New-York tribune., 1908-05-23

Hartford Railroad Company, charges the exist
OF a combination in restraint of trade and
monopoly within the meaning OF Sections and 2
of the Sherman antitrust act. The petition al
leges that the New Haven company has acquired
control over approximately five hundred out OF
six hundred miles of electric railway in Connecti-
cut, four hundred out of five hundred in Rhode
Island. and about six hundred miles in Massachu-
setts. which roads. prior to such control were en-
gagged in active competition with the New Haven
company; also that in acquiring about 35 cent
of the capital stock of the Boston & Maine Rail-
road IL has obtained practical control that rail-
road; and that by the acquisition of the electric
lines and this control of the Boston & Maine 1t
has established virtual monopoly of all of the
transportation facilities by land in the New Eng
land States, the Boston & Albany Railroad being
practically the only line any consequence in
the New England States wholly or par
tally under the control of the New Haven COM
pany. The petition prays that the combination
and monopoly be declared violation of the sher-
man antitrust act
1t was said by a member Of the Cabinet after
to-day's meeting that the proposed fling of bill
in equity against the New Haven & Hartford Rail-
road was under discussion both before and at the
meeting. He said the President had asked the At
torney General whether 1t would not be better to
wait day before fling the bill. consider the
question whether the recent decision of the Massa-
chusetts Supreme Court that there should be no
agreement between the trolly and steam roads
in that state would have any effect on the suit
brought by the federal government. The Attorney
General. after going the matter with the
President advised him that the decision in ques-
ton would have no effect the suit. Thereupon
the President gave his cordial consent to the bill
being filed to-day In the entire discussion II Is
said there was no show of feeling whatever on the
part of either the Attorney General the Presi-
dent.
New Haven May E.-Since the Sherman act was
approved. July 3 1890. practically all the con-
nee ting md subs OF
Colony the Stonington, the New England the
Housatonic road and others. besides the many
trolley lines three states referred to in the bill
in equity. The most important consideration bear
ing against bill 1t is said the Offices of the
company is that the Boston & Maine is only in
small n competing line. and that the trolley
system Of the company is not OF an interstate
character The latter may or may not affect fed
eral Jurisdiction under the Sherman act.
Another point raised against the government pro-
ceeding among railroad men here is that the New
Haven's purchase of 80 per cent Of the capital
stock of the Boston & Maine road does not con-
stitute in any legal control. This, however,
It is also said, may not be valid point against
the broad terms of the first two clauses of the
Sherman act
Wall Street was much interested yesterday in the
news that the government had begun action
against the New York New Haven & Hartford,
as that step was thought likely to be the fore
runner of proceedings against certain other roads
which. il has been alleged have been operating
contrary TO the provisions Of the Sherman anti
trust law. New Haven stock declined more
than other issues in a weak market the sales being
only 300 shares.