The Washington herald., 1912-02-13
HILL IN ROLL OF
PHILANTHROPIST
Continues from Pare one.

terday morning. He put IN an appear
hnce at 10:15 O'Clock. Mr.. HIN was ae-
compar1ied by John F. Carroll, OF st.
Louis, general counsel for the Burling-
ton. Prior to the public hearing the
committee had decided to put other wit
nesses on the stand. Mr.. Hnl was asked
to return at u:30 O'Clock He did 50.
The committee was stir engaged with
other Witnesses. and at the suggestion
Of Mr.. Carroll the railroad magnate was
told that he would be heard Immediately
after the recess for luncheon. Mr.. HID
had barely commenced to tell his story
OF his operations In the Lake Superior
region when an adjournment was taken
until to-day. He viii go on the stand
then and probably take. the attention
for the entire day.
In an. informal way. with members
OF the committee. newspaper men, and
persons who had assembled TO hear
him testify. Mr.. HILL after he quit the
stand yesterday afternoon. told a lot OF
things about the ore lands controlled by
the Hills. He gave every one to under
stand that he was not worried over the
notice given by the Steel Corporation
that 1t would terminate its leases Of
the Hill ore properties in 1915. "ore
is not going down." he said, with a
eNNfSNNneAN
our land. I would not take a dollar a
ton for II to-day" Mr.. Hin did not
think his ore would go begging. He
did not indicate where Il would be sold.
but Insisted that there would always
be strong demand. at good prices for
Lake Superior ores.
Biggest Drawing Card.
The Stanley committee has staged a
good many headliners, among them
Theodore Roosevelt. the late John B.
Gates. z. II. Gary, Andrew Carnegie,
and others, but none OF them drew
larger crowds thar Af. Hill. The COM
mittee room was packed at the morn
ing session. and there was g sigh OF
disappointment when the word was
passed that Mr.. HIu would not 20 on
the stand until late in the afternoon.
Chairman Stanley gazed with satisfied
mien on the assembled multitude. It
was another Roman holiday for the
Kentucky statesman, and he was Wis
ibly happy.
Mr.. Hin was pursued into the COM
mittee room by at least q dozen pho
tographers. The committee suspended
proceedings while the battery OF cameras
did their work. When Mr.. Hill left the
House ONCE Building. where the Stanley
committee makes its headquarters, he
was confronted by moving-picture
operator and more photographers. The
camera men followed him clear across
the Capitol plaza. taking spanshots at
every step. Mr.. Hill did not seem to en-
joy the proceedings, but he didn't utter
a word OF protest
After a wait OF nearly hve hours. Mr..
Hill took the oath. administered by
Chairman Stanley, a few minutes before
o'clock Mr.. Stanley began the ex-
animation.
Mr.. Hill. you were a party to the
lease between the Steel Corporation and
a company that controlled what Is known
as the Hill ore lands, were you notf'
asked Chairman Stanley.
Handled by Trustees.
IT was not a party to that lease"
responded Nj. HIlI. Il had to do with
the negotiations looking 20 the purchase
Of the ore lands. At the time the lease
to the Steel Corporation was made these
ore lands were In the hands OF trustees
my three sons and f. T. Nichols"
Replying 10 further questions, Mr.. Hin
said that approximately 5000 acres Of
ore lands were leased to the Steel Corpo-
ration. He then told briefly how he per-
sonaIly came to buy the lands.
Wright & Davis had 5000 acres Of ore
had a railroad, and some timber. I be-
came interested In the matter. and began
negotiations with the firm named. Wright
& Davis wanted to close out their inter-
ests on the Mesaba-their railroad, ore
lands. and other property. They wanted
me to take over the entire OUTFIT After
careful negotiation on both sides the
deai was closed. My sons added to the
ore holdings by lease"
Discussing the value Of the mines In
the Mesaba region Mr.. Hin thought the
Mahoning was worth H5,0oo,0oo
Regarding the Poor.
Replying to a question Mr.. Hill said
that the Great Northern. under the law,
could not operate mines. But you, Ras
president, could own and operate a mine,
and distribute this stock to your share
ho.ders." suggested Mr.. Stanley.
Yes; or give 1t to the poor" replied
Mr.. Hill. smilingly.
do you think the worthy poor needed
It more than the shareholders?" asked
Mr.. Stanley.
The worthy poor is wide word"
replied Mr.. Hill
At this point Chairman Stanley fl1-
nounced that further examination OF Mr..
Hill would be suspended until to-day.
Mr.. Hill VIII be interrogated relative to
the community of interest that is al
legged to bind the Hin and Steel roads
into the Lake Superior region. He will
also be asked concerning a conference
between Mr. Hill and ]. p. Morgan.
after which, 1t is charged, announce
ment was made that the Steel Corpora
lion had acquired the Hill properties by
lease.