The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-07-09
RAILROAD
MONOPOLY
CONDEMNED
MELLEN RESIGNS
TWO PRESIDENCIES
Steps Out as Head Of Boston & Maine
and the Maine Central Railroad
Morris Mcdonald to Succeed

Boston, July 9.-The first definite out
come of long continued agitation over
| the New York. New Haven & Hartford
control OF the Boston & Maine railroad
came late yesterday when Charles S.
MeIlen, president of both lines, re-
iinquished the presidency of the Boston
4 Maine. BY this act, President Melen
automatically removed himself also as
president of the Maine Central railroad
which is a subsidiary OF the Boston &
Maine.
President Mellen declared that in as
suming the presidency Of the Boston e.
Maine and of the Maine Central in adj
dition to looking after the New Haven's
other extensive interests, he had taken
| upon himself more than one man could
safely handle with justice to eachp
| President Mellen's successor will be
Morris Mcdonald of Portland. Me-, who
| is now vice e-president and general man
ager of the Maine Central.
Reports that Mr.. Mellen's act was the
torerunner of his retirement from the
great transportation system which he
has built up in New England, were de-
MED emphatically by him and by his
presentatiyes.
This change in organization means
nothing more than that Mr. Mellen will
devote his full time to the affairs of
the New Haven railroad and its direct
subsidiaries hereafter. and Mr.. MeDon
aid will in all respects handle the Bos-
ton & Maine and Maine Central rail
roads, says a statement issued by the
New England lines last night. The
statement adds:
"The change does not mean any loss
of interest in the affairs of the Boston
& Maine and the Maine Central by the
New Haven, and Mr.. Mellen continues in
the boards of directors of both roads
and as member of the executive com
mittees
1T has been found impossible for one
man to handle the three roads satisfac.
torily and do justice to each, and the
New Haven being the larger and more
important, Mr. Mellen will hereafter de
vote his attention to the affairs of that
road"
To Maintain Road Relations.
Men close to the New Haven manage
ment declared that there is no intention
TO sever the relations between the New
Haven and the Boston q Maine. which
have been attacked by opponents of the
system in the course of recent public
hearings as a monopoly of transporta-
ton service in violation Of law. This |
is merely change of executive heads;
only that and nothing more according
to New Haven officials.
During the last few months Boston & |
Maine railroad stock has been greatly |
depressed. 1t sold yesterday at 53h |
a price about one.third of what it has |
reached at top sales.
Financial operations Of the Boston & !
Maine and New York. New Haven & |
Hartford were the subject of investipa |
commerce commission, Chairman Charles /
A. Prouty conducting the hearings.
One piece of testimony developed was /
in connection with the sale OF the con /
trolling interest in the Boston & Maine |
half dozen years ago to John L. Bill
lard, and by him to the Boston Holding
Co., IN which the New Haven control T
is vested by which it was claimed MIR.
Billiard had profted to the extent of
100000. The report of the interstate
is expected within day or
two.
The New Haven road management has
been beset by criticism and attack since
the merger with the Boston & Maine
was proposed. The matter has been an
issue before several legislatures in this
state, and it has played part in the
politics of Connecticut. of New Hamp-
shire and Of Maine. Always. President
Mellen has vigorously defended the merg-
pr, declaring that the two roads were
naturally part of one system, and were
not competitive except to very small (
extent.