New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1912-11-21
GRAND TRUNK INQUIRY
BY j. S. IS DELAYED
Department of Justice Decides
to Make an Investigation
for Itself First.
LEGAL ACTION MAY FOLLOW
New Haven Roads President
Admits an Agreement Has
Been Submitted to the
Grand Trunk Line.

Washington, Nov 19-The Department
of Justice has postponed the proposed
grand jury investigation in New York of
the alleged unlawful traffic agreement be-
tween the Grand Trunk Railway of Can
ada and the New York. New Haven &
Hartford Railroad. pending a further in
quiry by the department
Jesse c. Atkins, Assistant Attorney
General, said tonight that the presidents
of both railroads had offered to give full
access to the records Of their companies,
and that Attorney General Wickersham
decided that a full and careful eXamina-
ton of facts offered by the railroads as
well as by the protesting Rhode Island,
Massachusetts and New Hampshire Of
ficials should be made before putting the
case into the hands of grand jury.
Mr. Atkins emphasized the departments
determination TO conduct a rigid inquiry
and to have a grand jury probe later II
facts TO warrant 1T were disclosed. He
said the Attorney General had written 10
the railway presidents for an explanation
of the rumorcd agreement before any pro-
test was filed.
New Hampshre'S state officials to-day
joined with Massachusetts and Rhode ISL
and in protesting to the Department of
Justice against the alleged traffic agree
ment between the roads, pctitiOning the
federal government ~ nItOrpose under
the Sherman antitrust law with the pur-
pose Of preserving railway competition in
New England.
John r. Benton and Edward G. Niles.
of the New Hampshire Railroad Commits
sion, held a long conference with Mr.
Adkins and f. }. Mcleod and George W.
Bishop, of the Massachusetts Railroad
Commission, took part in the discussion.
Montreal. Nov DE. J. Chamberlin,
president of the Grand Trunk Railway,
said to-day that he had received a copy Of
the proposed traffic agreement with the
New York, New Haven Il Hartford Rail-
road. and it was under consideration.
The agreement had been sent to London,
though 1t haG not yet been received by
the Grand Trunk board there. He would
make no further statement.
President Melan Of the New Haven
road confirmed yesterday the report that
negotiations were practically complctrc.-
for a traffic agreement between the Grand
Trunk and New Haven systems. Inquiry
at the headquarters OF the line brought
forth the following statement:
Mr. Mellen has signed a proposition 20
Mr.. Chamberlin for a twenty-five year
agreement, hut II has not yet been an
swercd by Mr. Chamlerlin, and Mr.. Mel
len is Without knowledge as TO what
action Mr.. Chamberliu will take.
1t is understood that the agreement
prevents the Grand Trunk from complet-
ing its proposed extensions into Boston
and Providence. The only thing holding
up the acceptance OF the agreement by
President Chamberlin of the Grand Trunk
is said to be few minor arrangements
regarding terminal facilities and the fact
that he must first obtain the approval Of
his board of directors In London
Following the service OF subp~nas OF
most Of the officers and directors Of the
New Haven company to appear before
the Federal Grand Jury here to-day,
those subpTnaed were notified yesterday
that they need not appear as the in
quiry had been postponed indefinitely.
Among those subpTnaed were J. Pier
pont Morgan. William Rockefeller.
Charles VI. Pratt. George Macculloch
Miller and George +. Baker. Timothy T.
Byrnes, vice-president Of the road, and
Alexander If. Cochrane, director, were
served with subpGnas I'm Boston.
Henry A. Wise, United States Attorney
declined to discuss the affair. declaring
It was MS principle not TO speak about
any Investigation contemplated by the
Department Of Justice.