The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-08-27
NEW ENe1AND,s WE1FARE.

PreSlQenC Mellen mas met lIlS dIl- of the governments in- vestigation of the acquisition of rail- road properties by the New York, New Haven and Hartford Railroad Com- pany with characteristic composure. United States District Attorney French no sooner made his announcement of the orders he had received from Washington than President Mellen said let the investigation go on; the New Haven Railroad Company has nothing to conceal. He places at the disposal of MT. French whatever facil- ities he has in his possession to make the investigation complete.
 In thus meeting the inquisitiveness of the department of justice President Mellen has performed notable pub lie service and in particular deserves the gratitude of his shareholders. Had he met the approach of the federal government in an impatient or pas sionate mood his service would have been of the opposite character. It will be news to most people that the devel- opment of the New Haven road was capable of being construed as having taken place in violation of the Sher- man antitrust law, Of all the indus- trial movements which have claimed the attention of observing men during the past fifteen years the growth of this company has been regarded as the most logical outcome of the needs of | New England. The consolidation of | the various State roads and then the reaching out for Massachusetts roads | to conquer sprang from realization of progressive men that if New Eng land was to hold her own among the great industrial forces of the coun- try railroad consolidation was neces- sary Had there been a failure on their part to accomplish this great undertaking New England would have been severely worsted in the battle for existence.
 It will be interesting to finally learn what the actual motive is of the gov ernnent at this time when mems minds are more or less disturbed at its bossy attitude towards corpora tlons. If it should transpire that il really suspects the legality of the com binations which have been made and is prepared in consequence to move against them with all of the power of the government the situation might take on serious proportions. As The Hartford Times justly says: Such 6 scheme as that would mean nothing less than a legal warfare directed from the White House upon the whole railroad and industrial system ol New England, and why not as vel upon every railroad and industria Consolidation and combination tha
 has ever taken place anywhere in the United States since thu
 Sherman law was passed in 1890 If the federal administration is em
 barking upon such scheme of foll
 and ruin as that sort of an attacl
 would involve, then its hand is agains
 every dollar of invested capital an,
 every man who Is trying to carry oi
 business in the United States. Blu Ihow long must the people of Ney
 England be required to wait to be tol
 whether their great interests are t
 be thus assailed and Jeopardized?" We can add nothing to these com
 ments except to express mild sur prise at the suddenness of this at
 tack That the investigation will b
 undertaken in spirit of sincerity zoe without saying. MT. French is him
 self New Englander and a produC of the institution which has its univer
 sity home in this city. There will b
 no blows below the belt administere by him.