The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-05-28
STATE or PANIC
IN PENN OFFICES
Operators Declare Prospect OF
Suit for Millions Alarms
Heads of Road.
.BseR MAY SUCCEED CAssAT1.
More Rumors That President
Will Resign After Fight
is Over.

PHILADELPHIA, PA, May s7.-Tic
hurried return of Alexander ]. Cassatt
pres,dcnt Of the Pennsylvania Railroad
Company, who Is passenger on board
tho Hamburg American Line steamship
America. which sailed from Cherboury
for New york Friday and the grave
Significance OF this interruption OF the
railroad mans European tour, yesterday
furnished an interesting theme FOR
speculation to the many coal operators
or their representatives who have been
constant attendants at the meetings OF
the Interstate Commerce Commission In
this city.
Most Of them remained in Philadelphia
to consult with their lawyers who have
charge OF the pending suits against the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company for OIL
legged determinations in the distribution
OF cars, or who are preparing evidence
to be submitted in Forthcoming suits.
Urgently Called to Philadelphia.
Mr.. Cassatt booked his passage while
the steamship train was waiting ut the
station. Consequently his name was not
entered on the passenger list He IN
formed steamship official that he had
intended sailing later, but that he had
So overwhelming was the mass OF evil
dencc OF widespread ]" graft" among the
officers and employees OF the PENNSYLVANIA
system brought out ut the Interstate
Commerce Commission g inquiry here that
the aggrieved operators are confident Of
winning their suits and establishing
new order OF relations with the railroad
company which will permit general COM
petition upon an equitable basis, wholly
%s,%t.o 1t~
opinion. ruinous favortisn1, whose exten-
sion to limited few has worked such
evil to the many shippers dependent upon
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company for
the marketing OF their product.
That the Pennsylvania Is thoroughly
aroused. II not apprehensive Of disastrous
consequences, by the admission OF of1l q
Gals of high and low degree that graft
is elementally as we'll rs elementary in
the transactions between the shippers
who would achieve pronounced success
and certain railroad officers and employees
who are potential agents in the regula-
ton OF the car. supply, was the unanimous
opinion among the lingering operators.
and the attitude Of President Cassatt on
his return toward the offenders was
widely discussed in all its possible phases
Also the attitude OF the stockholders
(particularly the thousands whose shold-
ings are sn1all) toward President Cassatt
proved fruitful subject Of these dis
cusslons, for vague Erumors were afloat
that possibly the head OF the Pennsyl-
gvania Railroad Company might be asked
to resign as an initiatory step in the
direction of reform. "a W
Baer May Succeer lin.
+44 Otherzrumors rean firrn4 theSrenort--onr-
rent for several days that7'Mr. Cassatt
Will resign the presidency OF the Pennsy
as soon as this coal investigation is over
and he has seen the fight through. Finan-
cial circles heard yesterday that big in
terests Of New York have expressed
themselves as favorable to the election
of George F. Baer as president Of the
Pennsylvania Railroad
Financial interests have come to look
upon President Baer as the exponent OF
strict honesty In corporation manage
nent. With all his warped views on
some subjects. he has time and again
give evidence that he cannot be swerved
from what he believes to be right. Z
Mr.. Baer's remarkable tGutterance last
Tuesday night at dinner Of Reading Of
I ficers stated clearly his views OF right
and wrong in corporation management.
He said
THE Reading Railway Company has the
highest standard Of any railroad com
pany In the world for integrity in It's
management. know that the officers of
THE Reading are loyal, capable and true,
and If all companies were Sas free from
faint as ours. there would be no room
70 rcrlticism anywhere S9t5 4 &
Inside interests in the Pennsylvania
Railroad understand that 1t is President
Cassatt's purpose to go on the witness
stand at the first opportunity. Precise
time and place for the next hearing by
the commission will be fixed on Thursday
in Washington at n conference with VIII
liam A Glasgow, Jr., special counsel In
this investigation.
Suith for $4,000, 900.
Z Among the suits already brought by
coal operators against the Pennsylvania
Railroad Company on charges Of discrlm-
nation OF the distribution OF cars, most
important In point of amount OF DAM
ages asked are those OF the Pennsylvania
Coal and Coke Company, $2.600. 900, and
the Federal Coal Company, SIC, 900. But
1t was estimated yesterday by a we'll
known operator, who recently and with
success sued the Baltimore and Ohio
Railroad Company for discrimination,
that OF the 500 shippers whose business
has been seriously impaired BY favors IN
the supply OF cars to certain competitors
fully 10o might be counted upon to enter
suits averaging sa5o,oO0 making grand
total Of $25 .0nO, 900.
.Undoubtedly there would be many
mora slits," he continued, "but many OF
the shippers, through laxity of business
methods or their inability to keap up with
the commercial times. have permitted
much evidence which would have sub
Stimulated their cases to lapse Into worth
iossness. These men by submitting to the
: !sraftng system without formal protest
have partially, II not wholly, vit!atel
their positions as prospective plaintiffs In
damage suits. so ! am Informed by my
legal advisers. still there will be suffl-
Client With perfectly valid claims to make
things merry in tho courts for some time
to come.
Company seek to appease the operators
Nv immediate amendment OF the discrep-
ancies in the distributlons Of cars?"
"Thnt is a question cannot ansNR'
with any degree OF certitude," was the
ranly. ..Things are In rather chaotic