Arthur Hailey - Overload

"Well . . . I came in a taxi."

"You came in a taxi? A big, important wheel like you? You mean you didn't use your personal helicopter?"

Nim smiled thinly; it was already obvious what kind of interrogation this would be. He answered, "I don't have a personal helicopter. And I certainly didn't use one today."

"But you do use one sometimes-right?"

"On certain special occasions . . ."

Birdsong cut in. "Never mind all that! You do use one sometimesyes or no?"

"Yes."

"A helicopter, paid for with the hard-earned money of gas and electricity consumers in their monthly bills?"

"No, it is not paid for in utility bills. At least, not directly."

"But consumers pay indirectly-right?"

"You could say that about every piece of working equipment .

Birdsong slammed his hand again. "We're not talking about other equipment. I'm inquiring about a helicopter."

"Our company has several helicopters which .

"Several! You mean you get a choice-like between a Lincoln and a Cadillac?"

Nim said impatiently, “They are mainly for operational use."

"Which doesn't stop you using one when you need it personally, or think you need it-right?" Without pausing for an answer, Birdsong reached into a pocket and produced a newspaper sheet which he unfolded. "You remember this?"

It was Nancy Molineaux's article in the California Examiner, published shortly after the press visit to Devil's Gate Camp.

Nim said resignedly, "I remember it."

Birdsong read out details of the newspaper and date, which the stenotypist recorded, then swung back to Nim. "It says here: 'Mr. Goldman . . . is too important to ride on a bus, even though one privately chartered by Golden State Power-was going his way . . . and had plenty of spare seats. Instead he chose a helicopter . Birdsong looked up, glaring. "Is all that true?"

“There were special circumstances."

"Never mind them. I asked: 'Is that true?"'

Nim was aware of Nancy Molineaux watching from the press table; a soft smile played about her face. He said, "It was a prejudiced report, but-more or less-it's true."

Birdsong appealed to the bench. "Will the chairman please instruct this witness to respond with a simple 'yes' or 'no."'

The commissioner said, "It might save everyone time if you did, Mr.

Goldman."

His face set grimly, Nim answered, "Yes."

"It took a lot of effort," Birdsong said, "like pulling teeth." He was facing the bench again and, chameleon-like, had slipped from hardness into affability. "But we finally have an admission from the witness that the contents of this courageous newspaper report are true. Mr. Chairman, I would like the article entered into evidence to demonstrate the rich living which officials like Goldman here, and wotsis-name the chairman, accustom themselves to at the expense of poor consumers. Also it shows why expensive boondoggles like Tunipah, aimed at supporting this kind of habit as well as making extortionate profits, are foisted on an unsuspecting public."

O'Brien, on his feet, protested wearily, "I object-to inclusion of the report which is irrelevant to this hearing; also to the last remarks which are unsupported by evidence or testimony."

The commissioner consulted briefly with the administrative law judge, then announced, "Your objection will be recorded, Mr. O'Brien. The document-the newspaper report-will be admitted as an exhibit."

"Thank you sir," Birdsong said. He returned his attention to Nim.

"Do you, personally, own stock in Golden State Power & Light?"

"Yes," Nim said. He wondered what came next. He owned a hundred and twenty shares which he had acquired, a few at a time, through a payroll savings plan. Their present market value was slightly more than two thousand dollars-far less than the original cost since the value of GSP & L stock had slumped a month ago after omission of the dividend. But he decided not to volunteer more information than was asked. It proved to be a mistake.

"If this Tunipah deal goes through," Birdsong continued, "is it likely the value of all Golden State Power shares will go up?"

"Not necessarily. They could equally well go down." As he spoke, Nim wondered: Should he elaborate, add that with a huge construction program, to be financed by the sale of securities including new common stock at below book value, the existing GSP & L shares would be diluted and might slump? Such an answer would require complex explanations; it would also-in this context-look like waffling. Nor was Nim sure that the company's treasurer would want the statement made in public. He decided to leave well enough alone.

"Not necessarily," Birdsong repeated. "But the market price of those shares could go up. Surely you'll admit that."

Nim said tersely, "In the stock market, anything can happen."

Birdsong faced the courtroom and sighed theatrically. "I suppose that's the best answer I can expect from this unco-operative witness, so I will make the statement: the shares probably would go up." He swung back to Nim. "If that happened, isn't it true that you would have a vested interest in Tunipah, that you, too, would be a profiteer?"

The notion was so absurd, Nim wanted to laugh. The best he could hope for, for a long time to come, was that the value of his small shareholding would return to its level at the time of purchase.

Birdsong said suddenly, "Since you seem reluctant to answer, I'll put the question another way: If the value of Golden State shares go up because of Tunipah, will your shares be worth more as well?"

"Look," Nim said, "I only . . ."

From the bench the commissioner cut in testily, "It's a simple question, Mr. Goldman. Just answer 'yes' or 'no."'

About to explode at the unfairness, Nim was aware of Oscar O'Brien signaling with a gentle shake of his head. It was a reminder, Nim knew, of the instructions to be patient and resist provocation. He answered with a terse, "Yes."

Birdsong declared, "Now that we have that admission also, Mr. Chairman, I wish the record to show that this witness has a vested financial interest in the outcome of this hearing, and therefore his testimony should be judged accordingly."

"Well, you just put it in the record yourself," the commissioner said, his irritation still showing. "So why not move along?"

"Yessir!" the p & lfp leader thrust a hand through his beard as if in thought, then returned to Nim. "Now then, I have some questions about the effect of Tunipah on the utility bills of ordinary working people, the ones who . . ."

It went on and on. Birdsong concentrated-as he had while cross-examining J. Eric Humphrey-on the suggestion that profit, and nothing else, was the motive behind Tunipah; also that consumers would foot the bill and receive nothing or little in return. What angered Nim, beneath the unruffled surface be struggled to maintain, was that not once were the major, important issues-future power requirements based on growth, industry economics, maintenance of living standards-touched on. Populist froth was being paraded; nothing more. But it would gain attention.

Activity at the press table made that clear.

Nim also admitted to himself that the two-pronged attack-the Sequoia Club emphasizing environmental issues and the p & lfp dwelling on rates and finance, however superficially-was effective. He wondered if there had been liaison between the two groups, though he doubted it. Laura Bo Carmichael and Davey Birdsong were on different intellectual planes. Nim still respected Laura Bo, despite their differences, but he despised Birdsong as a charlatan.

During a short recess, after Birdsong had concluded his questioning, Oscar O'Brien warned Nim, "You're not through yet. After the other witnesses I'll want you back on the stand for redirect, and when I've finished the other people can have at you again if they want." Nim grimaced, wishing his part were over, thankful that it would be soon.