The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-05-28
BATTING THE NEW HAVEN ROAD.


The spirit of idle mischief which
animates the prosecution Of the New
Haven Railroad company under the
Sherman antitrust law by the feder-
al administration is slowly but surely
being understood by those interested
in the future welfare of New Eng
land In no quarter is the action Of
the administration approved; in every
quarter, even those approving OF the
general attitude of President Roose-
welt, the thought is expressed that
grave error of judgment has been
made. SO grave is the error Of iudg-
ment, apart from the annoyance
caused the New Haven company that
1t may transpire that the very law
which is so recklessly invoked to graf
ify the within of the government may
be found to be without constitutional
warrant. at least in the present con-
nection
1t is well that brief review be
given of the steps which have led up
to the expansion OF the New Haven
company. AS recent as the admins
tration Of President Watrous, so sim
pie were the demands upon the man
agement of the property that the re-
sponsibility, involved was regarded as
a family affair. President Watrous
Invariably spoke OF the company as a
family, and It was the family spirit
which prevailed in its council cham
Der. 1t was during the administra-
ton of President Clark that Ii be-
came realized that the road was fac
ing new conditions OF an economic
character, which must be met face to
face or the consequences endured.
The older members of the board of
directors pleaded in vain for the con-
tinuance of the prevailing policy led
by that veteran railroad man. William
D. Bishop. The Clark faction, which
was in control. pointed out that either
the New Haven railroad must prepare
to take the field between New York
and Boston, or the independence of
the property would be jeopardized
There followed a series Of expansions
which resulted in the control of the
territory between those points on land
and sea. At the resignation of Presi-
dent Clark the new administration, led
by President Hall. fell partly back
into the old policy, due to the COM
handing influence OF Mr. Bishop, who
deceived himself as to the exigencies
OF the situation. With the return of
President Mellen to the command of
the company came broadened and
enriched policy of extension, expan-
sion and reorganization, pointing log
ically and inevitably to a more com
pete and scientific control of the ter
ritory served by his company and by
the Boston and Maine.
Whether 1t would have been wiser
to regard the trolleys as feeders
rather than as competitors, and thus
left them to work out their own sal
walton is largely an academic ques-
ton, which will probably be discussed
until time determines which Is the
sounder view. In the estimation of
the men in charge of the railroad
property itself they should be re-
garded as competitors of the greatest
use to the community In general
when brought under a common con
troll. This view Is necessarily one In
restraint of competition, but II IS not
necessarily one in restraint OF trade
The practical results of this policy
has been to multiply the agencies oil
distribution, increase the character Of
the service given and to reduce tht
cost OF the service to the consumer
The New York Sun puts it In this tar
way: 80 long as the New Haven cor.
poration did what Mr.. Roosevelt
wanted 1t to do so long as President
Mellen was subservient, useful anc
gratifying, so long was 1t possible fol
1t to pursue its honest and ef1icien
way, serving the public to the best OF
its ability on a scale of ever growing
efficiency, even If it did own all of tn,
contiguous trolleys and most of thu
water lines" In other words the
practical experience Of the publ,
with this expanding corporation ha
been increasingly gratifying, on thu
one hand while, on the other, 1t hai
emphasized the impossibiity of re
turning to old conditions of organiza
ton. There are risks involved in thi
expansion Of power but they are no
risks that cannot be anticipated, or |
not anticipated met intelligent,