Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1907-01-01
SHORTENED HIS LIFE
Fatal Effect of the Attacks on
the Late A. J. CaSSatt.
WAS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE
Exposures of Trusted Subordinates
Hurt Him Keenly.
BURIAL PLACE OF THE SAVIOR
Fund Projected for Care Of the Site
Disappearance in London and
the Assigned Causes.
WAS EXTREMELY SENSITIVE
BURIAL PLACE OF THE SAVIOR
BY WILLIAM f. CURTIS.


Written for The Star and the Chicago Record
Herald.
There is no doubt that Mr.. Cassatt's life
was shortened by the attacks that were
made upon him last summer and the eX-
posures concerning the business connections
of some Of his trusted subordinates on the
Pennsylvania railroad He was the soul OF
honor. He was one of the most conscien-
tious of men, and from the time he assumed
the presidency he was full of confidence
in the justice, the fairness ane the hon
esty Of the management of the property.
Hence the exposures and the attacks hurt
him keenly. He never recovered from the
shock
Mr.. Cassatt's characteristics are Illus
trated by the manner in which the free
pass system was abolished on the Penn
sylvania railroad. That company took the
initiative and was Immediately followed by
the Baltimore and Ohio, the Reading and
other railways running out Of Philadelphia.
Later other trunk lines adopted the same
policy and their action led to the adoption
Of the amendment to the railway rate law
by the Senate last summer making it
lawful for railway company to issue free
tickets or give reduced rates to favored
persons.
The action OF the Pennsylvania company
grew out of the municipal reform move
to very few people. The leaders of that
reform called upon Mr.. Cassatt one day
and told him that the strongest pull the
politicians Of the city machine had with
their constituents was due to their ability
to obtain passes the railways running
out of Philadelphia. If a ward heller want
ed to take his family for trip to Chicago,
or Washington or New York. the represent
alive of that ward in the municipal ma
chine could easily get them free transport
tation and thus place him under obligations
and reward him for his political activity.
And thus the railway companies by their
liberal policy in issuing passes. were
strengthening the machine. If Mr.. Cas-
satt and the presidents Of the other rail-
roads would pledge themselves not to grant
any more passes to politicians the grasp
of the machine bosses would be weakened.
Mr. Cassatt declined to consider the prop
osition. He explained that the company
was continually exposed to attack in the
common council and in the state legisla-
ture and II it refused favors to the repre-
sentatives of the machine. they would make
1t a great deal of trouble. The reformers
then asked if he had ever considered the
legal side Of the proposition. He replied
that he had not: whereupon they produced
a written opinion, signed by four Of the
most eminent lawyers in Philadelphia, to
the effect that any stakeholder in the Penn
sylvania company could, upon application,
obtain an injunction against him or any
other responsible officer Of the road pro-
hibtting the issue of free transportation to
any person VINO was not actually entitled
to 1t. They then Informed Mr.. Cassatt that
unless he and the presidents OF the other
railroads running out Of Philadelphia would
agree to stop issuing passes to politicians
applications for injunctions would be made.
Mr.. Cassatt asked for time to consider, and
they left their legal opinion in his hands.
He referred 1t to the general counsel Of the
Pennsylvania company, who confirmed the
opinion Of the other lawyers Mr.. Cassatt
notified the leaders Of the reform party
that the Pennsylvania company would is
sue no more free transportation to poll
ticians; that 1t was not necessary for them
to appeal to the courts: that he would as
sumo the responsibility himself and would
use his influence to persuade the presidents
Of the other roads to follow his example.
Most men in his position would have been
glad to throw the responsibility upon the
courts instead Of taking the risk of Offend
ing powerful political machine and excit-
Ing the resentment of all the local politi-
clans in the state. But that was not like
Mr.. Cassatt. The legal aspect of the mat
ter had never been presented to him before,
and as soon as he was convinced of its
soundness he acted and gave no explana-
ton or excuse.