New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-18

TO bring about trattlc agreement W
tween the New Haven and the Grand
Trunk that would have removed the
last vestige of competition from the
path of the New Haven and placed the
entire traffic of the New England States
in its grasp.
Mr. Mellen's resignation from the
Boston G. Maine was followed the next
day by the report of the Interstate
Commerce Commission on traffic condl-
tions Of the New Haven system. The
report contained many sharp criticisms
of the Mellen financial operations ana
management 1t was generally De-
lleved that these findings explained the
retirement Of Mr.. Mellen.
Mellen Financing Blamed.
The report recommended that the
New Haven divest itself Of its enor-
nous subsidiary holdings that Mr.
Mellen had worked for years to ac-
cumulate. AS specimens Of the Mel
len financing" it set forth that within
nine years the company had expended
S2O4. 100000 in operations outside lls
railroad sphere; that in the purchase
of the Rhode Island trolley lines, Sl5'-
5O0OOO had been paid for nothing;
that the Westchester road had cost
the New Haven S12,O00O00 more than
IL was worth and that the transfer OF
the Boston e. Maine stock to J. l..
Billiard. Of Meriden, Conn, ana the
SUBSEQUENT purchase Of the same Sc
curities from him had put S2.tOONo
of the New Ravens money into Bill
lard's hands without the investment OF
a dollar on his part.
In general. the report concluded the
outside financial operations OF the
New Haven were "Wasteful In the eX-
IRENE" 1t criticised the issue of H.
$50 shares of stock to Mr.. MeHen IN
1904 whereby he was TO have obtained
S1O2. 900 in interest on his notes.
portion Of this was paid TO Mr. Mellen
OF the balance, $4,000 went TO the
Republican national campaign COM
mittee of 1904 In the opinion OF the
commission. the Mellen management
tended primarily to bring about the
control Of all transportation facilities
Of New England regardless of cost.
There was no derogatory criticism OF
the operation of the railroad system IT.
self. In ending the report said that
betterment Of the New Haven manage
ment was a question for the stock
holders and directors to work out.
Early this month Attorney General
McReynolds announced that he was IN
hopes 10 move the trials o. Melleh'
Chamberlain and Smithers on the FED
eral indictment charging conspiracy IN
the October term of the court IN THIS
city.
Another source Of anxiety for Mr..
Melen was the succession of disastrous
wrecks. beginning with the wreck OF
the Federal Express at Bridgeport IN
1911. That caused the federal inVesu-
gators TO order longer "crossovers' on
the Shore Line. Then came the west
mort wreck Of 1912, caused by taking
one Of these short crossovers at fun
sneed AS result of this wreck. Mr..
Mellen and f. H. McHenry, vice-presl-
dent were indicted in Fairfield County
Conn. charged with neglect and man
slaughter. They were out on So'VVV
bail each
The latest wreck that brought pubic
censure up TO Mr.. Mellen himself was
al Stamford, June u. This disaster IS
now under investigation by Coroner
phelan of Fairfield County. Mr.. Melen
took the stand during the investiga-
tion. but refused TO describe his per-
sonal scope and limitation OF duties on
the ground that 1t might incriminate
him.
After slipping out of his quarters IN
the Grand Central Terminal by prl-
waite exit in order to avoid reporters
Mr.. Mellen went to the Hotel Belmont
for dinner 1t was afterward learned
that he had taken a room there for the
night. He took every precauuon 10
save himself from adding even syl-
liable 10 his laconic statement he
gave instructions al the hotel ONCE TO
har all newspaper men. and careful or
ders were left with the telephone op-
orators to censor all calls
Twenty.three Directors There.
All efforts to find out what directors
were at the meeting were unsuccessful.
IT was said, however, that practically
the full board" was present. There are
twenty-three directors. Mr.. Mellen, it
Is said. presided. The directors are as
follows:
William Rockefeller, New York; j.
p Morgan, New York; Charles f.
Brooker. Ansonia. Conn; Edwin Mil
ner. Moosup. Conn: William Skinner
Bolyoke, Mass; d. Newton Barney
Pennington, Conn; Charles S. Mellen'
New Haven. Conn.
Robert w. Taft, Providence, r. l.;
James s. Elton. Waterbury, Conn.
James S. Hemingway, New Haven;
frederick =. Brewster, New Haven
Henry X. McHarg. Stamford, Conn.
Alexander Cochrane. Boston; John i.
Billiard, Meriden, Conn; George f.
Baker New York; Thomas De witt
cuyler. Philadelphia; Theodore n. Veil'
Boston.
Edward Milligan, Hartford Conn;
Francis T. MAXWELL and De Yer War
ner. Bridgeport Conn; Sidney w.