The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1912-11-14
Samuel Rea Succeed s
Him as Head of Great
Railway System.
CHANGE COMES
AS BIG SURPRISE
For Two Years There Has Been
Restiveness on Part of Pro-
gressive Members of Com
pany and Under New Re-
girne Business Expansion
Is Anticipated.
Especial to The Times-Dispatch.1

Especial to The Times-Dispatch.l
Philadelphia. Pa. November 13.-ln-
auguration OF another period Of great
expansive development of the already
huge Pennsylvania Railroad system II
presaged In the election to-day OK
Samuel Rea as president Of the COM
pany to succeed James McCrea. who
will relinquish the position January
next. Except to a comparatively Few
this big news came as a surprise. The
fact Is OF far-reaching import. and
likely to prove prime factor In
urging forward the current business
expansion.
Not until May /. 1918. or more than
nve years hence. would Mr.. McCrea
have reached the age for retiremenf
under the pension rules OF the COM
pany. He concluded to resign. feel
ing that he prefers to be relieved OF
the close duties which Of necessity de-
volve upon the chief executive and
responsible head OF the largest trans
portation system the world has ever
seen.
Mr.. McCrea will make the fourth
president OF the Pennsylvania Railroad
to retire before death. Elected nearly
six years ago as the choice Of the
back of the Pennsylvania Railroad. and
who made up their minds as between
him and Mr.. Rea. at a dinner given
in New York by Henry c. Frick. MT.
McCrea took up the work and the
problems which the death Of Alexander
J. Cassatt passed along Mr. McCreA
was selected because Of his known
conservatism. his experienced knowl-
edge Of the railroad business and OF
the high order Of integrity which 10
component in his character.
These special qualities were regarded
as most essential In the man who must
succeed A. Cassatt as president OF
the great system. It was felt that the
properties needed period Of rest; thas
the resources Of the corporation should
be nursed and husbanded until SUCK
time as the business should grow up to
what had been provided. In the selec-
ton of Mr.. McCrea to pilot the big
company through such a period the
feeling Is now general and strong
that no mistake was made.
Pr0gressives FESTIVE.
But IL Is none the less the fact that
for some two years past there has been
q growing restiveness on the part OF
the more vtrile, go-ahead element In
the Pennsylvania road management
under the stern veto which President
McCrea has put upon more than one
proposition which was brought to him.
strongly urged. 1t is also true that
such differences Of opinion over ques-
tions Of policy both little and big
for Mr. NcCrea insisted upon passing
on all things-gradually brought about
a condition not condctice to that har-
mony Of purpose which brings out OF
An organization the best results.
More than once during the AcCres
Of the Pennsylvania e
was thought wise to have omcial denial
given to reports to the effect that there
was dissatisfaction with the way things
were goinx and discord In the manage
ment. The death Of Clement A. Girls
com. last Sunday, creating q vacancy
in the board of directors Of the Penn
svlvania Railroad, would seem to have
been seized upon as sffording a de-
sired opportunity for the big change
which was put through to-day
OF the seventeen directors OF tho
company thirteen are elected by the
stock holders. and these thirteen elect
four more men, all Of them vtce-presi-
dents. Is additional members OF the
board. The practice has been Tor the
board TO elect as president OF the COM
many one Of the stockholders directors.
when Mr.. NcCrea's resignation was
presented and accepted. Mr.. Rea re-
signed the place he has held ia the
board. to .. elected to the vacancy, and
then as president. TO succeed M NC
Crea on January l.
Fen Heir % Hard job
On ALI sides IL is agreed that Mr..
Nc,~rea fell heir 30 a hard job. During
the seven and a half years that a. ).
Cassast nodded the PennSyl-antz sys-
fem and policy 70 shape with his 1aas-
terfuI ideas the corporation went
through q complete netamcrpheSs.
and entered field 50 much greater
than =, had before occupied as TO AL
noe, s,aeger comprehension
Almost the frs. act % tire Csssatt
administration was an Investment OF
..a-,y 50, oes. oso. 10 enable the Penn
,yIv,1,a Railroad In conjunction with
On. New York Central 10 acquire dom
tna,,re control q. f:s competitors IN
.be bitu,Irou. trsac--the Baltimore
ana OHIO. chesapeake ard osic and tho
No,foIk and Western Railroads. THIS
~,s don. 20 advance ard steady fresgat
y.,e. on a chief ;rafhc OF all these
railroads l. was measure also -
.,-,t. down the previously general and
yfe.os. practice OF rebates
rbe csssat. a6nfnissra;ton abolished
,s. free PASS ard bent its every eGorS
% SECURE legislation 20 rerpstuoee 49,
~r.., reforms A. J. Csssate Wao toe
4, carrying gu; shsse stEpseeess
works. the most Impressive. bat ~
No means the nos; essential ans M
,,--su, 81 which 10 THE NORTHUMBERLAND
New Yors tunnel system. whica ceee -
all sTfI.ssf.$1e.
During the seven and . half 800
that q. J. Cssoast ru3s1 ths cu0eent
esse& Of she PeasyivHais psnrpu0
CWvaay ne Darsee sosOssosaea -