Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1906-06-08
ANOTHER EMPl0YE A CRATER
Witness confesses That Community
of Interest Plan Followed Close on
the Abolition of Relating by the
compauy-private Car Lines OBJ
Iected To.
(Bv Associated Press.)

New light was shed today ON the
motives leading to the abolition of
freight rebates by the railroads.
when James McCrea, first vice presl-
Gent of the Pennsylvania company.
which operates the Pennsylvania lines
west of Pittsburg, appeared as a wit
css before the Interstate Commerce
Commission. f5 D
Mr.. McCrea expressed himself us
favorable 10 publicity in the rating
of mines and in The distribution Of
the cars. He surprised the commits
Sioners and their counsel by announc-
ing that for nearly two years and
lip to the time of President Cassatts
recent departure for Europe, the
board Of directors of the Pennsyl-
vania railroad. of which he was 4,
member. had been considering means
for eliminating the private car from
the lines of the company. He de-
Clured that the company had con
cluded that the use of these cars
was unwise
Towards the conclusion of his tes-
timony, Attorney General Glasgow
asked Mr. McCrea when President
Cassatt decided to stop rebating.
One Evil Followed Another.
Just as soon as he got control OF
the Pennsylvania railroad; that was
in 1882 said Mr.. McCrea.
simultaneously the community of
interest plan was adopted, was it
no;?" was Mr.. Glasgow's next ques-
ton. 49,. y
After replying to numerous qucs-
tons. Mr. McCrea admitted. finally.
that the rebatng stopped when the
community Of interests plan started.
He asserted that the shipper was
never SO fairly treated as now He.
has stable rates and is placed in d
fair position with his competitors
Cassatt Owned Coal Stock.
MeCrea said he was interested in
the Westmoreland Coal Company.
"Mr Cassatt was also interested
in that company, was he not?"
queried Mr.. Glasgow.
lie had small holding" was Mr..
McCrea's reply.
Joseph X Aiken, who has been
chief clerk in the superintendent
office of the Monongahela division of
the Pennsylvania railroad, revealed
as startling evidence as that given
by Joseph p. Boyer before the com
mission yesterday On salary
which he said varied from $50 to
si2G per month. Aiken had purchased
stock in different coal companies
amounting to nearly $4,000 lie adj
mitted having received gifts of cash
from coal operators OH the Pennsyl.
vania lines, and also received $50 a
month for several months from
company store.
independent Dealer Held Up.
+. Potter president of the Done
hoe Coal and Coke Company. whose
operations are located in Westmore-
land county. charged that The Penn
sylvana railroad had praciicea gross
discrimination in the distribution of
cars TO his company
One car day was his allowance
for seven months. he declared.
MIR. Glasgow asked the witness if
his company was able to learn the
rating of the neighhoring mines.
1--WE sent detective to the Loyal
hanna mine the witness said, ito
'see how many cars were sent there.
They shot at him and he was afraid
to go back.
President Casaatt today directed
the immediate dismissal of Joseph.
B. Boyer who yesterday confessed
to receiving commissions on coal
purchased for the railroad company.