New-York tribune., 1906-06-14
PAID FOR PRIVATE CARS
Pennsylvania Road Acted as Go
betzceen for Mining Companies.

Philadelphia, June 1S.-Orders for private cars to
be used by Independent coal mining companies
were placed with the Pressed Steel Car Company
by the PENNSYLVANIA Railroad Company and paid
1or by that corporation. which afterward settled
with the coal companies. This fact was estab-
ished at to-days session of the Interstate Com
merce Commission through the testimony of H. z.
Swartz chief clerk of the sales department of the
Pressed Steel Car Company and by information
volunteered by Francis l. Gowen. counsel for the
railroad company.
Mr.. swartz's memory was uncertain. but after
persistent questioning by Mr. Glasgow he recol-
lected that orders for private to be used. he
believed by the Keystone and the Berwind-White
companies, had been placed with the building
company. He did not know who paid for them, but
Mr. Gowen said it in evidence that the Penn
syivania Railroad Company. having made the con-
tracts was obligated for the cost. This informa-
ton caused surprise to Mr.. Glasgow, who said the
fact was not in evidence and that he had been
trying TO obtain the information On being assured
by Mr. Gowen that payment for the made
to the railroad by the coal companies Mr.. Glasgow
Immediately asked that the vouchers be filed with
the commission. 1t learned from the witness
that cars ordered in bulk by the railroad got the
benefit of a special rate, but he unable to say
If the coal companies proted by this cement.
Frederick Macgowan, treasurer of the Berwind-
White company was recalled, but professed almost
entire Ignorance of the business transactions of the
company. His attitude, coupled with the Interrupt
tons of Charles Heebner counsel for the coal COM
pany, resulted in lively tilt between counsel and
elected vigorous comment on the part of Commits
soner Cockrel. who, with shrug of his shoulders.
declared it was useless to nterrogate the witness
E. B. Chase, sales agent for the Berwind-White
company, presented statement of cars received at
the Scalp Level operations OF the company during
1893, which was found to be at variance with
table previously filed by the Pennsylvania Railroad.
He was asked to examine them and inform the
committee later which correct
Mr.. Chase was asked to name some of the more
important competitors of Berwind- White, and men
toned the Pennsylvania Coal and Coke Company
and the keystone Coal and Coke Company as the
strongest competitors. He was asked il the KEY
stone company had ever endeavored to take busi-
ness away from the Berwind-White company AT
certain points He knew of specific case he
SAID but both companies tried 10 get each others
trade where it could be accomplished honorably
Did you ever hear Mr. Berwind complain about
the methods of tho keystone company?' uueried
Mr.. Glasgow
Il never did"
You have attended meetings of the Tidewater
Association
u have"
Did Mr.. Berwind never complain at any OF the
meetings of that association about the keystone
company trying to take away Berwind- Whites
bUs!ness?'
Il never heard him"
What has that got to do with this investiga-
uon?" interjected Mr.. Heebner
III the Keystone company is taking the bus-
ness OF the Berwind-White company because OF its
relations with the railroad company it's mighty
important matter" retorted Mr.. Glasgow.
REQUESTED TO PAY ALLOWANCE
W. A. Guthrie, mine operator, told the COM
mission that when his committee applied at the
office of General Manager Atterbury OF the Penn
sylvania Railroad for order for company fuel
he was told he could get it by paying q clerk
named Huff, or Hof. in Mr.. Atterbury's office
allowance of three cents a ton. He did not say
" n iTnOOSad the conditions He reDOrted the +
ter to president Pngh and he obtained the
order without paying the allowance. Mr.. Pugh at
first discredted his story, the witness said
w. T. Mccullough auditor of freight receipts of
the New York Central Railroad was another wit
to-day. He presented numerous statements of
the system of auditing coal and oil receipts, and
explained them in detail In answer to questions
he said he had no knowledge OF any rebates hav-
ing been paid on oil shipments. and said the New
York Central had never adopted the system of
blind billing" the rates in every case oeins IN
serted in the charges.
II developed during the morning that the eA-
ecutive committee of the Chesapeake q ONO KAN
road is composed principally of ofhclals OF the
Pennsylvania and New York Central roads The
information was furnished at the commissioner
request in a letter received from the secretary OF
the Chesapeake & Ohio Company. who gave the
names Of the executive committee as follows;
Decatur Axtelle vice-president of the Chesapeake
r Ohio; w H Newman. president of the New YORK
Central: Samuel Rea and ]. b Thayer Vlce-presl-
dents of the Pennsylvania Railroad; George W.
Stevens president of the Chesapeake & Ohio
The membership of the executive committee OF
the Norfolk & Western Railroad, as furnished the
commission by the secretary of the company, IS as
follows: Samuel Rea and J. B. Thayer, or the
PENNSYLVANIA Railroad: 1. E. Johnson, president
of the Norfolk & Western; Henry Fink. chairman
of the Norfolk & Western; Victor Morawetz, chair
man of the executive committee of the Atchison,
Topeka & Santa Fe Railroad
Commissioner Clements announced to-day that the
heads of the soft coal carrying roads had been in
vited 10 appear before the commission when II
meets in Washington on June q. The appearance
of these officials is optional, subDcenas Will
be issued The presidents invited TO attend the
Washington hearing A. J. Cassatt Pennsyl-
vania Railroad; Oscar g. Murray, Baltimore & OHIO
Railroad; L. f. Johnson, Norfolk & western Rail
road; George W. Stevens, Chesapeake Ohio Rail-
road: w II. Newman, New York Central lines, and
A G. Yates Buffalo, Rochester & Pttsburg Rail-
road.
MIR Heebner said that z. J. Berwind, of the Ber-
wind White company, will testify tomorrow.
As result of the testimony given before the
Interstate Commerce Commission that the coal
shipped by the Berwind-White company over the
Pennsylvania lines is not weighed, instructions
have been issued by the railroad company that all
coal shipped to tidewater by the Berwfnd-White
company must be weighed and not estimated.
Hereafter all coal trains of the Berwtnd-White
company will be stopped either Altoona or Holli-
dayburg and the coal weighed. An additional force
of clerks has been provided at those points TO ex-
pedite the weighing.