The Washington times., 1906-06-21
" PENNSY" ALONE
ANSWERS INVITE
TO SHOW CAUSE
Thayer IS Sole Witness
to Make Appearance
in Defense. o.
COAL HAULING SYSTEM
Tells Interstate Commission
CaSSatt Ordered Private
Cars Abolished.

the railroads which have been under
scrutiny during the Investigation Of the
coal business by the Interstate Com
merce Commission We're invited 10 ap-
pear before that body. .tBd offer such
testimony as they might desire. Not
one was present this morning The
Pennsylvania railroad was the only one
that had anything 20 say ''in defense
John T. Thaycr fourth vice president
OF that road. VS. here as he said. Ito
clear I'D certain matters"
For the first time in weeks. the entire
commission. consisting II Chairman
Knapp and CCmmissIone 3 Clements,
Prouty, and CockreH. lis ened TO the
testimony offered.
Estimates Very Close
Before Mr.. Thayer took the stand. G.
s Patterson. counsel for TIE Pennsyl-
vania. read a comparative statement 10
show thal the estimated weight OF cars
loaded with coal for the Harsimus pier
Of the Berwind-White Coal Mining Com
pauy. corresponds very close. y with the
exact weights.
When Mr.. .Thayer who Is, considered
the mOuthpieCc OF the EcnnSvlvania
railroad. took the stand. the first thing
Attorney Thomas PattcrsNl asked him
was 20 explain the system Of coal car
fL-s>lE iLlItl IN vogue on the EeuuETINa-
ma lie declared that the cars are dis
t-ibuted on pro rata basis fixed by
the physical and commercial capacity OF
the mines, Individual cans being in
cluded in this allowance
The Pennsylvania began 20 put this
system into operation last November,
Partially. and. IN January last, COM
pleteiy. This came as the result OF the
great demand for ears during the last
few years
To Be 'Do-s Some Time"
In regard % r.. ..rIrlon Of the in
diviGuaI cars. Mr. Thayer said thu
when President Cassltt went 10 Europe
this spring ne left a verbal order for
the abolition at some near time. prob
ably within a year, OF all private cars
along its lines. Mr.. Thayer added that
he and Vice President Pugh. upon their
own responsibility. had temporarily sus-
pended the order, believing that the
owners OF these cars would not agree
that the Pen ssylvauia could furnish
them sUIhCiDTT cars 10 carry on their
business. and thus insure them against
interruption TO business With the prl-
vate owners taking this position, he
said, he feared suits would be brought
IN the state courts by operators not
wishing TO sell.
He said he hoped the railroad could
show next winter its ability TO care for
the traffic. and that later, IL would
abolish all i1dividUal cars along its
line.
Cassatt's Orders Not Definite.
Mr.. Thayer explained his action in
suspcnding the orders Of President Cas-
satt on the ground that the chier execu-
tive. when going away, neve: left
definite, uuaItera BILE orders. as condi-
tions might arise under which they
could not be carried out.
Owners Of individual cars are about
the only hckers against our present |
arrs-
their cars in addition 10 the allowance
under the rating
During Air- Thayer's testimony a half
dozen Of his subOrdinates were present
and were brought forth 10 supply infor-
nation.
Mr. Trump, general superia lendent of
transportation. al the conclusion Of a
response, added that the present system
is square. and with bravadJ challenged
anyone To find flaw in it
The system you have adopted is cor
rect remarked Commissioner COckrelI.
IT'S a question now about adminis-ra-
ton
In order to show there is no tendency
on the Pennsylvania 10 keep independent
operators from opening coal mines Mr.
ThayCr said that there are now 30 oper-
ators working 5l6 bituminous coal mines.
of whom 81 were not in the business in
Many Have Made Mistakes.
Mr.. Patterson asked Mr.. Thayer to
explain the charge that the Pennsyl-
vania during the strike in 1893 picked out
a few companies to which cars were fur
nished exclusively
BY telephone ne said he was instructed
to pick out the operators who held con-
tracts which must be filed This list
was made up of fOrty-SeVC.l operators
but the order of distribUf;7n, finally is
sued the next day. inclU1Cd 122, and
excluded only those who bought coal
for speculation.
7 believe the railroad made some mis-
takes" said he. but they were honest
mistakes, such as are likely 20 occur in I
such periods Of warfare" q"
In concluding he filed a statement ex-
planning each of the special telegrams
ordering special assignment Of cars TO
the Berwind-White Company during the
strike in 1903.
This company ships about One-Seventh !
or one-eighth of all the bituminous coal
we handle" said Mr.. Thayer What we
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