New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1906-03-20
MELLEN on RATE BILL.
Ne7c HaUen President Calls Hep
burn Measure PcrniciOuS and Bad.

New Haven March 19 jSpecaD. - President
Charles S Mellen OF the New York. New Haven
/ & Hartford Railroad Company spoke tonight in
! Hartford before the Get Together Club. Of that
city. on the Hepburn Rate bill. He criticised the
bill vigorously and denied that he favored H. res
/ ident Melen said
I thing J have said upon the subject has been so
ent form as a most penicious piece Of legislation
one Of tie worst that has attracted my attention.
sore its advGscafes have been imposed upon il
s IN OF ~ -, 1io rS,t t6e T1ar ana a CAREFUL
examination causes me to Speculate whether II
opposed all legislation so utterly subVersiNe Is
is n OF an warrant in COnstitutiOnality, arbi-
trary and autocrauc is il In its provisions regarding
the design to cause disgust distrust and antaEon-
ism among all right thinking and fair minded men.
Judgment. be a misfortune 10 the railroads as well
I have aivyays admitted and publicly advocated.
My position in that respect is unchanged at the
The power Of the railroads is, too great TO be
restraint I'm the interest OF the pubic DIRECTORS 90
rot always direct officials are not always com
autocratic and arbitrary and stockholders, en-
ployes and the public suffer and pay me nlIl ,+t
the right man at the head is said TO be the best,
right is seldom the head, and the wrong
Is 50 frequently in evidence we cannot ahord
10 run the risk account Of the average
50 with our transportation interests, they are so
vast their for good or eVll Is tremendous.
and the public has so great an interest II should
permit such power TO rest in the hands OF any
straints as 10 the exercise power, and with
the greatest possible publicity OF all that Is done
the practical elimination OF preferences and dis
EXAMINATIONS Cand the present laws have nearly az
complished their purpose in these respects). amend
ments 10 existing laws requiring the frequent eA-
animation Of books, records and accounts as In the
case Of national banks, win DO more good to the
public than any such legislation as is now pending
before the United States Senate.
LAWS STOT-T.D PF, ENFORCED
It will be infinitely more to the advantage of the
country II those in authority enforce the laws now
I Sa2 assumed and evidence their sincerity
by acts and deeds rather than by assertion Of what
Under existing laws. amended to include car
companies ana other carriers not now subject 70
examine books and accounts and give such meas
might be adjudged necessary, I would myself IN
dertake stamp out and hold in restraint the pay
Of all rebates and the practice Of discrimina-
tion as completely and enectualy murder
and other crimes against persons and property In
communities
this IS unnecessary 70 eradicate the only evils OF
railroad management Of which complaint has been
would appear to be an attempt to obtain doubtful
dss5 gG"eF' for an Interior purpose not frankly
# a square deal Is more than well sounding
phrase. II the Senate Of the United States was
constituted a safe and sane barrier against
Of numbers the misdirected zeal Of those who WISH
20 divide with those who have that which they
tben such Measure as this the must @ or be Td
cally amended before becoming law.
SOME INTERIOR PURPOSE.
One would naturally suppose a measure drafted
on the part Of railroad management would Conhue
its attention TO matters I'm which the public is in
terested and WHY / believe there is some Interior
purpose not frankly disclosed in the present bin IS
OF its trainers to interfere in the relations Of tie
carriers between themselves. in matters wherein
The biz contains provisions intended to force the
lines or routes TO compel artificial persons created
oy the states to do that which their charter re-
charters, in TACT, putting additional burdens upon
theIn without their consent, and all this by T~Uer
that had no part in their original being or creation
me carriers are compelled by their charters TO
and th5 have spent their money to PIT 1Rem5e2es
IA PosLuGh mus 70 DO but they are under no obli-
Eauon5 beyond their own lines and ] do not be-
IeVe there IS any warrant in equity justice in
yond theif charter limits and if the d." ffeT ser
vice within the limits Of the territory they are
by their oTignai cTestori ~ e1r NJ - ~ 20 ga
Under Section Il the power attempted 10 be con
pany having a line partly by rail and partly 10y
trolIed by IT, it IS possible II another party should
establish nondescript steamboat line in competi-
uoi' ior the interstate Commerce Commission 70
order us to establish a through route with that
those rates that shall obtain. thus diverting from
our own line our own business, dividing our reve-
Inc 5 mo lGT mo auFo rd Wnatsoeyer to
purchase for such temporary reduction OF rates as
curse than benefit in that they are unstable and
a cause for discomfort when ali either do not or
cannot participate
OPPORTUNITIES FOR GRAFT
policy Il, This his is simply csse Of robbng
possible chance for speculation in reducing the
value OF the securities Of carrier and enhancing
The value Of those Of another. with no possible
advantage accruiug 10 the public; and lnprincipIcd
men viii be quick enough TO and take ad-
occasionally found in the service Of tie govern
mont; ne railroads have no monopoly Of them
Lndef Secuoh z" power Is given TO prescribe the
accounts, records OF memoranda to be kept by the
This IS right and proper. The carriers should
keep an accounts, records or memoranda pre-
should have the fullest power to use the same in
any way IN which the public interest may De pro-
memoranda than prescribed By he coranIissioT
s. guilty Of a msdenleanor and subiecr H. tire ~
imprisonment or both IN the discretion OF tho
OF what possible advantage is it to the public
slIIb oco--,+t o,iI DE- pLolLblled from Keeping
.-lt accounts itcords and memoranda OF its bust
ness as may appeal TO its officers ~ an advantage
IN keeping check upon and record Of its opera
30 Lo-s a. al records are kept that the com
OF both II the commission does not prescribe data
ana memoranda thar need TO keep check upon
require hy such additional records as NAV need
Tor my own convenience and Information2
such law this would cover with shame the
1zar OF Russia or the Sultan Of Turkey and is
wholly out Of place under any enlightened system
Not one man IN hfty but believes the purpose Of
ne Hepburn bill is TO put n stop TO rebates and
DETERMINATIONS; not i'm fifty has either read The
bvery one is ready TO applaud what IS UNDERSTOOD
TO be a stopPage Of injustice and accepts on faith
DO soebar 'nS when its real purpose may be to
which II constitutional and enforceable NAV gor5a
lne become a monstrous piece OF injustice Il
IealZe