The semi-weekly messenger. [volume] (Wilmington, N.C.) 1897-1908, 1906-06-15


interstate commerce commission re-
sumed its sessions today Commission
er Clements announced that the COM
mission would sit in Washington on
June q, when the railroad companies
which have been under investigation
will be permitted to make any state
ment or present any defence they u,ay
desire. Previous to the opening of the
session, the commissioners telegraph
ed their secretary at Washington to
forward official notification to the rail
road presidents. The appearance of
these officials is optional, as no sub
poenas will be issued. The presidents
invited to attend the Washington hear
ing are A. J. Cassatt, PENNSYLVANIA
railroad; Oscar G. Murray, Baltimore
and Ohio railroad; l.. E. Johnson,
Norfolk and Western railroad; George
w Stevens, Chesapeake and Ohio rail-
road; w. H. Newman. New York Cen
trail lines, and A G. Yates, Buffalo,
Rochester and Pittsburg railroad.
The membership of the executive
committee of the Norfolk and West
ern railroad as furnished the commits
sion by the secretary of the company,
is as follows:
Samuel Rea and J. B. Thayer, of the
Pennsylvania railroad; l.. E. Johnson.
president of the Norfolk and Western;
Henry Fink, chairman of the Norfolk
and Western; Victor MoraWitz, chair
man of the executive committee OF the
Atchlson, Topeka and Santa Fe rail
road.
Orders for private cars to be used Oy
independent coal mining companies
were placed with the Pressed Steel
Car company by the Pennsylvania rail
road COMPANY, and paid for by that
corporation which, afterward had a
settlement with the coal companies
This fact was established at tOday'S
session of the interstate commerce
commission through the testimony Of
H. E. SwartZ, chief clerk of the sales
department of the Pressed Steel Car
company, and by information volun-
teered by Francis |. GOwen, counsel
for the railroad company. Mr.. SwartE's
memory was uncertain, but after per
s1stent questioning by Attorney GlaS-
gov, he recOllected that orders for pri-
vate cars to be used, he believed, by
the Keystone and the Berwind- White
companies had been placed with the
car building company. He did not
know who paid for them, but Lewyer
GOWen said it was in evidence that the
Pennsylvania railroad company, hay
ing made the contract, was obligated
for the cost. This information came
as a surprise to Mr.. Glasgow, who said
the fact what not in evidence, and
that he had been trying to secure the
information. On being assured by Mr..
Gowen that payment for the cars was
made to the railroad by the coal com
panies, Mr.. Glasgow Immediately ask
ed that the vouchers be filed with the
commission. It was learned from the
witness that cars ordered in bulk by
the railroad got the benefit of a Spe-
cial rate, but he was unable to say
whether the coal companies profted
by this arrangement.
Frederick MacOwen, treasurer of the
Berwind- White company, was recall
ed today, but professed almost entire
ignorance of the business transactions
of the company. Little or no infor-
nation could be secured from him,
and his attitude, coupled with the in
terruptions of Charles Heebner, coun-
sci for the coal company, resulted in
a lively tilt between counsel and elicit
ed vigorous comment on the part of
Commissioner Cockrell, who, with a
shrug of his shoulders, declared that
it was useless to interrogate the wit
ness
E. B. Chase, sales agent for the
Berwind-White company, represented
a statement of cars received at the
Scalp level operations of the company
during 1908, which was found to be
at variance with a table previously
filed by the Pennsylvania railroad He
was asked to examine them and inform
the commission later as to which is
correct
w. A. Guthrie, mine operator, told
the commission that when his repre-