Alexandria gazette. [volume] (Alexandria, D.C.) 1834-1974, 1906-12-29

Sir. McCrea and the pennsyl,ania.

Dir. McCrea and the Pennsylvania.
Washington. Dec. 29.-Should James
McCrea, Vice President of the Pennsyl
ysnis Railroad, succeed the late Alexan-
der J. Casssit So president Of the Penn
sylvanis, rot the least grstifed men in
terested in railrosding would be the
members of the Interstate Commerce
Commission
The late President Gassatt received
fnll credit for having practically destroy
ed rebating on he eastern trunk lines,
but 1t was never asserted that bis anti
rebate policy promulgated in 1890, short
| ly after Mr.. Cassatt took charge OF the
Pennsylvania, was actuaied solely by a
desire to obey the law.
Mr. Cassatl's friends claimed for him
this high minded motive, but as matter
of fact, the great railroad manager had
establish Pennsylvania interest Ia the
B.&0., Norfolk and Western and Ches-
speake and Ohio which prevented the
necessity of cut-throst tactics among
these rivals and made an anti-rebate
policy q money making venture. 10
reality obedience TO the law was far more
profitable than violstion. The expos
ures of the coal and oil investigation by
the Interstate Commerce Commission
last Juue resulted In some startling dis.
coyeries by the Interstate Commission
during its hearings In Philadelphia.
While Mr.. Cassatt was not directly
connected with evil practices. many
minor officials of the Pennsy were
found to be in league with favored coal
companies in western Pennsylvania aud
saw to it that the fayorites received ad-
van,ages 10 car distribution, company
fuel orders and similar railroad favors.
Some of the members OF Mr.. CSssatt's
iamily, if not himself individually, own
eel stock or were closely associated with
large coal mining operations in the b.
luminous district which we're alleged II
enjoy large favOrS, particularly iu car
distribution
The investigation resulted 10 the dis
missal of number of minor officials OF
the Pennsylvania and the PRONUNCIATION
of an order prohibiting the ownership OF
coal stock by Pennsylvania employees.
The Pennsylvania reputation for in
tserity suffered several hard blows dur
ing the Philadelphia hearings and some
OF her most eminent officials went
through grnelling cross-exami nations in
which they made admissions that put
them in a sorry plight
Like breath Of fresh air was the appear
ance of James McCrea as Pennsylvania
witness Himself director of the eastern
company, his real field was west Of Pittsburg,
where as vice president and general manager
Of the Pennsylyania lines he was then end
still ia pra tically supreme. He convinced
the members of the commission that there
was no favoritism among the coal mines
served by the lines under his command.
Problems Of car distribution there were, but
Ihev We're 80 we'll solved that operators never
kicked about being sacrificed by the railroad
for the benefit OF favored rivals
Mr. McCrea testified before The commission
for the better part OF a day. lie cleared the
atmosphere, so to speak. The effect Of his
testimony was to show complete knowle &c
Of railroad management from financial policy
to detail Of operation, and at the same time to
establish in the mind Of his hearers that
MeCrea was 0 nan OF bToadminded and
practical honesty