Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-04-13
La Toilette Attacks Merger Of BE- N
And New Haven Roads, But Mass
achusetts' Course Is Ably Defend
ed By Lodge and Others.

Lodge then admitted that differences
had arisen among the people of Massa-
chusetts and outlining the holding bill.
asserted that it had been so framed as
to safeguard effectualy the interests of
the people of the state. Lodge depre-
Gated the agitation of a subject by one
who was not familiar with the entire
situation. He intimated that New Eng
land would be able to settle its own af-
fairs and declaring he held no brief for
the New Haven road. said that he spoke
only for the people of his state. He be-
ieved the state had acted wisely and
without any intention of doing anything
that would not serve the public interest
Galiinger defended the attorney gen
eral and asserted the right of New Eng
land to conduct its own business Speak
ing of the act of Gov. Draper he said
mat lie had acted with absolute fearless
ness and under complete conviction as to
the wisdom and uprishtness of his course.
1t was at this juncture that Lodge add
CT word in defence of the attorney
general lie said he was not only an able
lawyer but II high minded and honest
man and that he was satisfied that
whether he had acted wisely or unwiseIy
his conduct had been dictated bv the
best motives.
La roulette then devoted his remarks
to the Massachusetts State legislation
authorizing the acquisition OF the Ros-
ton y Maine stock by a holding company.
'ut failed to find in this legislation any-
thlng like the Importance attached 70 If
~ MI Wickersllam. He asserted that
Mr. W1ckersham had permitted state
legislation to supersede federal lecis-
ialon IN a lnatter in which Interstate
commerce was largely concerned
re declared the people of Massachu-
Set's had been taken off their guard by
we authorization to the holding com.
/ Papy and apprf vinciy quoted the chair.
| man Of the Mass achusetts House com.
| ihlttee on railroads, when he stated that
Gov Draper had been compelled to ac
| ccpt Mr.. Mellen's ultimatum
quickly following: this announcement
came The passage of the holding bill b,
| ne Massachusetts Legislature, La Fol
! lette declared that it had been "stear
rolled through that body 1t was PASS
ed June is and on the 18th the fedora
merger suit was discontinued.
Think of it." shouted La FoI,etto
This great case involving the transpor.
tation of New England and all the non.
pie of tie country engaged in trade with
NE" england after / months of prepar-
alton and successful prosecution on the
| part OF the government reached a stage
"here the defendants are compelled to
| take the stand and make their showing
| 'hc then ike thunder bolt from a
| clear sky comes the order from Wash
| ington. Dismiss the governments
| CASE
Quoting the attorney generals as
| sieninent as reason for this action the
fact Of the passage of the holding bill
| nc wisconsin senator declared it to be
| totally Inadequate.
1T is difficult" he SAID, for any man
70 furnish very good reasons for doing
very bad thing"
~ Toilette asserted that at the re.
quest of the New Haven Co, the Massa.
rhusetts Legislature had undertaken tc
repeal 2. federal law and license an act
which Congress had declared to be 3
crime against the people
! And he said, the attorney general
! the highest law officer of the fedora
government, sworn 70 preserve. protec
! and defend the Constitution and en-
force the laws of Congress, give hi,
| oftcla. approval of this legislative com
pact between the New Haven Co. an,
the Massachusetts Legislature to nulIif,
the law of Congress and declares that i
expressly authorizes what Congress ha,
expressly forbidden
IF the federal antitrust law cap n,
repealed by a state Legislature; if tn,
department of justice at Washinpto,
will hold conferences with and lon,
countenance to the agents of law-break
ing corporations, while they are engage,
in lobbying through state legislatures
pretended sanction of their volatile n
the criminal statutes of the federal gov
eminent ana then by official edict max
such state statutes shlen and cove
| Under Whlch the criminal corporation
may be unwhipped of justice-if TN
door OF the federal court may thus b
closed IN the face of wronged an,
outraged public by the attorney genera
of the United States, then the law be
comes black art and justice a mer,
juggler's pawn
instead Of dismissing the govern
ment suit for the insufficient reason
assigned, the law officers of the fedora
| government. under the new adninistra
ton, If prompted by high purpose I,
serve the Public would eagerly hav
Sought every legitimate means T.
strengthen and make invincible the gov
ernment's case for the final trial"
Declaring that the New Haven roa,
had already begun to increase rates, L.
Foliette drew the conclusion that thi
proceeding was but the beginning.
When the complications that proven
an increase of through rates at the pres
ent time are disposed Of" ne said, "whel
this bill becomes a law If it ever does
then we shall get an example Of tn
through rates which will quicken the in
Continued on Page Twelve.)