The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-04-26
ONE PROJECT
OF NEW HAVEN
In Which Mellen Wanted the
Company's Relations
Kept Secret
NOT PRUDENT
TO TELL ALL
Letters to Oakleigh Thorne
Read - Advertising
Expenses

Boston, Mass, April 26.President
Charles S. Mellen of the New Haven
railroad did not want the public or the
stockholders of the road to know the
relations between the New Haven and
the Port Chester and New York suburb
an line, according to testimony brought
out Yesterday at the interstate com
merce commissions hearing into the con-
ditions and administration Of New Eng
land lines.
David Z. Brow, the commissioners
expert accountant, who examined the
books of the New Haven, testified that
in 1907 President Mellen wrote letter
to Oaklegh Thorne of New York say
ing that the public was geeting dan
gerously near" the knowledge that the
New Haven was financing the Port Ches-
ter & New York suburban line. Ac
cording to Mr. Brown, the letter also
set forth that eit would not be the
part of prudence to disclose the rela-
tions of the New Haven to the sub
urban line to either the public or the
stockholders"
The New Haven road financed the sub
urban line in 1907 through the Middle
f1TOOk CUu1jdHyS anu pun PlltIOCfibV ihtp
the project, according to Mr.. Brown. He
testified that the men who acted for Mr.
Mellen were Thorne and Morrison I.
Perry.
lis this the same Mr. Perry whom
the governor of Rhode Island or Connec-
ticut recently appointed on Gov. Foss'
conference to solve the railroad problem
of New Englandf" asked Attorney Louis
d. Brandeis.
~ don't know" replied Brown.
Charles I'll. Jones, president of the
Commonwealth Shoe company, asked |
permission at the hearing to submit a
letter from number of Boston bust |
ness men asking that Mr.. Brandeis be
allowed to represent them from now on
in the railroad investigation.
Mr.. Jones said: "a number of substan-
tial business men have asked me to
make this request. We believe the in
formation now being gathered is of great
value and that nothing should be al
lowed to interrupt it. This paper which |
have here is signed by forty bust
ness men and l have letter asking
me to add the names Of six more
Mr.. Brandeis took the letters and
had them incorporated in the record of
the investigation
When the session opened, Charles f.
Choate, an attorney, said he wished to
enter an appearance as citizen. Mr..
Brandeis said:
81 think, Mr.. Choate that you are
counsel for the New Haven, or have been
its counsel"
Mr.. Choate replied that this was not {
30.
Brandeis then turned to the witness,
Brown, who went over the New Ravens j,
books, and asked:
''Will you see if there are any pay S
ments to Mr.. Ohoate recorded on the '
books of the New Haven't" t
Brown replied: Il find one record, dat Q
ed May s, showing charge of 3d. c
9S2.S2 covered by a voucher in favor S
of Charles F. Choate, and also others I
In his favor; one for 81 ,2S2 and another i
for $3.50. One of these vouchers is
made out in favor of the New Haven f
to cover payment to Mr.. Choate."
The examination of Mr.. Brown was
then begun by Mr.. Brandeis. The chair
man announced that attorneys for the
road would not be permitted to cross h
examine the witness during the absence
Of Commissioner Prouty
Figures read by Mr.. Brown, in an
swer to a question regarding the New
Ravens advertising account indicated
that from June 81, 1911, to February. c
1913, inclusive, the New Haven road had d
paid the Boston News bureau $95,52S,
IF which sum $4,000 was paid in De- s.
,ember, January and February last. e,