New Britain herald., 1925-07-22
VAN SWERINGEN IS
 AGAIN QUESTIONED
His Lawyer Asks That Scope Of
 Inquiry Be Limited

Washington, July 22 F,--A new demand that the scope of the exam nation of o. P Van Sweringen should be limited was made before the interstate commerce commission today at hearings on the Nickel Plate consolidation plan, when the relevancy of questions by counsel for protesting stockholders was challenged.
 Henry ". Anderson, representing Chesapeake & Ohio minority inter- ests, had asked the witness for a complete disclosure of the individ- ual ownership of all railroad securi- ties involved In the merger transac- tons. Decision on the protest was withheld.
 Mir. Anderson opened the days proceedings by asking MT. Van Sweringen to give the names Of peo- ple with whom he had counselled in laying out the plan. J. E, Oldham of Boston, whom MT. Anderson sought to identify as a Representa- tive of Morgan 6, Co.," Professor w. z Ripley, the commission's consolt- dation expert. were among the names the witness first gave.
 Did you talk with any bankers /! Mir. Anderson asked.
 "Yes and mo-" Mir. Van SWeringen said. "I talked yesterday perhaps as if I knew something about rail- road financial structures. We have several bankers on our own boards of directors. I talked with several of the Morgan partners; l sought light wherever I thought l could
 Answering questions as to the names of the Morgan firm members with whom he had talked, the wit ness said Mir. Anderson had wrong conception; that he talked with all of them probably at different times and that he also talked with the Guaranty Trust company people bankers for the Nickel Plate.
 When MT. Anderson observed that there was "a very close" association "hetween Morgan and the Guaranty Trust" the witness replied that he would not subscribe 10 the state nent, but that the relations were Friendly"
 The eyaminaion switched to the Van Sweringen purchase Of 7N,ooo shares of Chesapeake &; Ohio stock from H. P. Huntington &s Co" at s1oO a share, but which was turned in to the Nickel Plate company at sSo per share. the Van STeringens taking the loss. It was revealed that the interstate commerce com mission had been informally advised of the procedure by which the Van sweringen interests gradually bought into the Chesapeake & Ohio.
 Is it not q fact that the con7- mission suggested that this 7o,oho shares should be turned over to the Nickel Plate at ssn?" MT. Anderson asked
 T think that was our voluntary suggestion, MT Van sweringen said. The market was so for the stock or thereabouts-Thte the price to us was s1oo per share; hav- ing one-half of the Nickel Plate outstanding stock ourselves we felt we could justify the transaction In turning 1t over to the company at SO"
 "1t was brought out that the Van sTeringens had purchased through J. F. Morgan & Co, approximately 1Sooo0 shares in additional Chesa- peake & Ohio stock. Mir. Anderson argued as 10 whether this "complet- ed purchases.
 Now have you any outstanding contracts uncompleted for purchase of more Chesapeake & Ohio stock, or the purchase of additional stock In any of the five companies con- cerned in this merger" Mir. Ander- son demanded.
 "I'n sure I haven't"