Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1913-05-07
CLOSING ARGUMENTS
IN RAILWAY INQUIRY
Allegations of Monopoly in
New England Combated
by Roads Attorneys.

Oral arguments closing the interstate
commerce commissions investigation Of
tho New England railroad situation
particularly the financial operations of
the New York New Haven and Hart
ford-were begun here today before the
entire commission Louis D. Byandeis
of Boston spoke for New England ship
pers and Edgar j. Rich and Charles
f. Choate. jr.. were among the first to
appear for the railroads.
Mr.. Rich, speaking for the BOSTON and
Maine declared that If the roads serv-
ice to the public still was unsatisfac-
tory it was because the public was ex-
pecting better service than it was
paving for. and that IL the demands of
the public were further to be satisfied
an increase in rates must follow.
No Diminution Of Resources.
New Haven control of the Boston
and Maine" said he. has not in any
way diminished the resources or reve-
nues of the Boston and Maine. With a
cessation of criticism and an elimina-
tion Of hysteria, with cooperation on
the part of public bodies and the pub
tic generally. the service can be i'm
proved beyond it's present high degree
Of efficiency
Mr. Choate declared that while the
commissions order called for an In
vestigation of the New England rail-
road situation, 1t had investigated only
tho New Haven. Boston and Maine and
the Maine Central He declared that
charges against the management Of the
New Haven found their origin In a
-source bitter. partisan and unfair.
His argument was a detailed review of
the railroads operations.
Speaking for the Boston Chamber of
Commerce. Robert Romans declared that
IN no other part OF the country had so
formidable transportation monopoly
been developed as In New England by
the New York. New Maven and Hartford
Says Competition Is Eliminated.
Discussing especially railroad service
In New England. Mr. Romans declared
competition between the New Haven and
the Boston and Maine. for instance, prac-
tioally had been eliminated The stimulus
of competition being absent. the service
OF the railroads. he said. naturally was in
adequate. and In many instances bad.
He indicated that shippers generally
throughout New England had complained
OF the service as irregular and SLOW
1HeSe Complaints, Mr.. Romans said, ap-
piled particularly to small cities and in
terror towns. the service in the large CEN
ters generally being better.
Arraigns Policies and Methods.
An arraignment OF the policies, method.
and financial management of the New
Haven. and OF the Boston and Main,
road. was made by Louis d. Brandeis OF
Boston. who appeared as "a citizen O
Massachusetts"
Mr.. Brandeis said that both the New
Haven and the Boston and Maine ha,
made enormous efforts toward moHOpol,
and undue expansion. and that both has
suppressed competition at a fearful
cost" He declared that the Boston an,
Maine was loaded up with leases takel
over 10 suppress competition. and tina
the New Haven had entered upon "th
,nost aggressive field OF monOpolizatiol
over undertaken in America
NO price was too great. declared Mr.
.;randeis. FOR the New Haven TO pa.
Ir control or large equity in Transports
Nm lines and its policy of monopoliZa
ION and ACKNOWLEDGEMENT was actuate,
by spirit that seemed to indicate Their
never wotSd be day Of reckoning"