Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1924-04-08
Hidden Hand' Charged in
Merger Hearing; Pyeatt on
Stand Before Commission
tBy The AZ ociated Press

AUSTIN. Texas. April N.-Gcneral
offices of the lntrrna'ional-Grca \rr-
thrrn railroad viii not H. maintained AZ
ralcS inc unless the law requires a
under thr proposed merger NJ that road
with the Gulf Coast Lines. President
T. :. I'yrltt. declared IN the hearing hc-
fore the Texas railroad commission. IL
said the president office of ia" I-G. y.
~ now ut Houston ami would not hc
removed If II could bc avoided. Main
truancc uf "A complete set uf officials .t
Palestine WiiI depend on what thr law rc
quirr> he said Removal IF the office
from Palestine would hc violation NJ
present statutes. II has been maintained.
Efforts ~ discover what attornet f
allrgc IN tho hidden hand ha III ihu
propo>al 10 consolidate the lntcrnaiinn-
nl-Irr.i Northern railroad with the Gnif
Coast Lines were made AZ today'> hear
in. un M" proposition before the Texas
railroad cummi~ sion
Under questioning hy Judge \el~o':
Phillips. representing n group nf those
opposed ~ The merger President y. :.
Ptcutt of the Gulf Lines. said SOME
NJ ih" stock NJ hi~ lines was owned hv
W. a. Hartman and company. BLAIR
und company and Potter anl company
aIl ~ these being Nrw York INV
trrr>t~ hut hc denied any knowlcdg"
that thc Hartman interests or amy other
railroad was in outrol of the Gulf lines.
H. Said hr didn't know what was iu
The minds ~ lhc bankers. when asked
what dlry proposed ~ do with the lines
after thc merger and when questioned a>
To- what the bankers had 10 Do with ~.
replied that fhey represent certain
group w Stockholders ~ agents.
Asked whether there were any ne
gotiatiun~ pending fur purchase NJ hi-
own line. a. declared there had been
gossip for ten wears about purchasing
thr GuIf lines. wt th.i Nv knew NJ nu
present negotiations.
Attempts were made tn hav" thr wli
mes, tcIl What competition hi> lines cN-
pcct ~ meet hy ihe merger and AN"
what they intended wv ~ with tho ot-
II ialS and offices of the 1t. y. lle
said since the 90. n. i- ihr best r"ad
Tor the Mexican business. since y goes
M Laredo. III hi~ opinion the best MrNicaa
gateway. thr merger would give thc COM
hincd roads the strongest possible BID
f"r Mexican business
You iuicad w strengthen your posi-
ti,u hy destroying the .omrctition m th'
I-G y. i~ that it:~ asked Judge
Phillips.
We Will strengthen "ur position hA
making one strong railroad ", stem "u'
of the two" Mr.. Iyeaft replied
10 yuu rNrr IVY make thr officers
II the I-G y. figur"hcads IN combining
thr general offices M The twn roads:
We expect w comply with thr laws
the witness answered Judge Phillips sli,
tfi~ MAS vague. huf thr witness main
tanned II was good answer. I'm hr"-
giug about it hc said.
To all uur~ii"u~ W. IN what the rur
cha sing roads intentions are conccrnin-
removal vi THE head uffi r- of fhr l'
IN. President Pyca't replied thar the,
expected ~ 0omrlg with thr statutes
which prevent removal NJ thc office
4 from Palestine. lie said The offices ="
\ fhr twn lines IN Houston could hr com
hurd ami that great saving. prthap
\ 5000 .unn year. could hr made in "n
Ihnrd terminal operations in Houston
/ lie said these rhy ysical consolidation
could hr effected without DESTROYING th'
v legal identify of the IG. y.