The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-05-12
NEW HAVEN ROADS LOBBYING
PRESIDENT MELLEN SAYS IT'S
OPEN AND ABOVE BOARD.

The Company Has Not Paid a Dollar 10 In.
nuence Legislation Except the Pay Of
It's known Attorneys and Hat Asked
for Nothing Against the Common Coed
After the regular monthly meeting Of
the directors of the New York. New Haven
and Hartford Railroad in the Grand Central
station Yesterday President Mellen made
a statement denying the justice OF ATTACKS
made against the company in theLegtslature
Of the State OF Connecticut and outlining
the policy Of the company in regard 70
lobbyjng. Last Wednesday Senators At
water and Judson said things that the rail
road interpreted as implying that 1t had
used improper methods 10 lnnuencf tne
legislature, and President Mellen latly
contradicts this, saying that the road has
never obtained legislation which has proved
Il he agaipst the public interest or expended
any money otherwise than Tor the payment
Of its known attorneys. Inc statement IL
as follows: .
Rejecting people generally recognize thai
the New York. New Haven and Hartford
Railroad Company has not heretofore 90
famed any legislation in Connecticut which
has nroyed 10 be against the public interest.
The company has asked for very little lesis-
lstion nj this session OF the Legislature and
what it has asked for is at least as much In
the interest Of h public as Of it's stockholders.
The company has at this session confined It's
onposi,ion to legislation to a very Few bills,
and TO bills which seem TO me TO be against
The public interest as we'll as against the great
business interests which directly or indi-
rpctly represent. =,
Neither the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad Company nor any corpora
t;on owned or controlled by II has expended
, dollar to influence legislation at this session
Of the Connecticut Legislature. except as II
has legitimately paid money to its known
attorneys.
The company Of which l am president has
not used or eau sed TO be used any unlawful
or improper methods to influence the action
of the Connecticut Legislature.
Ahv statements OF iDnuendoes by Senators
ttwater and Judson to the contrary are abso-
lutely without foundation in fact.
No bill before a lie legislature can be effectively
advocated or opposed without reasons given
privately as well as publicly to members OF
the Legislature. Every one knows this, and
~ this company has been at fault, the fault
lies. | believe, in its failure to give explains
lions OF its position to members oil the Legis-
lsture generally, owing to the fact that it's
dn1cers and attorneys have been too busy
with committee hearings or with matters UNI
connected with legislation.
do not wish to raise any personal question
4, this particular case. u Is apparent, how
ever. as a general proposition that cunning
promoters OF private projects to which they
think auy established business interests are
hostile can often find persons In the Legis-
lature who may be interested in their schemes,
or who have in some way been disappointed
az politicians, TO make personal attacks
appealing to an undiscrlminating prejudice
against corporations and their officers and
attorneys VI such attacks. unsupported
by any evidence, are TO be widely circulated
and accepted because of a love Of sensation
or because they appeal to popular prejudices.
it viii soon become impossible to induce
any self respecting lawyer or business man
10 appear in the Capitol In behalf of the bust
ness interests OF Connecticut. Yet every
one knows, IL lie reflects, that 1t contributes
to good lie giElation to have constant watch
fulness Of proposed legislation exercised by
any and all the established business interests
Of the State, and that obscure and irrespon-
slble agents are far more likely to exercise a
bad influence on legislation than are men OF
ability and standing. .
In conclusion ] wish to make IL distinctly
understood that every statement i AVE
heretofore made regarding the attitude of
The business interests which ] represent
toward legislation in Connecticut has been
adhered to at this session Of the Connecticut
Legislature and will be adhered TO during
my administ alton