Daily press. [volume] (Newport News, Va.) 1896-current, 1910-04-13
DIRECTS ATTACK AT
NEW ENGLAND MERGER
Speaker Calls Attention to Workings
Of the Massachusetts, Holding Meas
ure in Order to Point Out Dangers
Of Proposed Statute-Says Morgan
and His Kind Are Back Of Move.
Qy Associated Press.)

administration railroad bill, the mer-
ger of the Boston Maine Railroad
with the New York, New Haven K
Hartford Railroad, through the rail
road holding law. enacted by the Mas
sachusetts legislature in 1909, was dis
cussed at length today in the senate.
The principal speech attacking the
consolidation in unstinted language.
was made by Senator LaFollette.
Senators Lodge and Gallinger defend
cd the merger and upheld the law I'M
der which it was made.
Mr. LaFollette presented this
transaction in great detail for the
purpose, he said. of illustrating the
possible effect of the enacting into
law of the merger provisions of the
pending railroad bill. He traced the
consolidation from the beginning, but
gave especial attention to the Mas
sachusetts legislation under which the
commission was made effective.
Some of the Charges.
Ii was practically charged by the
speaker that this enactment had been
Consummated as the result of the die
tation of President Meilen, of the
New Haven road. who, he minated,
represented the Morgan-ROckefeller
interests. He quoted from a member
of the Massachusetts legislature a
statement to the effect that Cover
nor Draper had responded to an uiti-
matum from the New Haven interests.
He undertook to show that the
federal merger suit, which had been
instituted during RoOsevelt's admin
istration, had been dismissed at the
dictation of Attorney General Wick
ersham under the Taft administration
for the inadequate reason that the
Massachusetts legislation had passed
the holding bill under which the con-
sOlidation was effected.
Contrasts Administrations.
The argument covered wide range
OF accusations, but aside from the
SPECTATORS desire to hold aloft the
merger as a bad example, the evident
purpose was to contrast the Taft adj
ininistration with the Roosevelt ad
ministration to the disadvantage of
the former.
The criticism of Attorney General
Wickersham was especially stringent
and pointed.
Senator Lodge and Gallinger defend
ed the character Of the attorney gen
eral. both as lawyer and a man.
Mr.. LaEollette was devoting him
self to condemnation of the pending
bill, when, rising to his tip toes, he ex-
claimed:
Mr.. President. is this the wise leg
islation embodying no sudden impulse.
but matured views expressed in party
councils which the attorney general.
in his recent speech at Chicago said.
is pressed for enactment? Is il for
legislation such as this that the at
torney general commands all who
would not be read ont of the Republi-
can party to get in line2"
Have Done Them Injustice.
Speaking Of President Meilin and
Vice-president Byrnes, of the New
York. New Haven & Hartford Rail
road. Senator LaFollette said:
The mask is on. 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 employee. the
braggart that he seems in the press
reports Of railroad hearings
Both of these men, and others OF
their kind. are but hired megsphones-
through which a beefy. red-faced.
thick-necked financial bully. drunk
with wealth and power. bawlS his or
ders TO stock markets. directors.
courts. governments and nations.
We have been listening TO Mr..
Morgan
Again and again Mr.. LaFollette
charged that Mr.. Morgan controlled
transportation in New England. He
used picturesque language on a num- !
Der Of occasions referring to the New |
York fnancier as having: -Massa- /
chusefts on the hip
Defends Draper.
Mr.. Lodge then entered upon
statement Of facts intended to show
that SIR. LaFoilette's outline OF the
situation had not been accurate Het
declared the New Haven road and
the BoSton and Maine roai were not
lines and he asserted that
The necessity for the consolidation had
been found IN the poor financial con
dition OF the latter. which showed u
impossible to make necessary i'm
provemeufs.
y desire 10 bear testimony to the
tact that no more honorable, no more