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

Of Siding-President Cassatt Did
Not Appear a. a Witness.
Philadelphia, June 5.-Contrary to
expectations President Cassatt, of the
Pennsylvania railroad did not appear
before the interstate COM
sion today when it resumed its inves-
tigation of the alleged connection Of
railroads with the soft coal and oil in
~terests. Commissioner Clements said
the Investigation had not reached the
stage that demanded the testimony of
Mr.. Cassatt and he was unable TO say
whether his appearance would be re-
CURED by the commission.
The New York Central railroad, the
Buffalo, Rochester and Pittsburg rail-
road, and the Baltimore and Ohio rail-
road were under investigation today,
the hearing being conducted by Com
missioners Clements and Cockrell. The
examination of the officials of the New
York Central occupied all of the morn
ing session and a part of the afternoon
session. 1t developed that no en-
ployees or officials of the company
held stock in coal mining or oil com
panies. Vice President E. V. W. Roos-
tier testified, however, that the Beech
Creek Coal and Coke company had pre-
sented the railroad with FIVE thousand
shares of stock, par vaIue 500 "for
traffic reasons"
Later when the Beech Creek COM
pany was merged into the Pennsylva-
mia Coal and Coke company this stock
was surrendered, the railroad receiving
81, 500, 900 worth of stock in the latter
company.
James Kerr, of Clearield, a coal op-
orator w9l asked concerning a reported
agreement regarding the placing of
sidings which had been made by Presi-
dent Cassatt and former president Cal
loway, of the New York Central. MI.
Kerr could throw no light on the sub
ject.
| E. V. w. Ressiter, vice president OF
the New York Central and Hudson
River railroad, in charge of the finan-
cial department, was the first witness.
The examination was conducted by At
torney E. B. Whitney, of New York.
Mr.. Ressiter, after explaining how the
railroad acquired $4,000 stock in the
original Beech Greek Coal and Coke
company, said that a contract had been
signed by the railroad and the coal
company, and the stock was given in
consideration of the contract. This
contract was read by Mr.. Whitney. 1t
was dated January II, 1901, and by it's
provisions the coal company agreed to
mine at least 100000 o Of coal
every year and the railroad agreed to
furnish cars equal to that amount of
coal annually, exclusive of fuel cars.
The railroad further agreed to interest
itself in no other coal company except
ing the Clearfeld Bitumenous Coal
Corporation. The railroad also agreed
to purchase 500, 900 tons of fuel every
year.
The capital of the Pennsylvania Coal
and Coke Company, Mr.. Rossiter
thought, is So OO,0 900 or s12, 00O, 900.
Mr.. Rossiter said that the Clearfeld
corporation was a merger Of a number
of smaller companies, owned by the
New York Central. These companies,
ne said, supplied only fuel coal to the
road. The witness said that the rail-
road also owned the entire stock Of the
I Galliten Coal company but had an
agreement with the Webster Coal and
Coke company and the Pennsylvania
Coal and Coke company by which the
latter operated the mines.
Commissioner Clements questioned
Mr.. Rossiter concerning the policy Of
the New York Central as to its officials
holding stock in coal mining com
panies.
| He said there was no absolute rule
but it was tacitly understood to be
against the policy for officials to hold
such stock
c. II. Ewlings, superintendent Of
freight transportation was questioned
| concerning the distribution Of cars. He
said the company never refused to IN
form a coal company as to its rating.
/ He said il was a rule of the company
generally observed that when it was
intended to change the rating Of a
mine the operator was consulted. He
was asked If he had received com
! plants from operators of a shortage Of
cars.
"a man wouldn't be a mine operator
unless he complained" was the reply.
Wherever shortages occur We endeav-
or. to make them up as o on as posi-
BILE"
Me-. Ewing stated further that there
were no individual cars on the New
York Central other than those of the
Beech Creek Coal and Coke company.
The railroads policy, ne said, was to
furnish sufficient transportation facil-
tiles for all coal mines and that there
had new been such a scarcity Of cars
at any time as to seriously hampeh the
individual mine production.
Commissioner Clements asked the
witness If he did not consider publicity