from among the list of present
Santa Fe officials, the rank and file
of the company's force will not be dis
turbed.
Vice President Pail Morton's sue
cqssor will be named by President
Ripley.
Engineer In Trouble.
c. table Medlin of Needles was in
tow this morning, says the San Der
nard.do Times.Index. He states that
when he left Needles. Engineer Mon
ahan was under arrest there charged
with murderous assault on a strike
breaker at whom he took a shot. The
engineers side Of the trouble could mo-
be learned. but from the strike break.
or. who escaped being seriously in
Hired. II Is learned that he was re.
to the shops late the other
night when he passed several train
Hp, who asked him where he had
tfatn, and when he replied that he
was 1kaying a good time, n Of them
req 6hded with profanity, and several