The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1915-02-16
STATE SCORES HEAVILY
In THE GAS HEARING


Mr.. Bronson's Share.
Miss Irene Dick stenograDner for
G. II. Bronson. member OF the com.
mission. was the next witness. Miss
Dick swore that she had been the
sienographer In Mr. Bronson's Office
since July 1. 1913. and was still en-
ployed by him.
=. Did you AZ sny time prepare for
Mr. Pronson his resignation as public
service commissioner
A. I did.
Q. Did he dictate IL TO you. or did
he write IL and you transcribe it,
A. ! copied II.
q. You copied f.?
A Yes.
@. Was it written in Ionshsnd by
him?
A. No.
Q. Do you know by whom IL was
written?
A. think 1t was written by hi.
lattorney.
heS " save 70 you 10 copy 0io
A. lie did.
.. And you copied it,
A. / did.
q. And what did you do with IL.
A. Mr.. Bronson signed it-or I
gave IL 20 Mr.. Bronson. and he signed
Pc and requested me 10 take II TO the
Governors office.
q. Did you do so2
A. ! did.
q. What did Mr.. Bronson saw 10
you as to the cause Of his resigna-
ltion?
Mr.. Nesbitt: Object to the state.
lment.
Denounees Proceedings.
Al this point Judge Holt took the
floor and made a ringing address. de-
inouncing the entire proceedings as
outrageous; declaring that the appar-
lent purpose OF the proceedings was to
reflect upon Mr.. Bronson. and upon
the Governor. He said that there was
no pretense that the conversation OF
Mr.. Bronson with the witness had
Ianything TO do with the Manufactur-
lers' Light a. Heat case, that the Man
ufacturers Light a Heat company
was not discussed by Mr. Bronson and
the witness. but that the family rela-
tons or personal relations OF Me
Bronson and the Governor we're dis.
lcussed, and that these were not sub.
tects In which the Manufacturers
Light a Heat company were interest
ed or had no bearing upon the case.
He said:
Your Honor. now. getting away
down TO the cornerstone. this is unfair
10 some people in this state. some
people who are trying to do what is
right. IL is attempting to make a case
oy innuendo and insinuation, and |
Tor one must protest, not only upon
legal grounds, but there are some
things that are sacred ir this world.
and we must not make these side is
sues subservient to issues that they
do not throw any light upon. or
course. every time you hear a man
talking about a paralyzed arm or
something that may refer to the man
OF II may refer TO confidential reIa-
lons. These things ought TO be more
pertinent IL Is all wrong: the whole
ming Is wrong. Unless is has some
specific bearing on this case n ought
not to be tolerated
Continuing. Judge Holt referred 10
the numerous attempts made TO quote
commissioner Ogden. and he again
asserted that In every enc OF these
attempts, the quotations have been in
coinpetent as evidence. and ought
never TO have been heard by the Mas
Ter, and would not be received in anv
court, governed by strict legal pro
Iceedings. At the conclusion OF his ad-
dress, he said in all sol, unity:
| i am afraid OF injustice. and
want the reporters to take this. am
AFRAID injustice IL going to be done 10
Governor Hatfield am afraid in.
Justice is going to be done 10 Mr.
Wen. and I am not. gentlemen. in an
sincerity in favor Of either proposl-
ton
Judge Nesbitt Scores.
At this point Judge NeSbitt followed
the same line as Judge Holt. and
maze perhaps the most striking ad-
uress OF the day. Judge Nesbitt said
Mr. Nesbitt: II the court please,
would Ike TO call attention again on
this. the fourth day. I believe, OF this
hearing. to one phase OF this case 40
which 1 asked the court 10 turn lie
attention on the first day. and that
IL thisa That evidence introduced
Tor the purpose OF showing that fnGn
ences brought to bear from an outside
source In other directions than upon
thc gas rates ought not 10 be permit.
ted 10 be introduced In this case. until
prlna facie case has been made
| tnal such influences were brought IN
pear concerning the gas rues. Now
We have followed this case for almost
four days. and not one scintiIla OF ev.
idence has been introduced here 10
snow anything done by the governor
/ which could be construed as an Of.
Tort 70 influence the finding OF the
commission upon the gas rates II
/ seems 20 me that we have now cer.
tainly arrived AZ a time when RentIe.
mer on the other side should be 70
I quired, n they have any evldene~ 10
I the eject that tbs governor sought 10
hhuence the commission In the maj.
Yer or the gas rates. 20 Introduce trat
/ evidence. II seems 10 me that the
I t'me mas fully ripened for that m
I 'uch testimony Is within their pos4e..
sion. let them Introduce DO nov ana
y then follow u up with sucii coIIs,ersl
\ matter a. they have in supporf there
OF III they have evidence tending 10
SHOW That the commission was ger
I orally governed b. the Governor i'm
Z other matters than upon the gas rstas
Y let thar be brought in % supporf fp,..5r
= clelm. But first lot them prove ~,
! Influences brought 10 bear In tho maj.
I l'r or the Eas rates. 10 iaa general
/ principle Of law that prima fsria
case must be mad upon the rraffors