Norwich bulletin., 1912-12-11

WdSnlIf5LOI1 D6C. lU.--E lCIul HIS SA0 Kew York, New Haven and Hartford | railrSad as a mighty monopoly, con trollirtg all New England railroad and 1 coastwise steamer traffic, as well as thousands of miles of electric lines, | state and city officials of New England today appealed to the house rules com- | mtttee to act favorably on the resolu- ton of Representative OShaunesy or Rhode Island to provide for congress sional investigation of the alleged deal between the New Haven and Grand Trunk systems through which work on the proposed extension of the latter, tha Southern New England railway, has been suspended. Nearly score or people were waiting to be heard when the committee adjourned tonight, and the hearing probably will not be con cluded before late tomorrow or Thurs day. New Haven a "Grinding Monopoly" Representative OShaunessy opened the proceedings today with compre- hensive statement urging the commit tee to report this resolution with rule for it's immediate consideration m the house. He gave a history oI the launching of the Southern New Eng land project by the Grand Trunk as a competitor of the New Haven system, and the sudden abandonment Of the work. and denounced the New Haven as grinding monopoly.
 Norman White Makes Charges.
 Norman D. White, chairman of the Massachusetts board of economy ana efficiency was one of the chief witness es. He submitted to the committee mass of data with maps, to show what transportation facilities and other utll- flies are owned by the New Haven system
 of the New Haven system under the Sherman law, began under President Roosevelts administration, had peen dropped withou cause when President Taft came into office
 said Taft's Brother Was Director.
 Then he created furry in the com' nittee room, crowded with witnesses waiting to be heard and New England members of congress, by reading rom a letter in which it was charged that Henry w. Taft, the presidents broth CT, was a director of the New Haven company and that both Henry w. Taft and Attorney General Wickersham had been members of law firm retained by the railroad. Chairman Henry Of the committee directed that the name of the writer be made known. l twas given as George w. Bristol of 20 Broadway, New York
 Taft of Providence No Relative of
 President
 Members of the committee objected to listening to insinuations against the uresident, and when it developed that the New Haven director was Robert M Taft of Providence and not related ito the president, the letter and all comment upon it were stricken from the record.
 City Solicitor of Providence.
 City Solicitor Baker of Providence declared that the real issue in the case was shall the will of two great cor porations prevail and dominate over the will of the people of two or more states?'
 If the alleged conspiracy has been entered into,'' continued Mir. Baker, "the Sherman antitrust law may af- ford a remedy. Whether that is so or not, the subject here. is worthy the at tention of congress. If such a con- spiracy has been merely matched, 1t Is of ominous portent, fraught with peril. It is blow to the stability of all rail road corporations. It advocates state ownership of railroads with all the natural consequences and disadvan- IaReS- The appIOpT1clo I6uleuy NcIIl only be determined after a thorough investigation. It raises question Of public policy that cannot be deter mined by court proceedings.
 Believes Publicity Desirable.
 Unless there is some defect in the existing law" asked Representative Hardwick of Georgia, what can be accomplished by a congressional in vestigation?"
 Mir. Baker replied that publicity was desirable and that such investigation might disclose the necessity for fur ther laws to afford remedy.
 The railway men themselves are not responsible in this case" he declared Tt is the man who keeps in the back ground and cares nothing about public opinion. If you investigate you will find out who Is responsible, but no court in the world will ever find out. .''
 White Got the Wrong Taft.
 Norman H. White, chairman of the Massachusetts board of efficiency and economy, submitted a map showing railway lines controlled by the New York, New Haven and Hartford in New England. He asserted that the system was monopoly in violation oi the Sherman law. Describing the growth of the New Haven, MT. White
 
 as one of the directors who was au- thoriZed some time ago to investigate the proposition for the purchase of New England trolley lines.
 Vice President Buckland said the Director Taft on the railway board was Robert W. Taft of Providence, ,WhC was not related to the president. He could not say whether Henry W. Tafl had ever been employed in any lega capacity by his company.
 A Rebuke for "Progressives."
 MT. White read copies of letters ht exchanged with President Taft, wher the suit against the New Haven 1T connection with the Boston and Maine merger was dropped. The presiden wrote that the proceedings were aban. doned because there was no reasona ble ground to suppose that a verdic could be won in court. Replying to { suggestion by MT. White that sucl things as the action of the admins tration in this case was making pro gressives,' the president said 9Th, trouble, with the gentlemen who clas, themselves as 'progressives' is tha they do not ascertain all the facts be- fore reaching conclusion"
 Growth of New Haven System. Describing the gigantic proportion of the New Haven, Mr. White said tn, capitalization of the system had grow until it exceeded $450,000, 900. No more than half of it's property con sisted of railroads and 1t is ready t. go into anything" he added. MI