The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-12
TRIVIAL MATTERS BROUGHT UP
To SHOW GOVERNOR COERCED
PUBLIC SERVICE COMMISSION

tne midst of the contentious. arose and
The. position % the gentlemen on
ms side u clearly that under the de-
.l-lon these gentlemen have A right 20
st-tieA-te az proper and competent tcs-
timuuy % show a state ~ facts that
thtG calm 20 exist Now for "a commits
s.onvf 10 Kermit Witnesses 10 10 on and
waters ~ this matter ana brinT i'm I.
- IN tnts case That viii be Improperly
- Asaln. u may put gentlemen on
thls slide IN a false position. I think /
an slthoriEed 10 lay for all the couu-
sci hore that We viii not make any Oh
brodsesd 10 M 'p ~a,,,S Ss Siaiy eNng
further than that they nave called Tor
testimony IA this alatter that they know
ls lfnprop.r aud yet a matter OF
courtesy We are willing 20 furnish that
Immediately after Mr.. Well had con
GUIDED summing up the plaintiffs side
ot the case. AIR. owen went on the stand
hs was tnterrogated closely by Mr.
Vel and his assistants. as TO his con-
VIBRATIONS with the late Commissioner
ogden Mr.. We'll made n a particular
point 10 closely question the witness
teisuNe " eNry conversation he ever
control and dication 81 tn. u .srnor
over the members OF the Public Service
Commissioners.
In the Introductory Mr.. owen said
that he had made Application Tor a
cierkshlp with the board shortly after
Us ora anization and that Mr.. ogden told
hiin later that all the members Of the
board were In favor OF appointing him.
but that the Governor thought other
wise, because he had a friend at Weston
ton.
Grasping Last Straw.
Mr. wen attempted to show by this
action on the part OF the Governor that
ne was dicsting to the board lie then
at some length Intercepted the witness
about any conversations he had had with
NJ. ogden relative TO the Manufacturers
Light and Heat company. Sir. owen said
that Mr.. Ogden had told him that the
Governor was Tor lower gas rates i'm his
state and that the Governor had advised
him that he expected and had direct ed
the commissioners TO so render their
opinion. The witness further said that
Mr.. ogden had informed him that be-
fore ne could get a resolution passed by
the Public Service Commission that Il
Governor.
=, II was plainly apparent by the objec-
NOna made. and generally Overruled.
that the plaintiffs attorneys were max
ing the Impression as strongly as pos
sole by the statement OF the witness
mat the Governor was king and lord
over the Public Service commission in
all It's official acts.
After many similar questions were
asked by Mr.. We'll, the witness was
finally intcrrogated about his havin.
any conversation VITA any OF the other
"Oh. yes" said Mr. owen. Al this point
court adjourned until this morning At
10 o'clock. Mr.. owen win again go on
the stand this morning and be further
examined by Mr.. We'll and his assist
ants. followed by the states attorneys
cross examining him.
II is probable the hearing will last
FAR into next week. several witnesses
viii HhsIy DE placed ON the stand today.
May STRIKE Prom Record.
Among the principal contentious yes
terday afternoon was whether the Mas
ter had the legal right TO rule Oh adj
hitting certain Indirect Testimony bear
ing the WfRhF At
on both sides were busy looking up au-
thorities ON this point. which they will
cite the court this morning. should IL
De SHOWN by the defendants that such
evidence as that OF Mr. owen is not
legal, II VIII be stricken from the rec
ord II - said. eliminating the principal
point Of contention ~ the states Law
yers OF the attack upon Governor Hat
field by the plaintiffs counsel i'm an Of
Tort TO show that lac - the sole dictator
OF the decisions handed down by the
Public Service commission.
Perhaps there was never more
learned number or attorneys involved
IN any one case ever tried here, than
those engaged in this hearing.
Attorney a Leo Well, OF Pittsburgh.
who was recently arrested on a charge
OF having attempted 10 bride a member
OF the Public Service Commission, Is
being assisted by Attorneys George =
Price, or Charleston: Charles McCamic.
OF this city: u. NJ. Amber. OF Parkers.
burg and &. Il. PritChard. OF Pittsburgh
Inc state IL represented by Attorney
- A@AAANs assisted bN tnI. D..
-. Sommerville. OF this city. Judge John
n. Holt, OF Huntington: Judge Frank w
Nesbitt. OF Wheeling and commencement
;. u. Avis. OF Charleston
~ was agreed among the attorneys
s shet the daily hearing will convene at
$50 and adjourn at O'clock
Prominent Men Present
Ex-Governor William =. GIasscock NJ
Morsantown. appeared in court lust be-
iOIe Adjournment last evening. having
Dtth summoned by the plaintiff Among
the other prominent persons attending
Lne neaTlnE are Messrs Lee : on
't@ries H. Bronson and Wade Killrneyar
members OF the Public Service COMMITS.
SION II. q. sullivan and NJ b. Isvtop.
or pittsburgh. who are Interested I'M me
plalntim side OF the case