The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-17

walk they had taken together IN the
evening. Ogden spoke OF the very Sc.
we're labors on the commission, the
work OF organizing and formulating
plans had fallen to him, and said that
he had met serious disappointment in
the fact that the Governor insisted IN
hampering the work of the commits.
sion. and placed him In a very humili.
ating position. He could not help
feeling Inundated in the fact that his
plans were interfered with. He stated,
however. that so far as he was con.
\ eerned he would not allow and could
not allow Governor Hatfield to boss
him. but the Governor had absolute
control of the other members. and in
that way had absolute control OF the
commission. He thought this CONVEX
sation occurred over a year ago.
Byrne testified that he recalled an
lother conversation which occurred
| just after he Byrne. had heard OF
the Governors controversy, or COM
bat, with Commissioner Bronson. Mr..
] Ogden appeared 20 be very much ex-
cited about the matter. and told him,
Byrne. something OF the details OF the
affair. He said that was the kind OF
a man the Governor was. that he would
drive and boss the various members
of the commission as he did the other
branches OF the state government,
However. Mr., Byrne stated, Mr.. Og-
den invariably said. that so far as he
was concerned, the Governor did not
control him. and he would not allow
him TO do so. as TO any work OF the
commission.
Mr., Byrne testified that he had var
ious other conversations with Mr..
4 Ogden all along the same line The
last occurred two OF three days before
the death of Mr.. Ogden.
Denounced Bribery.
On that occasion he had met Ogden
/ He had not seen him for several
weeks. and knew that he had been
very sick. He shook hands with him
and asked him when he returned
/ Ogden spoke to him about the con-
nection OF his name with the Well
bribery case, and appeared very in
dignant that his name had been con-
nected with IL. He said that II was
an outrage TO assume that any man
or number of men would have to be
brought TO tell a thing that was
| shouted from the house tops. He
said:
] You know have told you a num-
Der of times about the governors in
/ preference with the commission as TO
certain matters. and IL is an outrage
that 1t should be considered neces-
sary TO pay me or anyone else to
make statement OF that kind"
The witness said Ogden seemed TO
be very much excited. He was weak
and sick, and he, the witness, changed
the subject
At the conclusion OF this testimony.
Well arose and asked that a recess be
taken TO allow the attorneys for the
/ gas company to consult. A recess
lasting some thirty minutes. was
/ taken.
Gas Company Quits Attack.
At the conclusion OF the recess, Mr.
I Well sprung a surprise by the an
nouncement that the gas company had
practically concluded this portion OF
I its case. That Is, the attack upon
Governor Hatfield and the Public
Z Service Commission on the ground OF
alleged Interference. lie stated that
number Of witnesses had been sum
moned; some OF them had not been
used. some OF them they thought best
TO withhold al this time. and suggest
! ed that either another phase OF the
case be taken ny or that the case be
adjourned TO sometime agreed upon.
This announcement from the gas
company was the signal for an out
burst OF opposition from the attor-
neys OF the states. IN the form OF dra-
matte addresses taken part In partic-
ularly by Congressman Avis. Senator
Sommerville and General Lilly.
Judge Holt opened the discussion
/ for hn aHm raHamHHa.a~ 81
company's attorneys to 20 ahead with
the hearing OF specification No a."
That Is the specification concerning
Governor Hatheld's interference. lie
said.
The state was ready TO answer the
charges made by the gas companies.
their Witnesses we're there. and they
wanted the charge Of the Governors
interference disposed OF"
While Judge Holt was conciiatory
To his remarks. be was firm and force
ful.
Cor Eressman Avis made perhaps
ne longest address. stating the states
position. He referred 20 a remark
made by Well concerning the cross.
examination OF Attorney McCamic.
who offered hlmseif az a witness for
the Ras company. and declared that so
Ter az he was concerned. whatever
connections with the criminal case.
AGAINST We'll had been brought into
this case. had been brought there by
Well and his associates. and not by'
Rim
BE referred to the effort made By.
thc attorneys for the state on theI
hrFt day ~ the proceedings TO secure
short adjournment on account oil
the absence OF Judgo Nesbitt. who wac
wanted az Parkcrgburf. and OF She
iuFistencc and vohemcuco with whir.
the attorneys for the gas compart
had pushed the proceed Now tnoy
have been In session on this aues~on
NJ Fubernatorial Interference FOR Ave
days The Ras company had fUedl
the records with n large mass Of roa-I
sir. not one word OF which wa com