The Stark County Democrat. [volume] (Canton, Ohio) 1833-1912, 1906-06-12
VOLUNTARY
vi THESES

Philadelphia, Pa, June S.-The evil
6ence today before the interstate com
merce commission which is investi-
eating the coal roads lacked the SEN
6ational features which have marked
some of the previous sessions.
During the day it became known that
Rudolph Ellis has been selected as the
successor to James McCrea on the di-
rectorship committee to Investigate Of
fcials of the Pennsylvania.
The most sensational development
of the day was the announcement that
President Cassatt has ordered the re-
tirement of j. H. Aiken, the clerk who
testified yesterday that he had accum-
ulated fortune of 100000 while
drawing a salary of S1,500 through the
courtesy of the railroads.
w. G. Spangler, local agent of the
Pennsylvania, at Milton, Pa. testified
that he also acted as sales-agent for
the Keystone Coal and Coke COM
pany. After he took this position
the tonnage of the Pennsylvania in.
creased about 10000 tons monthly.
He received a commission of 21a cents
from the Keystone company.
ABOUT PIERS.
Riebnack, comptroller of the Penn
sylvania railroad, gave data for which
he was asked on Wednesday showing
that the original cost of the Hars1
mus pier was 100000. In 1899 i'm
provements were made at a cost of
$4,000. This money was not paid to
the railroad until this year. During
the seven years the claim has been
pending no interest has been charged
He explained the non-payment by say
ing that there had been great deal
of correspondence on the subject, last
j-6 until this year.
Through his attorney, former Judge
James G.. Gordon, Robert X. Cas-
satt, asked permission to go on the
stand. He was accommodated long
enough to state that one of the Key
stones subsidiary companies had
been greatly over-estimated in re-
ports which have ben made about it.
He also denied that the operators OF
the Keystone company had been fav.
Ored.
p. E. Womelsdorff, a mining engi-
neer of Fullersburg, Pa, testified that
80 far as he knew Pennsylvania had
no method for systematic classifca-
tion of mines. He cited cases where
a high rating was continued after
mines were partially exhausted or
closed down. The operators using
cars received in this way to exceed
the rightful percentage on mines act
ually in operation. The witness de-
clared that there should be some i'm
partial agency to rate the mines.
VOLUNTARY WITNESS.
c. P. Mcclellan, former master-me-
ehanic and road foreman of engines
of the Pennsylvania was another vol
unteer witness before the commission.
He explained that he wished to clear
the name of the former President
Frank Thompson, of the Pennsyl-
Vania. He stated that he was once Of
fered block of stocks by Captain
Alfred Hicks, who was organizing a
mining company. He told President
Thompson of the Offer asking his ad-
vice what to do. Mr. Thompson ad-
Vised him not to take the stock, say
Ing that honor is worth more than
all the stock you can acquire"
Clarence McFadden. Jr., of the Black
Lick Coal company then went on the
stand and told some of the troubles
his company has experienced in get
ting cars from the Pennsylvania. He
complained that his concern was not
treated fairly. He went to ]. w.
Crawford, superintendent of the branch
lines on which the mine was located
and asked how he could get fair !
treatment. Crawford replied that he
would either have o>buy his way or
fight his way. He tried the latter un-
til his ammunition was all gone. Wit !
ness said his company is now pay
ing the Commercial Coal company six
cents a ton TO transport coal on the |
latter's private cars and five cents
ton for New York, New Haven and
Hartford cars.