Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-03-31
Appears Before tho Rail-
way Committee in Conn.
Wants Charter Of Consolidated
Company Amended
Relative to Development and Union OF
Electric Lines.

u,
MeIlen. president Of the New York.
New Haven & Hartford railroad, APP
peared, this afternoon, before the COM
niittee of railroads Of the Connecticut
General Assembly during hearing on
proposed amendments to the Charter
Of the Consolidated Railway Co.. the
holding corporation of 400 miles oi
trolley lines owned by the New YORK,
New Haven Il Hartford Railroad co.
The hearing was held in the House
chamber.
After explaining at length that the
purpose of the amendments was ior
the development and union OF the va
rious lines controlled by the Consoil-
dated Railway Co.. Mr.. Mellen SAID the
privilege was desired of purchasing
certain sections OF steam railroad INES
that can better be operated Dy eiec-
tricity and that are available TOT con-
Meeting up parts of the tfolley roauS
that have been acquired. At this time.
re said, he could rot be more SPECIFIC
as to the plans Of the company in re-
gard to its electric lines.
MIR. Mellen then passed to the con-
siieration of freight demurrage rates
and urged a change in the existing de-
murraee law. characterizing it as an
Irritating, unnecessary burden for the
company, and one which in the end
becomes a tax upon the community it
self
The survey recently made across
Connecticut by engineers said to be in
the employ of the New York Central
4 Hudson River railroad, was referred
to by Mr.. Mellen, who said the survey
was made at the instance of for
eign corporation for the purpose an
nounced Of connecting up his lines. In
discussing this survey, Mr. Mellen
touched upon the recent acquisition by
the New York, New Haven & Hartford
railroad of the New York, Ontario &
Western. He said:
why do you suppose such survey
was made? Do you think it was the
possibility of the large local traffic OF
the territory such a line would serve
or was it to influence the disposition OF
certain property acquired by our COM
pany recently that had the effect OF
putting coal from the mouth of the
mines into the doors of the furnaces OF
our factories without the interposition
Of any other authority than that held
by the officials of your home road? Is
II wise your laws should be of such a
character that when one wants TO
build a: trolley he must come here and
prove his case before being permitted
the authority, but when he wants 10
damage the steam line. the largest In
terest in your state for his own selfish
purposes. he shall have a free hand:''
Continuing, Mr.. Mellen said:
ut will be necessary that you con-
slider seriously whether you should not
give more freedom of action to the
steam railroad than it's charter now
permits. In these days of large trans
actions the limitations upon its capital
are of a character to restrict it's opera
ton In many ways. l should not care
to be called upon to handle many
transactions of the magnitude of our
New York. New Haven & Hartford
purchase without more latitude than
the present terms of its charter per-
init, and if it is to maintain its indie
pendence as it easily may. you should
give it by amendment all the freedom
of action to do with others what 9TH
ers have power to do with it,
Mr.. Mellen discussed the question of
corporate control. saying in part:
1.-THE demand which has resulted for
stricter supervision Of railroads In
the interest of public welfare is the is
sue Of the hour. 1t is right it should
be had. There have grown up great
abuses without doubt and it is time
they were laid bare and stopped.
"A railroad enjoys great privileges
from the public. 1t performs public
service, it imposes tax which should
10 oil all ySh nd n
not handle itself without discrimina-
ton between persons and places and
treat all alike fairly it Is time for the
public which created it to supervise
1t and control it. when it has shown
1t cannot be trusted to control itself.
"Rnt 1t Is not project to be entered
upon hastily. You do not want to
make the cure worse than the disease.
nor should those confessedly guilty be
permitted to prescribe rules and regu-
lations to be observed by those who
have behaved themselves if such there
be. Here Is not a case for the diet
tante. for the theorist or for the crank,
but for men of affairs, the jurist of re-
pute the man who puts his citizenship
above other considerations. Give it in
to their hands and give them time. and
Interstate commerce law. and estab-
lish a tribunal that will be so anxious
for more power it will neglect to use
what ii has
Mr.. Mellen's remarks occupied about
one hour He prefaced them with the
statement that he appeared in defer
ence to the wish of many citizens that
his company Should appear before
this Legislature with clean hands. rep
resented by its responsible officials and
prepared to offer the fullest and freest
explanation of what is wanted and the
reason why.
ut is for you gentlemen. to say" he
added, "what approval this departure
from past practices shall merit