The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1905-03-31

tee, and Senator Donovan said he most
sincerely apoligized for any transgres-
sion, but it was so seldom that the
president of a great corporation came
TO the state house. ne thought it was
timely to ask questions which seemed
quite important on general railroad
matters. The apology was accepted,
and the, question went back to the bill
proper.
Mr.. MeIIen. in explanation Of inn
provements on the road, said that he
bought one locomotive for every two
days he has been president, instead of
two locomotives for each day.
Representative Southwick, who had a
copy of the bill in his hand, asked
many questions, chiefly as to Mr.. Mel
lens Interpretation of the terms of the
bill relating to traffic right, the acquir-
ing of water power and the purchase
and maintenance of pleasure grounds
by the Consolidated railway. On the
question of issuing stock to stockhold-
ers of other roads bought by the Con-
solidated, that is stock of the purchas-
| ing company in exchange for the ac-
quired securities. Mr.. MeIlen explained
| that the Consolidated was a holding
company, and that the state benefited
| by the transaction. He explained that
| in regard to the companies bought in
Massachusetts there could not be an ex-
change of stock, as the laws of that
state did not permit an outside corpor-
alton to issue its own stock against the
acquired property. But there's trust
had been formed which held the stock
and guaranteed the interest. Mr.. Mel
/ len, in reply to question If he thought
the Consolidated railway was well tax
ed in Connecticut, said: ITO my sad
recollection and experience 1 think the
state has done its full duty" On the
matter of purchase of pleasure grounds,
the bill gives the company the right
to sell such if it wished, and Repre-
sentative Southwick suggested that
business. President Mellen said that
while street railways run pleasure
tgrounds as source of revenue it might
happen that they would like to trans
| fer such grounds, as to, permit a pri
| vate company to run amusements on
a larger scale, and the railroad should
have the right to sell its own real es-
tate. Representative Southwiclk said
he would like the bill changed, giving
i the civic authorities the power to APP
iprove of such sale. Attention was
called to the general law on this point
Representative Moore of New Britain
asked if the bill gave the road the
right to carry freight over, its lines,
and if it gave permission to double
track at will. President Mellen replied
affirmatively to the first, and he hoped
so in the second instance, although he
ldidn't know. On a question by the
same representative, on the right to
acquire water power, Mr.. Mellen said
the bill did not give the right of en-
inent domain. 1t did authorize pur-
chase by lawful means. E. S. Thomas
lof Orange asked Mr.. Mellen if there
was any intention of building line
in West Haven for which the right was
given ten years ago, from Elm street
Il down Second avenue to the shore Mr.
Mellen did not knowst the exact location
but he said that the road which it is
contemplated to build now was from,
1 Central village to Oecum. '@- r.
h. Mr. Thomas-"Then have the right
TO assume that the line in Orange viii
not be built @ SD.
/ Mr.. Mellen-'I have no information
as to the location and I am unable te
answer that question:
Representative "a Alcorn of Suffiel6
called attention to the right given in
the bill to have an electric line acros.
a steam line at grade and whether thai
was the desire Of Mr.. Mellen to let the
bill stand that way.
Mr.. Mellen said that he wished it t.
be possible, if the occasion was neces.
sary, to have an electric line eros:
steam tracks to reach store house
Mr.. Alcorn-'Don't you agree that il
the provision became law it woult
Irepeal the general law so. far as it ap.
piled to the clause forbidding crossings
at grader"
President Mellen-'T don't think so. >
Representative Alcorn-'I do"
i Representative Brown of Norwich
asked if President Mellen meant III
stating that the Central Village occun
line would be built that he would mo-
build via Preston, and if he would OBJ,
ject to the discontinuance of the rights
In that way held by the Connecticut
Eastern. Mr.. Mellen said he had M
use for that right If the proposed road
was built. Mr.. Mellen said that hi
would not object to any rights granted
to a competing company provided his
company had had sufficient time ir
which to think over whether it wanted
that right and had decided it did not
He would not object to anyone tryins
to get what his company did not want
More questions were asked on the de,
murrage law. and President Meller
again stated what he believed to be {
depressing factor in the development
of industries in New England through
the operation of the four day rule. HI
made another plea that the injustice tt
!; the road in this respect be remedied.
Senator Bicknell said that the peopl,
| of his city were anxious to know 1
the line to Middletown would be built
and President Mellen said that the re
port of his construction officials had no
: | yet reached him so he could not an
sWer. The expectation was to build t.
, | Westfeld. Many scores Of question
were put and answered on mino
. points, and when the hearing ended MI
: | Mellen was warmly congratulated OF
. his mart