Putnam patriot., 1910-09-16
President Meilen Fayors Court of Com-
 meree.

meree.
 In second letter To the officers oi the Connecticut Editorial association, President Charles s.. Mellen, of the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad, further explains his views on the matter of public utilities iegts- lation, and also answers the recent iet- ter of President Andrew k. Jones, of the State Business Mems association. Discussing the matter of railroad regu- lation and acknowledging the right et the state to exercise certain control, | President Mellen declares nevertheless that If the road thinks complaints un- l just 4it has the right to be heard, not before despotic political board, but before an nnprejudieed judicial triou- nal" He therefore suggests for con sitieration the idea of court Of com inerce for the trial of such cnses.
 The letter of President MelIen foll- lows:
 New Haven, Conn, Sept. i, 1910. Messrs. Everett C, Hili, President, Arthur S. Barnes, Secretary,
 Connecticut Editorial Association,
 New Haven, Conn.
 Dear SITS:
 My former letter replying to your in. | quiry Rs to my views concerning pro posed leptslsiion affecting public ser vice com panies, WAS meant io make clear the untruth of common popular misconeeplion oi lhe attitude ot fati. roads toward the public interest, l have no faut to find with the way in which thts lpiter was generally reeeiN- ed Al the same time, there Mefe Il good many comments that seemed to show the existence of preludice> which would make m attempt at reasonable discussion with the holders Of them a hopeles waste ot time.
 Nu OPPOSITION ro IsaAL REPUTATION
 og RAILROADS.
 The president of n local Business Mems Associations iii n newspaper let tet. asserted that the "tailroadsN have | consistently opposed the Eikias Law 1 and aii other oeneteent railroad iegis- | IAtion. l submit that this assertion WAS an appeal to prejudice. The chief i railroad company ol this state never
 
 | law about railroads whose hensiiconce k now generally aeknov le,iged.
 The statute books of this state are fnli oE laws concerning railroads and | their operation. There is no other has= l mess in this state as to which such | publicity k required Ne have Ia fe. | port all the imaginable details os our | organization and business not only to | the Connecticut Railroad commission | ers, bat to the railroad commissioners l of other states and to the Interstate l Commerce commission. Moreover, there k no other business tn thts state | which is so yariously and thoroughly 1 regulated 0y law, Alt this great body l ol FaiIroad statutes has been enacted 1 without serious opposition from rails l roads.
 Ths citizens of this state who con. | stitate majority of our board of dt- reciors would not permit nc, if tie. sired, to antasonike any law concern ing railroads which was manifesliy Tor the public good. There is ne selfish l reason why they should. 1 an aoso- luieiy confident that no law concern ing railroads can be proposed that witt bencti. the public in the long run, which will not also benefit The rail- roads themselves. l also absolutely believe that any proposed law which will inlure the great railroad system of this state will inlure not only the great body of our employcs, but also the general public.
 demand Ia he believed, when say that there will he mo factious epposi- l Sition from me or any associates to the enactment of any law regarding rAil- roads, which after hearing all views. the thoughtful minds of the state shall approve.
 NEEp or cARgfrl pkf.IRkRArIeN. | My attention hss just been called, after an absence for few days rest, 10 letter written to yeu by Mir. Jones, | president Of The Stale Business Men1s association, do not intend 10 serious 1 ly criticise hts general statement of