Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1908-05-23
AIIeqed Difference Over New
Haven Road Suit.
AN OFFICIAL DENIAL MADE
President and Attorney General De-
clared to Be in Accord.
MINOR POINT IN CONTROVERSY
When the Action Should Be Brought
the Only Subject of Discussion
at White House.

President Roosevelt gave out a state
mPnt today denoIncing as mere IN
vention'' story printed this morning
that he and Attorney General Bonaparte
had serious differences over the question
Of taking legal action against the New
York. New Haven and Hartford Rail
road Company. and that these differences
went SO far as to lead Mr. Bonaparte tc
threaten to hand in his resignation. The
denial from the White House was corrob-
grated by the Attorney General and cab
dnet officers familiar with the facts. The
publication in question was based upon
Incidents occurring yesterday before and
during the cabinet meeting. Early in the
morning the Department of Justice made
official announcement of its purpose to
begin in Boston proceedings against the
road on the ground that it was com
bination in restraint of trade, having Sc
cured control of certain electric lines In
Massachusetts, Rhode Island and Con-
necticut and having acquired large
interest in the Boston and Maine railroad.
\ short time afterward the newspapers
that had been given the announcement
were told to hold it for further orders.
Ii claimed that this "hold-up' had
come from the White House, which, upon
hearing of the action of the Attorney
General, was displeased.
Denial Fro mthe White House.
The statement made public by the
White House is as Follows:
The story is a mere invention There
was no difference whatever between the
President and the Attorney General over
the New York and New Haven suit. Yes
Ierday morning attention was called from
Massachusetts to the fact that the Mas
sachusetts state courts had already acted
against the trolley lines SO far as Massa-
chusetts was concerned. and the sugges-
ton was accordingly made that the ac-
ton should be brought In one of the
other states, fnasmuch as the purpose of
the suit had already been achieved SO far
rs Massachusetts, was concerned. The
President put tie suggestion before the
Attorney General and asked him to bring
it up at the cabinet meeting, which was
then but half an hour off. As precau-
tionary measure the newspapers that had
the announcement on the bringing Of the
suit were asked to hold 1t up The mat
ter was then discussed in the cabinet and
1t was decided that the action of the
state court In Massachusetts would make
no difference in the course of procedure
by the government. and the newspapers
were at once notified that the announce
ment OF the bringing of the suit would
stand. There was no division of opinion
In the cabinet. and not he slightest fric-
tween any of the cabinet officers and the
President or among the cabinet officers
themselves. The suit in question was
determined on some three months ago
the only question discussed yesterday
was as to where it should be brought
One Point Discussed.
The additional statement is made thai
the President was fully in sympathy witt
the Attorney General and that it wa.
generally understood the action would bs
brought at the earliest opportunity. after
the United States attorney In Boston. Asa
p. French. had obtained the facts upor
which ii was intended to proceed. Fol
lowing the publication of the announce
ment of the intention OF the Attorney
General 10 begin action the President wa:
told about the decision in the Massachu
setts state courts. and he thought it ad
visable to wait until he could confer Will
the Attorney General as to whether thi.
decision would affect the government.
proposed suit. This point was discussed
in the cabinet. all the cabinet officers
agreeing with the Attorney General tha,
the decision of the state courts woulC
have no bearing on the proceedings o
the government. Three or four cabine
officers were present during the whole dis
cussion and they could not recall toda,
That the President and Attorney Genera
had come near the parting of the ways