The Montgomery advertiser., 1906-06-20
The Commission Re
 Sumes Investigation.
THE BERWIND-WHrE COMPANY
Its Relations With the Pennsyl-
 vania Arc Looked Into.
attorney Heebuer Makes Vigorous obs lection to Some of the Questions Propounded by Representa-
 tives of Government.

state Commerce Commission today re- stunned its investigation into the ques- tion of ownership by railroad cofnpa- nies or their officers or employees Of coal and oil stocks or properties. as called for by the Tillman Gillespie res- olution.
 The first witness was E. B. Chase. Secretary of the Berwind-White Coal Company Questioned as to the amount of coal from the company which goes over the Harsimus pier at Jersey City. he replied that the Berwind-White company did not know the amount ex- cept by the estimated railroad weights and that he had no way of ascertain ing if the Berwind- White company had been paid for all the coal that went to the New York city railways. except that they were paid on esti- mated weights.
 George F. Dickinson. bookkeeper Of the Berwind- White company, testified that there was no way by which he could tell the actual scale weights sold per annum by the Berwind- White company. He believed such matters were handled by the Philadelphia or flee At first he said he did not know who in the Philadelphia ofiiee had charge of them, but later said that 1t was MT. Chase. On further question ing witness said he himself had charge of the books of the company.
 Attorney Heebner, for the company. made objection to a question regarding wages paid the tally keepers, Mir. Glas- gow having explained that he hoped by the information to show the small pay for the service rendered.
 Question Is Allowed.
 After a lively colloquy with Com missioner CockrelI. in which Mir Heeb- ner protested that the Commission had no right to inquire into private matters outside the inquiry, Chairman Knapp directed witness to answer, whereupon he stated the tally keepers received $75 B month.
 Further objection came from MT. Heebner when MT. Glasgow asked the witness if he ever knew or heard or any practice in New York harbor for the payment Of gifts to the tally. keep CTS by auy captains or officers Of yes seis. Chairman Knapp again overruled the objection and the witness answered that he knew of no such gifts being made.
 President Berwind was next called. He said his company was the largest shipper of bituminous coal over the Pennsylvania lines Witness referred tothe connection of Robert Cassatt, son of President Cassatt, of the Pennsylva- mia, with the Keystone Coal and Coke Company. and said he had gone to some of the Pennsylvania officials and told them that the Pennsylvania Company was being criticised in consequence. He would not admit, however, that lus had complained that the Keystone Company was given any special preference over the Berwind- White Company.
 MT, Rerwind declared that ct no time was he able to get sufficient cars from the Pennsylvania Railroad for trans portation of hij coal No officer or ein- ploye of the Pennsylvania he said, ever had any interest in the Berwind- White Company except Mir. Sheppard. gem ural superintendent of the subsidiary company. which hs said is in fa;S but a real estats company. This statement was followed by the explanation that In 1882 MT. Cassats left the Ptnnsylva- mia. In 1885 whe1 ;he B-rwiud- Whit s Company was organized, A. J. Cassatt and Gardner c rssatt. hls brother. took stock In the company but the witness said they sod cut to him in 1891.
 Received no Rebate.
 Mir Berwind then was questioned re- yarding the rebates his company Is alleged to have rec eivsd from the Penn. Lylvania ana insist4 I'd that no official IT enlplove of the P snnsylvanIa. dircct- ly or indirectly or oy any device what ever. secured any 'hare in thonl. When he hearing was resumed Mir. Bsrwlud explained thu purchase by his company in 1902 Of 1000 cars from tfs Pennsyl vania Railroad. saying that the great coal strike of that year cleated an enormous dcna Id fo- 'ars and tha: in consc Iuence his company was unable to move its output. He first, however. raid he tried to hava the cars built but found ttGv could not be delivered for six months. He then opened negotII- tions with Mir. Provost, of ths PennsvI. vania as the result of which he get th. cars. but was compellAd to lay SI1S7 zach for them, whi ,n he sIid was tn Highest price ever paid.
 The Pennsylvania Railroad later, he said. had desired to buy back the cars, but he had declined to sell because he said he wished to insure the prompt delivery of coal to the Harsimus pier. Their contracts were such that deliver ies to steamboats must be made at the time agreed in order not to delay sail ings.
 In answer to a question by Commis- sioner Clements regarding the exten- sion which was made to Harsimus pier, MT. Berwin declared that the cost was 446.000 and that the Pennsylvania company submitted a bill for $42,0O which he refused to pay Inasmuch as the Pennsylvania company had talk en for it's own use one half the pier. he thought they should pay one half of the cost of the pier In his absence. however, he said. his brother. after the matter had been in dispute for six years. had paid the $42.000 and Mir. Der wind said he always regretted that 1t had been done,
 The hearing was adjourned until to- morrow.