The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-08

Philadelphia, June 6.-That he ac-
cepted gifts of stock amounting 20
$11 900, and money aggregating more
than $4,000 from coal mining compa-
mics during a period of about three
years was admitted today by Joseph
Boyer, chief clerk i'm the Office Of A. W
Gibbs, superintendent of motive power
of the Pennsylvania railroad. Mr.. Boy
purchases the entire supply of coal
used in the locomotives of the COM
pany, and the donors of the gifts were
the coal companies which furnish the
coal to the railroad Mr.. Boyer named
five companies which allowed him from
three to five cents on each ton sold to
the railroad company. He declare
that he never asked for the allowance,
but accepted it because ne believed he
was following a custom of the depart
ment. In fact one of the coal COM
kany officials told him that he had paid
ut before, and wanted to continue pay
ing it to the witness. Mr. Boyer de-
MED that he divided the money with
any other official or employe of the
railroad. He said he kept it all
A w. Gibbs, Mr. Boyer's superior Of
ficer, on the stand, said he was un-
aware that such conditions existed IN
his department. Mr.. Boyer said ie
was at first disinclined to accept th1
money, but after thinking it over Gr-
cided that he was doing nothing unuS-
ual.
How long did you wrestle with your
conscience?" queried Commissioner
Clement.
The witness did not know.
NJ K Reeves, assistant to Vice Pres
ident Pugh, admitted that he had ac-
cepted stock for Colonel George Huff
and David E Williams. Colonel HUFF,
he said, purchased some of his hold
ings in the keystone Coal and Coke
company, paying him $4,000 for it.
Mr. Reeves stated that he has known
Colonel Huff since boyhood, and de-
clared the latter knew he was not in
position to favor him when the stock
was presented. A number of employees
of the Baltimore and Ohio railroad
were examined during the Afternoon
ScSSlOIl, anu I1lS
ed, through j. E. Muhlefeld, general
superintendent of motive power, tC
learn something concerning the AZ
Management between the railroad and
The H G.. Frick Coal company concern
ing the repairing Of cars.
MI Muhlefeld admitted that the
Frick company had an advantage over
other coal companies, but was unable
to tell why. He said it had been the
practice for the past ten years, but he
did not know the terms of the agree
ment if one, existed.
In its entirety the testimony of Mr..
Boyer, who took the stand when the
hearing began this morning, was OF a
startling character.
His stOckhOldings were only small
portion of the gifts, he admitting re-
ceiving from ccal mining companies
In his capacity as purchaser Of fuel
coal he testified that he had received
from five companies an allowance of
from to 5 cents a ton on coal used
by the railroad for fuel purposes. Dur
ing the period from the latter part of
1903 TO date he has received a total of
more than SAG, 900. The money was
first sent to him in cash, but later
cashiers checks were sent to Cashier
Hastings of the Second National Pank
of Altoona, and placed on deposit for
Boyer.
The companies which made him the
allowances were the Graft Coal COM
pany, the Clearfield and Granton Coal
company, the Dunkirk Coal COMPANY
Thomas Blythe & Company, and Smith
& Turner. The Graft Coal company al
lowed him five cents a ton, and the
Clearfield and Granton company gave
IN a share in the profits which
amounted to not less than four cents 4
ton. Blythe & Company gave hin
three cents a ton.
He was asked why he Disseminated
in favor of Blythe & Company. He re-
piled that he did not discriminate, as
the money came to him without sol.ci-
tation or any effort on his part. He
believed that the money had been PAID