New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-06-11
MANY OPPOSE MERGER.
Tegidatiue Hearing Held at State
House, Boston.

f2,ston. J-1e considerable opposition 70 the
,,,.asel merging o. the Boston & Maine Railroad
~ ne New York, New Haven d Hartford RAN
1-as expressed at public legislative haar,rg
he state House to-day. The hearing was ca,Ie6
s,ep I'm earrying out suggestions made nv
.r7,1r Guild in message sent to the Legislature
- wednesday. after he had received cophrna
@ from Tr.sident c. S. Mclen Of the Nau,
Ven road that the proposed union already was
rHier way
D. I}ranlgts. Of Boston, appeared for the Law
- Life Guards. of Medf0rd. holders Of lare,
tx II Boston az Maine stock as well IS for tho
r,--en1e estate. the largest individual holder ~
goston Na.ne shares Mr.. Brandeis opened the
barring 10y announcing his belief that the New
--k NV Haven * Hartford Companv had no
,sqsl right H. acquire the Boston a Maine road
,5sr .he Saws Of Massachusetts, He asserted that
.sa legislature lad ample power to prevent tho
srrr5l ri the Boston x Maine by the New Haven
-d from being exercised. and offered a buI .,
--veut such consolidation. either directly or indi-
rsc,ly.
The hill makes ii unlawful for the New Haven
railroad 10 control. directly or indirectly or nj
,snru: 20 control the Boston & Maine. directs Tho
N4w Haven road IN case II does now control tb.
Tostou Maine TO dispose Of such holdings: for
bids any oi5cai of the New Haven road to act for
r5e Boston s. Maine, prevents any company inter
4st,d in The View Haven company from controlling
the Boston d Maine; forbids dividends of Boston A.
Maine stock held IN violation of the act. ,,alae
void any issue II New Haven stock for EXCHANGE
.1r Boston s. Maine; provides a penalty with fine
or imprisonment. and gives the Supreme Court
jurisdiction &C. compel the observance Of the act
TIE BIana.-s bin was the feature Of the dav. and
was discussed ty nearly all the SPEAKERS who fol-
lowed
D J. Klay representing the Democrats state
Commute. va-=mently criticised the New Haven
road. and took occasion To accuse Henry NJ Whit
1sy candidate Tor the Governorship nomination
ana a large Boston q Maine stockholder. ~ ..a,
tempting - E=er this DEAL and was rebuked b,-
members .t the committee The sneaker aroIo-
ezel. u said Of the merger that If il rravafle5
elections and also legislators would be controlled
by The New Haven road. He declared that the re-
turns made 'E n, New Haven road 10 the Railroad
Comnis-la1ers showed many inaccuracies. with
he Tlfl- and criminal intent TO defraud the people
Ed deceive the Railroad Commissioners The
--lroad, DE said, was reoklesslv and crirninaIly
0yercaIltalized
Nearly all the speakers who opposed the merger
and Senator James H. Valley was perhaps the most
persistent. declared that f the consolidation were
permitted y would be a glazing example of stock
EaIernE il that The recent increase in stock by
The subsidiary companies, the New England Navi-
cation Company and the Consolidated Company
had al been made without any actual payment Of
money, ana that the mileage Indebtedness Of the
Nav Haven was many times that OF the Boston &
Maine President CrOCker Of the Boston Chamber
q. Commerce related an interview which he held
with President Mellen. in which the recent in
grease IN me capital stock Of the New England
Navigation and Consolidated companies was dis
clsse1. M Croker told the committee that he
was unable 10 understand President Meen's ex-
Ianstio- q such increase
6. 5 mcfarland PAID his respects 10 both roads
ana SAID mat what re New Haven had one in
Co1ne-t!cu- lie Boston & Maine had also done in
New Ha-ITs ire.
Shortly 6e.ore the close Of the hearing one Of
Ire speakers. A ?. Edgerly. OF Boston. in opposing
ne merger suggested that the remedy for better
service and lair treatment was for the state 10
sock q Tie Boston & Maine and allow any other
COMPANY such the New Haven. have 70
Der cent TIE state would then reap the benefit.
How much would sucn q plan cost the state7''
asked Just the indeDteduess-957t 900 a mile"
E6z-rlv's reply.
i is expected that the position Of the New Haven
road E- a- laid before the committee by its chief
eZecutE=. Charles :. Meiien, tomorrow. while the
c1mrlitt@a may ask Cor opinion the question
ron ti- officials Of Boston & Maine Railroad.
z y. ChaDln, Of Holyoke, representing the
HciTUke & Westtfeld Railroad. and E Gerry Brown,
s0eakrz for The Iro1kt0n Central La..C- Union.
also opposed The merger.