The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1913-12-06
RECESS WILL LIKELY BE TAKEN
TODAY UNTIL NEXT WEEK.
Aeeoontants hsvs Not Vst submlttsd
Their Repert-Anistant Gen.
erai Manager on Stand
Yesterday.

.Sue"0 NV NOT Vet Submitted
Their Repert-ADistant Gen.
erai Manager on Stand
Yesterday.
ManY details regarding the manner
In which the Manufacturer Light
ana Heat company acquired the sev.
eral companies which have since been
merged INTO Il were brought out yes
tsrosy NJ the sessions OF the hearing
OF the public service commission OF
~ protests or consumers against
the proposed increase in rates
charged In the Wheeling district by
me Manufacturer Light and Heat
company and its subsidiary concerns.
Inc Gay was devoted principally 10
Sno REORGANIZATION OF Assistant
General Manager Layton OF the cor.
poration. who had been on the stand
wnen the companies presented their
sioo OF the controversy two weeks
ago So much time had been con
sumed In the cross-examination OF
the Witness that It was after o'clock
berore he was excused from the
stand and adjournment was immedi-
ately taken until this morning.
II had been intended to examine
several witnesses yesterday in beh ali
OF the state. but they will be called
TINS morning. A number OF local con.
sumers will testify as to the rates
charged mere. IL had also been ex-
pected to submit the report OF the
accountants who made an examina
ton OF the books and accounts of the
companies At the instance OF the com
mission, but the delay in the compile
uon or the cross-examination pre-
vented this yesterday. The report
VIII probably be started today.
Up until yesterday II had beer
hoped TO complete the arguments 10
~ Ia N.Ae
dications as TO when the hearing will
come TO an end. II Is certain, how
ever. that II will be several days be
fore all the evidence is In II Is like
ly that recess will be taken this
evening until several days later in the
month
The cross-examination OF Assistant
General Manager Layton precipitated
several clashes between attorneys for
the two sides. Attorney A. Leo Well
head counsel for the defendent com
panies. objected to several questions
put to the witness by Judge Frank
w. Nesbitt, chief counsel for the In
dustrial consumers who are protest
ing against the proposed increases
Judge Howard y. ogden. presiding
over the hearing for the public serv
Ice commission. was called upon to
make several rulings. especially al
the afternoon session.
Rates Higher Here.
A feature OF the morning session
was the Introduction into the evidence
or schedule or rates charged by
competing companies throughout this
state for the purpose OF comparison
with the rates charged in the Wheel
ing district by the Manufacturers cor
poration. Attorney Well objected 10
the Introduction OF the schedule. but
Commissioner Ogden ruled that all
rates except those In effect along tho
BORDERS OF the gas fields might be ad
mitted.
,The schedule included the rates
charged by sixteen companies. serv
ing practically every section OF West
Virginia. According TO the schedule
several OF the companies included arc
as large as the Manufacturers Light
d Heat Company and they are pip
ing their gas greater distance vet
Notwithstanding these facts, the rates
charged here are the highest in the
state.
Mr.. Layton then took the stand and
the remainder OF the day session was
taken up with his cross-examinatior
by Judge Nesbitt. The morning was
devoted 10 bringing out In considera.
Bile detail the formation and early his
tory OF the Manufacturers Light &
Heat Company and later Of its rela.
lions with the companies now under
Its control Much time was spent
over the details OF the transaction
whereby the Manufacturer Light &
Heat Company took over the Tri.
State Gas Company holdings. A
map showing the leaseholds and wells
OF the company was introduced into
the record.
Afternoon Session.
When the cross-examination was TO.
sumed at the afternoon session Judge
Nesbitt attempted to draw from the
witness facts concerning the Cameron
OIL Company. the Wheeling Natural
Gas Company and other concerns AZ
the time they were purchased by the
Manufacturers. and the source OF
their supply OF gas. Mr.. Layton an.
swered many questions in an evasive
manner. often stating that he did no,
remember. or could not recollect. or
was not acquainted with the facts
He stated that although he has been
with the Manufacturers Light g. Heat
Company since rs organization. he
has been in the distributing deparr.
ment. and although slightly connect.
ed with the field department. was not
well acquainted with the details %
the financial transactions
Mr.. Layton was asked by Judge
Nesbitt N the Manufacturer TiPht
and Heat company % West Vfrrfnfa