The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-13
MELLEN MAKES REPLY.
Resents Attacks on New Haven Road
 in Connecticut Legislature.

Ihe following statement was issued to the press by President c. s. Mellen or the New York; New Haven & Hart iofd Railroad company regarding cer- tam attacks upon the company and it's representatives made in the Connecticut senate on Wednesday,, May S. by Sen ators Atwater and Judson.
 Rehecting people generally recognize that the New York New Haven X Hartford Railroad company has not heretofore obtained any legislation in connecticut which has proved to be against the public interest The com pany has asked for very little 1egisla- ton at this session of the legislature ana what it has asked for Is at least as much in the interest of the public as Of it's stockholders The company lnas at thls session confined it's opposi- llon 10 legislation to . very few bills ana 10 pills which seem to me to be against the public interest as well as against the great business interests which directly or indirectly represent Neither the New York. New Haven & Hartford Railroad company nor aEX corporation owned or controlled by it has expended . dollar to influence leg l lslation at this session of the Connec- tlcut legislature, except as it has legiti- Elately paid money to its known attor- neys
 The company of which I am presi- dent has not used or caused to be used any unlawful or improper methods to Influence the action of tke Connecti- cut legislature.
 Any statements or inuendoes by Senators Atwater and Judson to the contrary gre absolutely without found- ation in fact
 No bill befOie the legislature can be effectively advocated or opposed with out reasons given privately as well as publickly to members of the legislature. Every one knows this, and it this com pany has been at fault, the fault lies, ! l believe, in its failure to give explan- ations of its position to members of the Legislature generally, owing to the fact that it's officers and attorneys have been to busy with committee herings or with matters unconnected with leg islaticn.
 question in this particular case. It is apparent, however, as general propo- sition, that cunning promoters of priv ate projects to which they think any established business interests are hos tile, can often find persons in the leg islature who may be interested in their schemes or who have in some way been disappointed as politicians, to make personal attacks appealing to an un- discriminating prejudice against cor porations and their officers and attor- Eeys. If such attacks unsupported by any evidence, are to be widely circu- lated and accepted because of love 1 of sensation or because they appeal to EDPulNAi RACJ CJuuiAtSs tL w ikl obOll bNNOiiAp impossible to induce any self-respeeting lawyer or business man to appear in the capitol in behalf 8of the business interests of Connecticut, Yet every One knows if he reflects, that it contributes
 to good legislation to have constant Watchfulness of proposed legislation ex ercised by any and all the established
 business interests of the state, and
 that obscure and Irresponsible agents
 are far more likely to exercise a bad
 influence on legislation than are men on ability and standing.
 Tn conclusion, l wish to make 1t dis
 I have hereto made regarding the atti-
 tude of the business interests which
 represent toward Legislation in Connec-
 ticut has been adhered to at this ses-
 sion of the Connecticut Legislature, and will be adhered to during my admins
 tration.