Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1906-05-23
Pennsylvania Railroad Official
an Unwilling Witness at
Hearing Today
N TILT WITH ATTORNEYS
Questions About How He Acquired
Stock in Certain Companies Arouscs
His Wrath, But Commission Was
Relentless and He Was Compelled to
Answer.

ton. assistant to President CasSatt, of
the Pennsylvania railroad was the
first witness today before the inter-
state commerce commission, which is
making an inquiry into alleged dis
elimination of cars by railroads. Pat
ton was asked to tell what interest he
had in various coal companies. Con-
corning the Keystone Coal Company
shares, of which $500 are in his name,
he said he got the stock by purchase
and thru merging with the keystone
Company of smaller companies In
which he was Interested; five hundred
shares belonging to his brother, ].
Howard Patton, who Is interested in
coal properties in western Pennsyl-
.vania.
Patton proved an unwilling witness
when he was questioned about llls
holdings in the Atlantic Crushed Coke
Company. The examination resulted in
a tilt between witness and Attorney
Glasgow for the commission and caus-
ed impatient comment by Commission
eY Cockrell.
AC COIllLofSiSy 0SS0lACA CltSl
peated efforts had been made by Glas-
gov to draw from the witness a posi-
tive statement as to whether he had
paid any actual cash for his four hun
dred shares in the company Patton
made the explanation to the effect that
he became interested in a land pur-
chasing company thru his brother, who
represented the interests Of Colonel
George r. Huff. When the land was
purchased, he said the investors were
obliged to pay their pro rata share,
but as there had been no losses it was
not necessary to pay in cash.
s'You got that obligation back, didn't
you?"
81 did, in stock"
Were you required to pay anything
toward the purchase of the land?"
81 stood to lose, and had it been nec-
essary would have paid my share"
"As a matter of fact" said Chair
man Knapp, you took the risk but
didn't lose anything? ?"
Il was an investor" replied the wit
ness land was treated the same as
other investors"
Concerning the Huron Coal Company
Patton said he thought he had 500
shares, but was not certain, which he
acquired in the same manner as his
holdings in the Atlantic company. He
held stock in the Columbia Coal Com
pany at it's organization, but it be
came selling company instead Of an
operating company, and he sold the
stock to Greensburg, Pa, banking
company.
'.What bank took it
tsThe Cassatt bank"
In the Greenwich comany, Patton
said he had thousand shares and he
was obligated by note to the amount
of 500, 900 for purchase of the land. The
money was guaranteed by the Huffs S
bank at Greenburg. Witness said h/
got the money back thru the sale Of
bonds.
The examination of Patton developed
the fact that he held stock in a dozen
coal companies, 6,140 shares of which,
with a par value of 100000, he had
acquired without payment. In addi-
ton he owned 700 shares which had
been paid for.
'How do you explain the fact" quer-
led Glasgow, chat you acquired prin-
cipally thru George F. Huff such an
enormous amount of stock?"
Patton said he had been a lifelong
friend of Huff "FriendShip," he said.
"goes a good ways These stocks were
not given me for any favors I might be
able to accomplish. Some years ago
the Pennsylvania Railroad Company
had to encourage development of soft
coal lands. Then it was not considered
a crime, as it appears to be now, for
railroad men to hold stock in a coal
company. 1 have never attempted to
conceal my ownership Of coal COM
panY stock"