The Washington herald., 1907-01-03
M'CREACHOSEN CHIEF
Formally Elected to Succeed
Late A. J. CasSatt.
PREVIOUSLY AGREED UPON
ChOicc of Pennsylvania Railroads
New President Was "Cut and
Dried"-Likely to Head the Lines
West of Pittsburg AisO-NO Changes
in POIicy-Many congratulations.

Philadelphia. Jan. flames McCrea. of
Pittsburg first vice president Of the
Pennsylvania lines west OF Pittsburg.
was to-day elected president of the Penn
sylvania Railroad Company by the d.
rectors of the latter corporation, to sue
coed the late a. J. Cassatt.
The meeting Of the board was special
one, for the sole purpose Of electing a
successor to Cassatt. AIeCrea had been
selected To fiji the vacancy at an in
formal meeting OF all the directors after
the funeral of Cassatt, on Monday AT
that time it was decided to formally meet
to-day and ratify the selection. Because
OF the cut-and-dried nature of to-day
meeting. all the directors did not deem
1t necessary TO, attend, but, nevertheless,
most of them were present
Congratulate New President.
While the board went through the
formality of electing a head for the great
railway system. McCrea. who returned
from New York carly in the day. re-
manned in the private Offices of the late
President Cassatt with a number Of per
sonal friends. After he had been elected
he was officially informed Of the fact.
and was escorted into the board-room
and congratulated by his feIlow-members
of the board.
So far as can be learned. Cassatts po-
sition as president OF the PENNSYLVANIA
lines west of Pittsburg and other COM
panies affiliated with the system. will not
be filled until next week It is certain,
however, that President McCrea will be
elected 20 all the places made vacant by
the death of Cassatt-
To Fiji Other Vacancies.
The question Of fning the vacancies
created by the elevation Of AIcCrea has
been left 20 a committee Of the members
of the board. who viii consult with Mo
Crea as 10 his wishes in the matter The
two men most mentioned for McCrea's
place as first vice president OF the Penn
sylvania lines are Joseph Wood of Pitts
burg. second vice president of the West
ern lines, and William ". AtteTbUry. Of
Philadelphia. general manager of the
Pennsylvania Railroad Company
McCrea Announces Platform
McCrea issued the following statement
shortly after his election.
The policy of the Pennsylvania Rail-
road does not depend upon any one man.
1t continues unchanged from year TO year
II will be my purpose 70 promote, as best
! can, the same progressive development
which was conducted 50 ably under Presi-
dent Cassatt and the presidents who pre-
ceded him
AfterWaTd MCCrea said that this refer
red also @ the men under him who had
O. IN I'd sr
honor Of the memory Of Cassatt. say no
less, but il is perfectly understood at
Broad street station that the new chief
has his own ideas and plans. and that he
intends 20 run the railroad according 10
his own beliefs.
some Possible Changes.
By those who are closely associated with
the Pennsylvania Railroad affairs. il is be-
heved that McCrea will make a Change in
the connections of the corporation with
its customers and subsidiary companies
II should be said, however, that il is be
leved that this change would have been
made by Cassatt had he lived Another
question which may be taken up by Nc
Crea is that involving the safe of me
Pennsylvania Railroad bonds in France.
This has long worried certain Pennsyl-
Vania Railroad interests. which are known
10 be friendly TO MCCrea
Many changes Of more or less impor-
lance among the staff i'm Broad Street
Station are expected. The assistant to
Cassatt W A. Patton, will probably con-
fine himself to his duties as president OF
the New York. Philadelphia. and Norfolk
Railroad. Other members Of the personal
staff OF Cassatt will. in the nature OF
things. make way for the men who have
the personal confidence of McCrea.
Others who were touched by the iuvesti-
CATION OF the Interstate Commerce Com
mission last summer may ind It expedient
10 hand ~ their designations