The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1906-06-22
ACCOUNTANT GOT
GIFTS Of STOCK | D *
Says "Old Friend" Was Donor,
but He Returned It Some
Time Ago."
BALTIMORE AND W Q. OHIO ITO ACT a
Will Begin System Of Open Dis
tribution Of Cars-Thaycr
Makes Explanation.
(By Associated Tress.)

WASHINGTON, Juno I'll When the
Interstate Commerce Commission met
to-day to continuo Its Inquiry into the
coat and oil traffic OF the several rail-
roads, Chairman Knapp announced that
to-day's session primarily was for the
purpose OF allowing Eastern bituminous
roads, which have been under investiga-
tion, an opportunity to make any state
ment or submit any testimony which
they might desire to present.
John B.. Thayer, fourth vicc-presldcnt
of the Pennsylvania, Railroad. explained
the method OF car suppls and distribute
ton OF that road. Z
The basic principle OF the distribution.
/, said Mr.. Thayer, lis to take the ratings
I OF the mines as one factor; their COM
1nercial capacity based on tho tonnage
we have taken for certain periods as
another factor to arrive at the proper
percentage, and then, In the distr1bu-
Etion Of the cars, tho individual car and
the car which is furnished for fuel for
the railroad company liz counted against
( that capacity. That is the method which
was partially put into effect In Novem-
4 her last In some OF the regions, and on
January last finally in all the regions
on our road.
was that a matter OF sudden change
or was 1t matter Of gradual progressy
inquired Mr.. Patterson. Is
Tie witness replied that it was not
a sudden change.
"A 1T was a growth" he said, "of what
you might call experience. growing large
~ out OF the lessons OF the confusion
during the strike period
Private Cars.
sSr<a.-
explanation OF the result OF the investi-
cation by his road by. private cars. He
said that, prior to sailing for Europe in.
May last President Caasatt gave orders
4 for the discontinuance OF the Individual
car system on the Pennsylvania road
and had been provoked because the sub
ordinate officials did not feel able, In,
operating the traffic department. to carry!
4. out that policy. He said that Vice Pres
ident Hughes himself took the RESPONSE
55 bility OF suspending the order. assigning
= as q reason that they were more directly
( in touch with the burdens OF that buS-t
ness. ~ s ~ So
1--WE feel" said Mr.. Thayer. that In.
justice to these men. who have placed
their money in the individual cars and,
4 perhaps, in justice to q large portion OF
i the consuming public. that we ought to
go through this next winter. We all
hope our experience Will prove that we
<, will at last be able to accommodate our
traffic to a large extent BY our own
S5 cars SSs 5 &sa 4 fs Il
Mr.. Thayers said there were Is 900 Y Of
q these individual cars In operation on the
Pennsylvania system. and & their use
s aroused the susplcions and tcalousles OF
3 the small shipper, Mr.. Thayer believed
the system Of mine ratings OF the Penn
sylyania Railroad was as fair as any
y that could be devised. He said It would
be difficult to devise any system that
would prevent charges OF car discrim-
4 ination where private cars and e those
furnished by the railroads are operated
Z together
Open to Inspection.
Mr., Thayer said, further. that the car
& distribution sheets were published and.
always open to the inspection OF ship
ners In the Office OF the superintendent;
OF Transportation and In the various Of
fees In the region of the mines. It
was, however, a tentative system, SUB
ject to change. En- .f
The witness declared It was not true
that during tho coal famine cars were
denied to certain operators while they
were supplied to sothers. as had been
alleged at previous hearings. There were
however. at that time, he said, NUM-
Der OF shippers who were DESTROYS y OF
making shipments for speculative pur-
poses. and, he said, I'VE left them out
of our calculations, because they wished
to ship coal at high prices and force It
on the consumers. OF course we gave
the preference to the operators with
whom we had contracts"
Mr.. Glasgow, counsel for the commits
sion, asked the witness II he included
4 the Donaho Coal and Coke Company and
the Jamison Coal Company in his char
acterlzation OF Spectators, to. which
the. reply was made that there was not
an operator or Spectator at that time
who would rot claim he had a contract
with tho Pennsylvania Railroad to trans
port coal. He said the Donaho Company
had entered suit against the Pennsyl-
yania Company aud added III they