Martinsburg herald. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1881-1920, 1910-01-08
B. & 0. PRESIDENT
NEEDS FREE HAND
Question as to Whether Willard
viii Have Power.
pENNSY CONTROL A BLIGHT

The War Department Appeals to Con-
oress to Provide More Funds on Ac.
count of Higher Prices of Food and
CIothing-ResoIutions Call For Ex-
haustive Investigation on the Sub
ject.
Baltimore, Md, January g.
Daniel Willard. president-elect of
the Baltimore and Ohio Railroad,
will assume his new duties one week
from Saturday next, and shippers,
especially those engaged in the coal
trade, are wondering If he will be
handicapped, as was his predecessor
Oscar G. Murray, in the management
of the system.
Mr.. Willard has the reputation of
being one of the best operating Off
Gals in the United States, but those
who are familiar with Baltimore and
Ohio affairs do not hesitate to say
that unless he Is given free hand
no improvement in the service may
be expected.
Perhaps the knowledge that the
public is thoroughly aroused and that
Congress may take a hand to fix re-
sponsibility fer what has almost be.
come scandal may have the effect
of forcing the power behind the
throne" to keep in the background
until the wrath subsidies. but there Is
growing feeling In Baltimore and
at other important centers along the
Baltimore and Ohio that permanent
good will not come until there has
been thorough housekeeping. and
that this cleaning must include the
ending OF Pennsylvania Railroad
domination of Baltimore and Ohio.
Denial Not Conclusive.
The Pennsylvania Railroad denies
ment of the B. & O., and in support of
this cites that in September, 1906, it
sold part of holdings, which then
amounted to 40 per cent of Baltimore
and Ohio stocks, to Hartman inter
ests. 1t is fact that the Pennsyl-
vania did transfer so per cent. of it's
Baltimore and Ohio stocks to the Har
riman interests, but in well-informed
circles it is pointed out that owing TO
the community-of-intere among the
great railroads of the country control
of the voting power of this stock is
still virtually exercised by the Penn.
sylvania, and by the way in passing
it may be remarked that control of 40
per cent. of the stock of a corporation
as big as the Baltimore and Ohio Rail
road gives practical control of the sys-
tenn, for rs per cent OF the stock is
rarely voted at the annual elections.
Has Five Directors.
OF the IL directors of the Baltimore
and Ohio Railroad two are vice-pres.
dents of the OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES
Rea and Joseph Wood. Another mem
Der of the B. & o. board Is Capt. John
p. Green. who recently retired as first
vice-president of the Pennsylvania and
is now the chief beneficiary of the lat
ters pension system. Captain' Green
is chairman of the finance committee
of the B. & o. and Samuel Rea, an
other Pennsylvania representative on
the B. & o. board, is member of the
committee. This committee ranks
next to the executive committe in i'm
portance. All matters pertaining to
the roads finances, including appro-
priations for the purchase of supplies,
equipment, etc, are passed upon by
this committee, and its recommends
tions go far in influencing the action
OF the board of directors.
James Stillman, former president OF
the National City Bank of New York,
although not director of the Penn
sylvania Railroad is generally credit
ed as a Pennsylvania man, as is also
L. F. Loree, former president of the
Baltimore and Ohio, and who, prior to
his connection with the local railroad,
was an official Of the Pennsylvania. 1t
will be seen. therefore, that with 5
out of total of IL directors of the
Baltimore and Ohio Railroad 10 start
with, the Pennsylvania Railroad, with
support from the banking houses Of
Kuhn, Loeb &. Co. and Speyer & Co.
and Hartman interests, is in posi-
ton to control the destinies OF its
rival.
Must Have Been Restrained.
1t is inconceivable that a man famil
lar with the needs OF the road and the
5erritory it serves, as Mr.. Murray un.