The National tribune. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1877-1917, 1906-06-14

The inquest into the affairs of the
pennsylvania Road continues to be as
startling in it's discoveries as the first
pass OF the probe was. Last week a
clerk. Joseph X. Boyer. was on the
stand. and testified that i'm three years.
while in receipt OF a salary of $2.7o0
from the road. he received from various
parties having business with the road
$4s.4s4.75 in cash and s11.15o worth Of
stock. He was in the department that
placed orders for company coal and
most Of the money came from mining
companies to whom he gave orders for
fuel. He received from three to five
cents a ton bribery on every ton of coal
the railroad bought. NJ. K. Reeves.
Chief Clerk to Second Vice President
Pugh, admitted having received at times
stock valued at $4,000, of which he
still held $4,000. The Berwind- White
Coal Mining Co was in receipt of many
favors. and also the Frick Coal & Coke
Co.
Attention is now centered upon the
managers of the railroad under whose
administration all these things have oc-
Cured.
At the head Of the road IS A. j. Cas-
satt. a gray. full-bearded. slight, wiry
man. who looks something like Senator
Foraker. He began on the Pennsylva-
MIA Road as years ago as a rodman. and
IL years later became Third Vice Presi-
dent having filled all the offices between
those two places.
Next to him stands John p. Green
First Vice President. who was private
secretary to Col. Thomas A. Scott and
went up from that position.
Charles T.. Pugh began as a station
agent at Newport, Pa. and then grad
uated to passenger conductor and
train dispatcher. He is now Second Vice
President.
Samuel Rea, the Third Vice Presi-
dent, was clerk In his fathers store.
and then became a rodman on one OF
the Pennsylvania branches.
John B. Thayer. .Jr.. the Fourth Vice
President, started out as a $40-a-month
clerk in the general freight department
William A. Patton, the assistant to
President Cassatt. was an Office boy in
Cassatt's office. became a stenographer,
and started upward. Patton has been
before the country as the fortunate re-
ceiver OF more than 100000 worth OF
stock in various coal companies given
him entirely gratis.
Mr.. Cassatt first attracted attention by
his work as Assistant Engineer on the
branch linking the Pennsylvania with
the Philadelphia & Trenton in 1864
He has been distinguished by the bold
ness and thoroughness of operation
particularly his scheme of entering New
York by way Of river tunnels. He has
spent money by the millions to eliminate
curves and improve the physical condi-
ton OF the road, and he conceived and
put into execution the community of
interests plan which brought the Balti-
more & Ohio. the Chesapeake & Ohio
and the Norfolk & Western, all rivals of
the road, into the Pennsylvania camp.
Another of his achievements was the
purchase of controlling interest in the
Long Island Railroad system by which
he enabled the Pennsylvania to get into
New York and out of 1t into New Eng
land. He has bought so immensely of
the stock OF other companies that the
Pennsylvania now owns 1891, goo. 000 of
this. besides s41,071,542 in bonds. and
he has made his deals so well that all
this property is a profitable investment
for the road.
The political interests of the Pennsyl-
vania Railroad are looked after by Mr.
Patton. who knows every politician in
Pennsylvania. and most of those outside
the State. like a book.
One Of the most interesting develop
ments was made by First Vice President
Green in regard to the cessation of re-
bates by the road. He frankly admit
ted that this was not on account Of any
unselfish desire to do right or even poll
tic obedience to the law, but because
the road had acquired controlling inter-
ests in its rivals, which made the giving
of rebates unnecessary. There was no
longer any competition to force this.
Mr.. Cassatt has asked to be called but
the Commission has informed him that
they are not yet through with other
witnesses. and therefore not ready TO
hear his testimony.
THE DISGRACE OF ILLINOIS.
The heaviest burden Of the odium
from the Chicago revelations falls upon