Omaha daily bee., 1906-06-08
BOYER WALKS The PLANK
President Oassatt Discharges Man Who
Testifes in Railroad Hearing.
TESTIMONY sTUPEFlEs HIS HEARERS
Chief clerk who Accepted Cash from
Coal Companies Vow Leaves
the Payroll of the
PennsyIvania.

PHILADELPHIA, June 7.-Joseph Boyer,
the Pennsylvania railroad employe, who
yesterday testified before the Interstate
Commerce commission to having received
large sums of money and other gratuities
from producers OF coal on the Pennsylvania
lines, was today dismissed from the ser
vice Of the company.
When the matter was brought to the
attention of President Cassatt he directed
the immediate discharge of Boyer.
Boyer in his testimony yesterday said
that he had accepted more than $4,000 from
coal mining companies during a period
Of three years He was chief clerk in
the Office of A. w. Gibbs, superintendent
Of motive power of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road company and purchased the fuel coal
used in the locomotives Of the company.
The donors he said were FIVE different
coal companies which furnish coal to the
railroad. Boyer's testimony was OF a
sensational character. He testified that he
had been allowed from cents to 5 cents on
each ton sold to the railroad company in
such matter OF fact manner that the
commissioners were almost stupihed by
the startling admissions.
Another EmpIOye Gets stock.
Testifying before the Interstate Com
who has been chief clerk in the superin-
tendent's ofice OF the Monongahela division
of the Pennsylvania railroad. revealed
almost AS startling evidence as that given
by Joseph P. Boyer before the commission
yesterday. on a salary which he said
varied from $50 to 1886 per month, Aiken
had purcha sed stock in different coal COM
panies amounting to nearly $4,000. He
admitted having received gifts of cash
from coal operators on the Pennsylvania
lines and had also received $50 a month
for several months from a company store.
Mr.. Aiken, who has been chief clerk in
the superintendents Office of the Monon-
gahela division of the Pennsylvania rail-
road gave some interesting testimony.
At the outset he showed a disposition to
spar with Attorney Glasgow. After almost
every question he would stop to reflect,
cast his eyes upon the ceiling and then
repeat the question before answering. He
Z told of large coal company interests which
he said he had purchased with his own
money When Mr.. Glasgow wanted to
know how he got the money he answered
by judcious investment Of my salary"
In 1900 witness turned profit of $4,000
| by selling an option on coal lands to the
Pittsburg & Buffalo Coal company. Wit
/ ness COnITnleQ Ine OI JOSepn T.
Boyer. who said yesterday that Aiken had
paid him cents g. ton on coal which the
| Dunkirk Coal company furnished to the
railroad for which Boyer worked.
Mr.. Aiken candidly admitted that the
! money was given to Boyer for the business
which Boyer could give. Mr.. Aiken had re-
ceived $3.50 from coal companies because his
position with the railroad made him valua-
Bile to the coal companies. Witness said he
/ owned 500 shares of the Braznel Coal com
pany. for which he paid $4,000 That is at
the rate of $50 a share, but the company s
books show that 800 per share was paid.
Mr.. Glasgow admitted that the books
showed that price, but doubted that that
price had really been paid.
some Shares Given.
Mr.. Aiken testified he also has $50 shares
in the Dunl1irk Coal company, for which
he paid 81. 800; 500 shares in the Pittsburg
westmoreland company, for which he