1

amount of $30.16 that paid the bill, and then later on June 26, you sent another letter which enclosed a copy of the hotel bill which was in the same amount, $30.16.

I would like at this time, Mr. Chairman, to introduce the two letters
Mr. Garson sent with the enclosures, into the record.

Mr. MACDONALD. Is there objection?
Without objection, so ordered.
(The correspondence referred to follows:)

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,

Washington, D.C., June 19, 1970.
Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS,
Chairman, Special Subcommittee on Investigations,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CHAIRMAN STAGGERS: I am submitting to you herewith a copy of the can-
celed check to the Hotel Pontchartrain in Detroit, Michigan, covering the hotel
bill submitted to me. You will note that the check indicates the billing number of
#C 29389. I am unable to locate a copy of the bill. However, if you feel that it is
needed. I shall write the hotel for a copy.
Sincerely yours,

H. NEIL GARSON, Secretary.

JUNE 22, 1970.
Mr. H. NEIL GARSON,
Secretary, Interstate Commerce Commission,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR MR. Garson : Your letter of June 19th enclosing a copy of your cancelled check dated May 23, 1968. to the Hotel Pontchart rain has been received.

We are making arrangements to obtain a copy of your bill from the Hotel. However, we would appreciate it if you could furnish us with a copy of same in the near future. Sincerely yours,

HARLEY 0. STAGGERS, Chairman.

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,

Washington, D.C., June 24, 1970.
Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS,
Chairman,
Special Subcommittee on Investigations,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CHAIRMAN STAGGERS : This is to acknowledge receipt of your letter of
June 22, 1970.

After the Hearing at which I testified, I sent a letter to the Hotel Ponchartrain asking for a copy of the bill. I have not, as yet, heard from them. I am enclosing a copy of the letter which I sent to the Hotel Ponchartrain for your information. If the Hotel sends me a copy of the bill, I shall forward it to you. Sincerely yours,

H. NEIL GARSON, Secretary.

JUNE 19, 1970.
HOTEL PONCHARTRAIN,
Detroit, Mich.

GENTLEMEN : It is necessary for me to ask you for a copy of a bill which I paid to your Hotel by check dated May 23, 1968. Your bill number is #C29389 and covers the period of my stay at your Hotel for May 1-2, 1968.

Your expeditious reply would be appreciated. Please indicate on the outside of your letter "To the Personal Attention of Mr. Garson". Sincerely yours,

H. NEIL GARSON, Secretary.

INTERSTATE COMMERCE COMMISSION,

OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY,

Washington, D.C., June 26, 1970.
Hon. HARLEY O. STAGGERS,
Chairman, Special Subcommittee on Investigations,
Washington, D.C.

DEAR CHAIRMAN STAGGERS : As I had promised you in my letter of June 24, 1970, I have just received a copy of the Hotel Ponchartrain bill for May 1 and May 2, 1968.

You will note that the basic room rate is $14.50 and that the total bill to me which I paid is $30.16 for two nights. Sincerely yours,

H. NEIL GARSON, Secretary.

1454

TRANSFER TO CREDIT LEDGER
I AGREE THAT MY LIABILITY FOR THIS BILL IS NOT WAIVED AND AGREE

CHARGE 194

devit 7708
TO BE HELD PERSONALLY LIABLE IN THE EVENT THAT THE INDICATED
PERSON, COMPANY OR ASSOCIATION FAILS TO PAY FOR ANY PART OR STREET --
THE FULL AMOUNT OF WESE CHARGES

CITY STATE
GUEST'S
SIGNATURE

C. C. No.

BY
HOTEL PONTCHARTRAIN

DETROIT, MICHIGAN

Arcoes Detrat, mich ada na. Didósok. BY

Mr. MANELLI. Mr. Garson, isn't it true that when you checked out of the hotel in Detroit you actually signed two bills?

Wasn't one of them the bill for $30.16, which you have supplied to the subcommittee, but there was also, was there not, another bill in the amount of $94.64, which you authorized to be paid by the Motor Carriers Lawyers Association ?

Do you recall signing two bills?

1

Mr. Garson. Let me answer that question. To begin with, I don't have total recall. At the time that I came here initially before this committee, I assumed that I was supposed to answer questions concerning the Commission's rules and regulations regarding train discontinuance matters and orders of the Commission within connection with those matters.

I was completely unprepared to answer any questions regarding travel.

Mr. MANELLI. Excuse me, Mr. Witness. Could I just interrupt you for a minute?

Mr. GARSON. Let me finish.
Mr. MANELLI. I would like to get an answer to my question.

Mr. Garson. I will give you an answer, if you will let me finish my statement.

Mr. Moss. Mr. Chairman.
Mr. MACDONALD. Mr. Moss?

Mr. Moss. This is one of the rare instances where I have encountered a witness who wants to take over the chair. I would submit that you are under obligation to respond as concisely and succinctly as possible to the inquiry of counsel.

Mr. GARSON. I will do my best to do so.
Mr. Moss. You are not doing so.
Mr. MACDONALD. Mr. Counsel ?
Mr. MANELLI. I will repeat the question.

Isn't it true that when you checked out of the hotel on that occasion, you actually signed two bills, the bill for $30.16, which you supplied to the subcommittee, but another bill in the amount of $94.64, which you authorized to be paid by the Motor Carrier Lawyers Association?

Mr. GARSON. I do not recall.
Mr. MANELLI. All right.

Mr. GARSON. I do want to say this, that I wrote the hotel and asked for a copy of the bill which I paid. They furnished me a bill which indicated that the rate was $14.50. This had been annotated on the check which I gave to the committee, and so far as I knew, that was the only bill that had been submitted to me.

I don't recall any other bill.

Mr. MANELLI. For the record, Mr. Chairman, I will state that we have obtained both bills from the hotel. I would like to insert the two bills into the record at this point, together with a letter from the controller of the hotel authenticating that these are official records of the hotel.

Mr. MACDONALD. Without objection so ordered.
(The documents referred to follow :)

HOTEL PONTCHARTRAIN,

Detroit, Mich., June 23, 1970. To Whom It May Concern:

I, the undersigned do hereby state without prejudice.

That I am Controller of the Hotel Pontchartrain, Two Washington Blvd, Detroit, Michigan.

That on June 23, 1970, I surrendered to Messrs Mark J. Raabe and Michael F.
Barrett, Jr. the following documents taken from the books and records of the
Hotel Pontchartrain which are maintained by said Hotel in the normal course
of business :

Original folios: C29596; C29420; C29389; C29397; C29155; C29392;
C29156 ; C29608 ; C29609 ; C29419 ; C29597 ; S29607.
That it is the ordinary business practice of said Hotel when a guest signs a
olio, it is normally done at time of check out.

A. E. BRADFIELD, Controller.

.::