The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1910-04-13
HOLDS UP MERGER
As BAD EXAMPLE
La Toilette Makes Bitter Attack
on Pending Railroad
Bill.
WICkERsHAM is ARRAIGNED
Taft's Administration Contrasted
With That of Roose-

Washington, D. c., April 12.--Inci-
dental to the consideration of the adj
railroad bill, the merger
of the Boston and Maine Railroad with
the New York, New Haven and Hart
ford Railroad. through the railroad
holding law. enacted b.. the Massachu-
sets Legislature in 1909, was discussed
at length to-day in the Senate.
The principal speech. attacking the
consolidation in unstintcd language,
was made by Senator La Toilette. Sem
ators Lodge and Gallingcr defended theI
merger, and upheld the law under
which 1T was made.
Mr.. La Toilette presented this trans
action in great detail. FOR the purpose,
he said of Illustrating the possible eff
feet of the enacting into law of the
merger provision of the pending rail-
road bill He traced the consolidation
from the beginning, but gave special
attention to the Massachusetts legis.
lation. under which the combination
was made effective. II was practically
charged by the speaker that this en-
actment had been consummated as the
result of the dictation of President Mel
len, of the New Haven road, who, he
intimated, represented the Morgan
Rock efeller interests. He quoted from
a member of the Massachusetts Legis-
laturc n statement to the effect that
Governor Draper had responded 10 ar
ultimatmn from the New Haven In
terests He undertook to show that the
Federal merger suit. which had beer
instituted during the Roosevelt admin
istration. had been dismissed at the
dictation OF Acknowledgement Wicker
sham, under the Taft administration
for the inadequate reason that the
Massachusetts Legislature had passed
the holding bill, under which the con-
solidation was effected
Tho argument covered wide range
OF accusation, but aside from the
speakers desire 10 hold aloft the mer-
ger as n bad example the evident pur-
y pose was to contrast the Taft admins,
sration with the Roosevelt administra
ton, to the disadvantage of the former
rhe criticism of Acknowledgements
'ickersham was especially stringen
and pointed
Senator's Lodge and Gallinger dc,
Tended the character of the Attorney
General, both as lawyer and man
Condemns Pending Dill.
Mr.. La Toilette was devoting him
self TO condemnation of the pending
bill. when, rising to his tiptoes, he
exclaimed: MIR. President is this the
wise legislation embodying no sudden
impulse, but matured views expressed
in party councils which the Attorney
General, in his recent speech at Chi
cago, said is pressed for enactment?
Is it for legislation such as that that
the Attorney General commends all
who would not be read out of the Re-
publican party to get in line?'
Speaking OF President Mellen and
-President;. BErnes. of the New
York. New IIaV.en and Hartford Rail-
road Senator La Toilette said:
The mask is off. We have all of
US done injustice to Mr.. Mellen: gross
Injustice Nor is Mr. Byrnes, in his
private capacity or in any capacity.
except as a corporation employe, the
truculent braggart that he seems in
the press reports of railroad hear
ings.
Both of these men and Others of
their kind are but hired megaphones
through which beefy. rcd faced
thick necked, financial bully, drunl,
with wealth and power, bawls his or
ders 10 stock markets, directors
courts, governments and nations.
I'VE have been listening to Mr.. Nor
gan"
Again and again Mr.. La Follett
charged that Mr. Morgan CONTROLLED
transportat ton in New England H
used picturesque language on a mum
Der of occasions referring to the Ney
york financier as having "Massachu
sets on the hip"
Lodge Makes Statement.
Mr.. Lodge then entered upon
statement of facts intended TO sboy
that Mr.. La Follette's outline of III
situation had not been accurate. ii
declared the New Haven road and III
Boston and Maine road were not com
neting INES, and he asserted that tn
necessity for the consolidation ha
been found in the poor financial con
dihon OF the latter road, which wa
such as TO render it impossible for
10 make necessary improvements
desire TO bear testimony 10 III
fact that no more honorable, no NOV
high-minded, and no more nuhltc
spirited man ever held office than h,
nor Is there in the United States an
man less subject to dictation. n
railrosd president ever Wen, into CO,
oi Oitpei once ana undertook
dictate what he should do"
Senator Gallinger, speaking Of ~
act of Governor Draper, said he ba
acted with absolute fearlessnoss az
under complete conviction as 10 -
wisdom and uprlghtness of mis- oonrs
Mr. Lodge then added a word
defense Of the Attorney General I
said he was not only an able lawye
but a high-minded and honest ma
and that lie was satisfied thar wbeth
he had acted W sely or unwisely, Il
conduct had been dictated By tho be
motives.