The Washington herald., 1908-05-23

There was clash Of policies at the
White House yesterday morning. and the
encounter is said to have come near
causing a rupture Of official relations be-
tween President Roosevelt and Attorney
General Bonaparte
The President had one policy and Mr.
Bonaparte another, and both had TO do
with the fling of a legal action against
the New York. New Haven and Hartford
Railroad Company. as an alleged COM
bination in restraint Of trade. There
was an earnest and emphatic discussion
between the President and Mr Bona
parte. eliminating it is said. in a threat
from tile Attorney General TO resign his
office. The President Is reported to have
yielded for a reason which viii appear
later and the petition against the New
Haven road was fled in Boston yester-
day afternoon, although Mr. Roosevelt
IS understood 10 have been opposed, al
most until the last moment. TO this ac-
ton by the Department Of Justice
Told chronologically. the events which
eliminated In the sensational event in
the Cabinet room are as follows:
Several months ago representatives OF
the Department Of Justice began an in-
vestigation Of the New Haven road, in
yolving its ownership Of electric lines in
Massachusetts, Rhode Island, aud Con
.necucut, and its large interest, acquired
last year. in the Boston and Maine Rail-
road. District Attorney French. at Bos-
ton. reported in favor Of a suit against
the company, setting forth that the In
vestigadon haG shown to his satisfaction
that the New Haven road enjoyed almost
a complete monopoly Of transportation
facilities in New England. and that this
monopolX- had been formed by the pur-
chase and consolidation Of formerly com
peting lines OF steam and electric roads.
Adverse Report by Purdy.
When Mr. French's report came to
Washington it was examined pretty thor
oughly by Milton d. Purdy. assistant 20
the Attorney General who reported TO
Attorney General BonaparSe that ne did
not think the case against the New Haven
road was a strong one and that no ac-
tion should be taken toward the dissolu-
ton of the alleged merger
In the meantime representatives Of the
New Haven road. including two OF its
vice presidents, had several interviews
with President Roosevelt. and. it is sai1.
in each case received the assurance that
he had not consulted with the Attorney
General about any legal action against
the company. although, as was wei
known, the investigation had been com
pleted and a report made TO the Depart
ment OF Justice.
The President. according TO the story
told last night led the New Haven road
officers TO believe that nothing would b.
done toward a prosecution of the com
pany under the antitrust laws, and he
assured them positively that in no event
would any action be taken without notih-
cation to Them About ten days ago il
was said on competent authority that a
suit was 10 be filed against the railroad
President about the contemplated action
We're assured that nothing had been de-
termined upon. and that the matter had
not been brought TO his attention N any
way. This assurance is said to have been
repeated on Wednesday in the strongest
terms when Timothy E. Byrnes. one Of
the New Haven roads vice presidents,
called at the White House
nj
Probably one of the most surprised
men in the country yesterday morning
was Mr. Byrnes when # became known
that the Attorney General had formally
announced through the several press
agencies that a petition would be filed
against the New Haven road in Boston
yesterday afternoon. He was Nnot more
surprised however, than President Roose-
welt himself The announcement came
from the Department of Justice shortly
before 10:30 O'Clock Half an hour later
Mr.. Bonaparte went over 20 the White
House 10 attend the regular meeting OF
the Cabinet. but the news of the c0ntem-
plated action against the railroad COM
pany had preceded him, and the Presi-
dent is reported ia have Immediately ask
ed him for an explanation of his action
The Presidents request for information
was in the nature Of taking Mr.. Bona
parte 20 task, but the Attorney General
met the issue squarely, explaining that
he had found, after a competent investi-
cation, that the New Haven road was vio-
lating the terms of the sherman anti
trust law, and that he understood it to be
the policy of the administration to prose-
cute such cases.
Attempt 10 "KiII" the News.
Either just before or just after the
Attorney Generals arrival at the White
House, the President caused a telephone
message 10 be sent IN AFR Bonapsrte's
prisate secretary. directing that he no
tify the newspaper correspondents to
kill The announcement from Mr.. Bona
parties Office that the New Haven road
was to be prosecuted under the Sherman
law. The private secretary was told that
Continued on Page 2, Column 3.
baltimore & Ohio r. r.. Excursion.
$l.0o to Frederick Keedysville (for Antie.
tam, Hagerstown. and return. Sunday.