Omaha daily bee., 1910-04-13
Senator Reviews Boston
and Maine Combine.
BAY STATE MEN RECITE HISTORY
Effort Made to Show that Roads Were
Not Competing Lines.
rovERyoR DRAPER IS DEFENDED
Speaker Declares the MHssRch usetti
Executive Was Never Dictated
10 hs Any Railway
official.

! WASHINGTON. April 12-1ncidental TO
the consideration of the administration
railroad hill the merger OF the Boston d
Maine railroad with the New York. New
haven q Hartford rllilroBd. through the
railroad holding lBw enacted by the MHssa-
chusetts Legislature in 1909 was discussed
81 length today IN The senate,
( The principal speech attacking the CON
solidRton IN unstiuted language WAS made
by Senator Lbfollette and consumed the
larger part OF The days session. Brief re
sponses by Senators Lodge and Balhnger
were mnde 81 the close OF the Wisconsin
senator's speech. The New England sena.
tors defended the merger and upheld this
law under which II was made.
Nj Lafonette presented this transaction
in great detail for the purpose. 'he said
Of illustrating the possible effect of the
enactment into Law Of The merger pro-
visions Of the pending rRilrund bill he
traced the consolidation from the begin
ming. but gave especial attention TO The
MRssBchusetts legislation under which the
combination was made effective.
President Meuen'r Part.
il was practically charged by the speaker
that this enactment had been oonsummsted
as the result uf the dictatiun Of President
Menen OF the New Haven road, who. he
intimaied, represented the Morgan Rookie
feller interests
He quoted from member OF the Massa-
chusetts legislature statement 10 the
effect that Governor Draper had responded
10 an ultimstum from the New Haven in
terests. He undertook 70 show that the
federal merger suit which had been in
stituted during the Roosevelt adrntnistra-
tion had been dismissed ct the dictatinn
OF Mr. Wickersham. under the Taft Id
iministration for the inadequate reason thai
the Massachusetts Legislature had passed
the holding hill under which the consonda-
tion was effected.
Tale argument covered vice range Of ac-
ousstiuns but aside from the speakers
desire 70 hold Rloft the merger ar a bad
example the evident purpose was TO con-
trast the Taft administration with the
Roosevelt administration 10 the diHsadvRnt-
age OF the former. The criticism Of At
turney General wickershhm was especially
strong and pointed. The response by Messrs
Lodge and Ganlnger WAS jugt as positive
in his defense. The New England senators
defended the character Of The attorney
general. both as lawyer and as a man.
La F0Hette's sharp wordA.
II was toward the close Of his speech
that Mr. La Toilette made his shRrpest ref
erence to Mr.. WickershRm. lie had prac-
I tcaIy closed his exposition Of the New
England merger and was devoting himself
10 condemnation Of the pending bill, when
D rising 10 his tiptoes, ne exclaimed:
I Mr.. President. is this the wise leEisls-
tlon embodying no sudden impulse. but ma
2 tured views expressed in party council
! which the attorney general in his receus
2 speech at Chicago said rs pressed for en-
I actmentg Is IL for Legislation such as this
p that the attorney general commands all
E who would not be read out OF the repub-
r hcan party to get ia lines"
The session was wen nigh spent when the
D Wisconsin senator concluded his set speech
. Mr.. Lodge spoke in reply. Declaring he
could not afford 10 allow what Mr La
Z Toilette had said 10 pass without word
e regarding the attitude Of the people OF
T. Massachusetts he entered upon a statement
? Of facts intended 10 show that M La
e Fouertes outline Of the situation had not
- been accurte.
O In the first place ne declared the New
I Haven road and the Boston & Maine road
= were not competing lines and he asserted
4 that the necessity for the consolidation
g had been found in the poor financial con-
dition Of the latter road, which was such
Rs TO render II impossible for IL to make
necessary improvements
Lodge Tells History
e Mr.. Lodge then entered upon an ac-
B. count Of the efforts Of the New Haven
u road In 1906 and 1907 TO obtain control
a Of its more northern contemporary. and
n told Of the Legislation under the ndmiuis-
p tratiUn Of Governor Guild 20 control the
stock Of the Boston q Maine. which had
passed into the hands Of the New Haven
company, so as 10 prevent an injurious
effect on commerce. He said the leglsla-
lion obtained at that time had had the
effect Of preventing the then contem-
plated construction but al the time had
parHlyzed the Improvements which had
been undertaken by the New Haven road
Not only was this true, he said. but a
greut block Of stock had been thrown
upon the market and there had been seri-
Gus danger thar a foreign corporation
would obtain possession Of it. O result
which would have been vastly detrimental
3 10 the interests Of an New England This
h was the condition, said the Mas achusetts
-e senator. when the State Legislation Of 1903
x had been undertaken.
h Going into considerable detail 10 -hiE
. Legislature. Mr.. Lodge in defense of Gov
q ernor Draper said thnt that official had
Il given the subject careful consideration and
u he continued: i desire 10 beBr testimony
n 10 me fact mat no more honorable more
ie high minded and no more pu1lc spirited
4 man ever held office than be- n1f b. there
in the United states TO-DAY man less sub
ject 10 dictHtion. 30 railroad president
ever went into Governor Diapers office
and undertook TO dictate what he
should DO"
People orr Guard.
Senator LaTolistte then devoted his re-
marl.s 20 the MaaEachusstts state legisla-
tion authorizing the acquisition @ fthe B0s-
ton a Maine stock BY holding company.
but failed 90 find In this Legislation any
| thing like the Importance attached 80 81 ~
| Mr WicEershgm. 4le asserted thar Mr.
Wckersham had permitted state Legislation
y 10 Euperseoe federal legislation in q man