The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1908-05-22
Boston District Attorney
Files Complaint Against
N. Y. & N. H. Road.
ACTION SURPRISE
TO OFFICIALS HERE
SAID President Not Informed Fully
OF Line of Action Con
templated.

District Attorney Asa p. French, OF
Boston, today filed in the United States
court IN that city, by direction of At
Jorney General Bonaparte. a petition
against the New York. New Haven and
Hartford railroad, charging the exist
ence OF combination in restraint Of
trade In It's control of trolley lines in
Connecticut and Massachusetts. and its
control Of SO per cent OF the stock OF the
Boston ana Maine railroad.
The action came as a great surprise
inasmuch as officers of the New Haven
road VINO have been in Washington
within the last few days said there
would be no Federal prosecution, and
that whatever legal action was taken
would be at the instigation of the state
courts.
President Not Informed.
There also were Indications that the
sudden determination to file the petition
against the railroad had been made
without fully acqUainting President
Roosevelt OF the line of action contem-
plated The announcement that the Pc
Ition would be filed was made at the
Department OF Justice early in the
morning. and before Secretary Bona
paTte went 10 the White House for the
Cabinet meeting. While the meeting
was still in session the department sent
out hurry orders to withdraw the an
rouncemelt, saying il had been decided
not TO nIe the suit.
These orders, IL was said, were based
on Instructions received from the White
House. The decision 10 withhold action
against the road led 10 the belief that
the President was not satisfied with
the action taken by the Department Of
Justice. but Secretary Loeb subsequent
ly announced that the original state
menL or the department Intentions
would stand and that the petition would
be nled In court al clock this after
nOcH.
BuCklaHd AstOnished.
Fourth Vice President Buck.and. of
The New York, New Maven and Hart
ford railroad, wlo has made his head
quarters in Was lington since the Gov
cTnmenL began its investigation OF the
various interstat- holdings of the road.
expressed himself this afternoon as as-I
tCnished at the action taken by the
Government He conveyed the impress
sion that he mad been assured that no
such action was contemplated.
Vice President Byrue, who makes his
headquarters In Boston, and who has
been the right hand man of President
Charles 5. Mellen, IN acquiring new in
terests in New England, was at the
White House yesterday afternoon. AT
that time he said there would be no
Federal prosecution OF his road. He
said that ia his opinion the whole
subject was one TOR the State courts 10
deal with.
Departments Statement.
The statement issued by the Depart |
ment OF Justice is as follows:
The Government las today filed a
petition against the New York. New
Haven and Hartford Railroad Company
a9d others, charging the existence of a
combination in restraint OF trade and
monopoly within the meaning of Sec
tons / and of the Sherman anti
trust act. The petition alleges tnaI the |
New Haven company has acquired con-
troll over approximately go out OF Go
miles of electric railway in Connect I
cut, 400 out of 500 in Rhode Island and /
60 IN MdssdcuuSelts, which railways,
prior 10 Sucn control, We're engaged in I
active competition with the New Haven /
Company
Also that in acquiring a large inter
est in the capital stock OF the Boston |
and Maine railroad, about 80 per cent
thereof il has secured practical con-
troll over said railroad: and that by /
the acquisition of the electric lines ana |
this control Of the Boston and Maine /
railroad, IL has est Diished a virtual /
monopoly of ali OF the transportation 1
facilities by land in the New England |
States, the Boston and Albany rail- |
road being practically the only line Of I
any consequence IN the New England I
States, with the exception OF the State I
of Vermont. not now under the control /
in some form # the New Haven COM /
pauy
History Of Acquisitions,
The petition relates the history Of /
these various acquisitions and shows /
how The New Haven company has per /
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