Omaha daily bee., 1910-10-20
Officers Present Papers During Every
Lull in G. srations.
SAYS RESPONSIBLE FOR LOSSES
Car Repair Graft, Mismanagement and
Relating Alleged Basis
ATTORNEY EDGAR BRINGS ACTION
Lawyer Introduces Three Resolutions
Attacking Management of Road
which Are Buried Under
Mass Of Contrary Votes.


Illinois Central Railroad company were
given A lively hour and half at their an
nual meeting today through the efforts OF
Attorney Maxwell Edgar. Holders repre-
sent,ng 1s4S6G shares Of stock we're pres
ent MI Edgar arrived armed with proxies
for sixty shares. which enabled him to
take part In the meeting. lie was accom-
panied by two deputy sheriffs, who added
TO the confusion by serving subpoenas
during every lull in the meeting on the
various directors.
The subpocnas we're In a suit for &lO.-
100000 damages, which Mr. Edgar, constl-
tuting himself an attorney for the road,
started in the circuit court today, when
he filed a praecpe in the case The de-
PENDANTS TO the suit are the directors OF
the road whom Mr. Edgar seeks to hold
responsible for alleged financial loss
through car repair graft, general mis-
management and alleged rebating.
Exita are Guarded.
While the two deputies were making
things interesting In the meeting half a
dozen othe guarded exits from the Park
Row buaJi2g Air Edgar fearing that
some Of the directors might attempt to
evade service. This precaution proved to
be superfuous
Three resolutions were introduced by the
militant attorney All were lost by over
whelming vote. He denounced the present
management OF the road, made the charge
that It's directors are incompetent and that
its financial statements are juggfed ana
misleading and that It's officials are dis
honest and violating the interstate com
meroe law His first resolution was in
support Of these charges and called for an
independent Investigation OF the road by
a committee OF prominent stockholders.
He was voted down, 7S4,160 shares to 64l.
second resolution In which he demanded
that all directors who are not residents OF
illinois be ousted on the grounds that the
constitution of the state prohibits the
present proportion of outsiders the
board. This resolution was voted down
without the formality OF a roll call.
on his third and last attempt Mr.. Edgas
proposed a resolution asking that suit b'
brought against James Harahan, president
OF the road. and the estate, OF the late Ira
g. Rawn, who resigned the vice presidencS
when the car repair scandal came to light
on oharges Of gross neglect, criminal laxlts
and ouIpable negligence. This resolution
was buried under another avalanche o.
contrary votes.
He-eIectIOn of Directors.
The actual business Of the meeting wal
to re-eiect as directors for four years J
4. Harahan OF Chicago and Corneliu
Vanderbilt and Henry W. De Forest Of Nov
York. In the course Of time the election
was brought about
with the exception OF Mr.. DE Forest
Robert S. Loyett and Robert w. GOeiet
all the eastern directors we're present AM
were served with subpoenaes. Governo
pineen, who is a director ex-officio, ant
who attended the directors meeting di
not attend the stockholders meeting. lie /
not named in the suit
The directors were astonished when tn
deputies, Schults and Erickson, bega
serving them with summonses. John Jaco
Astor was seated at one side Of the roor
chatting with w. L. Park vice presiden
OF the road He looked at the paper quiz
zically. turned Il over and over and rea
Il twice lie whispered with Mr.. Park an
then accepted service Cornelius Wander
bilt was in the center OF the room whe
the summons was read TO him. lie stroke
his beard thoughtfully and then hastene
TO Mr.. Harahan Tor advice. By that tim
another deputy was reading another sun
mons to the president OF the read. Charlie
A. Peabody accepted service with a no
OF the head.
Attendance ia small,
The deputies found IL easy TO locate III
directors as the stockholders mecun
Was the smallest in years only seventy
five OF them being present in person. [
these five were women who we're at the
Wits end trying TO nnd out what all n
trouble was about. Alexander G. Hacl
staff, Walter Luttgen and John w. AuchiI
Gloss were served in rapid succession.
Ogden Armour and John G. Shedd
Chicago did not attend the meeting b1
viii be served later It is said, Mr. EdgI
has been prominent in various refor
movements and particularly Ia the filiT
OF suits against corporations for colleeuC
of back taxes which he claims are 81
due the state to tie extent OF many mi
lions OF dollars
During the meeting today Mr. Edgi
charged that the directors Of the lllno
Central were dummy officials" who
said were elected By Charles A. Peabod
a director OF the Union Pacific, lie ask,
that suit be brought against Mr. Peabo,
and a c. Hackstaff to recover bonds (
$1,000 and flOO.OOO whichh he alleged b
longed to the road.
President Harahan said he attached
weight TO Edgars suit The plaintiff
the suit Is Mrs. Edgar who owns t'
shares OF stock In the railroad