The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-26
PENN. CAR SUPPLY.
Inquiry Into Goal and Oil
Traffic
JOHN B. THAYER ON STAND
Fourth Vice President of the
Pennsylvania Road
The Method Of Car Supply and Dis
of the Road Explained.
Thayer Gives Results of Inyestiga-
ton by the Pennsylvania as to Pri-
t Cars-Chief Accountant HOff of
Philadelphia Closely Questioned on
Certain Matters.

f"hS 1CSOulItdkt HUI Vi
Philadelphia Closely Questioned on
Certain Matters.
Washington, June 21.-When the n
terstate commerce commission met TO-
day to continue it's inquiry into the
coal and oil traffic Of the several rail-
roads, Chairman Knapp announced
that tOday's session primarily was for
the purpose of allowing eastern Di-
luminous roads, which have been IN
der investigation, an opportunity %
make any statement or submit any les
timony which they might desire 10 do.
John B. Thayer, fourth vice presi-
dent Of the Pennsylvania road, explain
ed the method of car supply, and dis
tribution of that road.
The basic principle of the distrlou-
tion,' said Mr.. Thayer, lis to take the
ratings Of the mines as one factor:
their commercial capacity based on The
tonnage We have taken for certain pc
RODS as another factor, to arrive at
the proper percentage, and then, in the
distribution of the cars, the Individual
car and the car which is furnished for
fuel for the railroad company, is count
ed against that capacity. That is the
method which was partially put into
effect in November last, in some of
the regions and On January last finally
in all the regions on our road"
Was hat a matter OF a sudden
change or was it a matter Of gradual
progress?" inquired Mr.. Patterson.
The witness replied that it was not
a sudden change. ut was a growth"
he said, of what you might call expe-
rience, growing largely out of the cor
ditions of the confusion during the
strike period"
Mr.. Thayer entered into an elaborate
vestigatiOn by his road of private cars.
He said that prior to sailing for Eu-
rope in May last President Cassatt gave
orders for the discOntlnuanco OF the in
divldual car system on the Pennsylva-
mia road and had been provoked be-
cause the subordinate officials did not
feel able in operating the traffic de-
partment to carry out that policy.
He said that Vice President Pugh and
himself took the responsibility of sus-
pending the order, assigning as a rea-
SOL hat they were more directly III
touch with the burdens of that bust
ness. eve felt" said Mr.. Thayer,
that in justice to those men who nave
placed their money in the Individual
car and perhaps in justice to a large
portion of the consuming public that
we ought to go through this next win
ter. We all hope Dur experience will
prove that we will at last be able to
accommodate u traffic to a large TX
tent by our own cars"
Mr.. Thayer said there were $4,000
in his individual cars in operation in
the Pennsylvania system and that
their use aroused the suspicious and
iealousies of the small shipper.
Mr.. Thayer believed the system Of
mine ratings of the Pennsylvania rail-
road was as fair as any that could be
devised.
Mr.. Thayer said it would be difficult
vent charges of car discrimination
where private cars and those furnished
by the railroads are operated together.
Mr.. Thayer said the car distribution
sheets were published and always open
to the inspection of shippers in the Of
flee Of the superintendent of transpor-
tation and in the various offices in the
region of the mines. 1t was, however,
a tentative system, subject to change.
The witness declared it was o true
that during the coal famine cars were
denied to certain operators while they
were supplied 10 others. as had been
alleged at previous hearings. There
were, however. at that time, he said.
a number of shippers who were desir-
Gus Of making shipments for specula-
tive purposes and, he said, I'VE left
them Out Of our calculations because
they wished to ship coal at high prices
and force it on the consumers. Of
course we gave the preference TO the
operators with whom we had con-
tracts"
Mr.. Glasgow, counsel for the com
mission, asked the witness if he in
Guided the Donaho Coal and Coke com
pany and the Jamison Coal company
in his characterization Of "specula-
tors" to which the reply was made
that there was not an operator or spec
ulaeor at that time who would not
claim he had a contract with the Penn
sy7vania railroad to transport coal. He
said the Donaho company had entered
suit against the Pennsylvania company
and added:
"If they prove a contract we will
have to pay the bill"
Frank Hof, of Philadelphia, chief
accountant IN the general managers
Office, Of the Pennsylvania railroad
company, was closely questioned re-
garding his relations with Joseph B.
Boyer, former chief clerk at Altoona.
who testified in Philadelphia to receiv-
inc q nercenfaQe on fuel coal furnished