New Britain herald., 1925-07-16
VAN SWERINGENIN IN
 DENIAL OF CLAIM
Insists No Fraud Intended in s3ta... Rail Merger

Washington, July is.--ln pet- lions filed yesterday with the inter state commerce commission Orris ?. and Mantis J. Van Sweringen de- manded specific and strict proof Of the charges made by what Is called the Scott committee of dissenting uockholders Of the railroad com panies in the Van Sweringen Nickel Plate consultations.
 These charges are that there was sn interlocking directorate and that those Of the directorate obtained their positions through fraud and illegal methods. The petitions were in answer to the petitions Of inter vention filed with the commission by George Cole Scott, John Stewart Bryan. Lindsey Hopkins, George s. Kemp and Berkeley Williams. The documents filed yesterday amounted to sweeping denials of the aIega- tions of the interveners.
 Another important development today was the announcement of the commission that 1t would adjourn for the summer on July 20. This is certain to defer action on the Van Sweringen consolidation for several months. While hearings will con tinue through the summer before officials of the commission, no final decision can be had before fall-and probably late in the fall.
 In their petitions the Van sver- lngens fiatly denied allegations that they had failed 10 promote the in- terests of the different companies in the Eickle Plate consolidation or to promote the interests of the public and of stockholders. Purchases Of equipment with C. & C. funds, they said, was made for the use Of the road and with large benefits to 1t.
 Interveners' Authority Denied
 The Van sweringens' statement says:
 That neither said petitioners. George Cole Scott, John Stewart Bryan, Lindsey Hopkins, George s' Kemp and Berkeley Williams, nor any of them, were owners and hold CTS in their own right of the aggre- gate of 1900 shares of the common stock of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway company, or any part of said aggregate. when the roder com- plained of was made, entered or corrected. and that the interveners are without authority or interest to Justify the relief they seek in re- spect of said roder. either as hold CTS of said 1900 shares, or any of them, or as representations of any other stockholders of the Chesapeake & Ohio Railway company, and that, ss to the some 2,5O0 other holders of the preferred and common stock of the Chesa apeake & Ohio Railway company whom interveners claim to represent, interveners have failed to comply with the rules of prac- tice before the commission, which require that the names of all parties complainant must be stated in full. without abbreviation, and the ad- dress of said complainant. with the name and address of his attorney. must appear. and applicants demand strict proof of interveners' author ity in the premises and statement of the names. addresses and inter ests of all persons whom interven- CTS claim to represent"
 The Van STeringens asked the commission 10 dismiss the petitions for intervention and denied in fur ther detail the allegations of the in- terveners. They asked further that the commission proceed with their applications for the cosolidation of certain lines and for the construc- tion of the line between Valley Crossing and Gregg Ohio.