New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1913-07-09
MELLEN GETS OUT
OF BOSTON & MAINE
Continued from first page.

Continued from first page.
to become president OF the Northern Pa
cifc Railroad. lie remained there only
six years, however returning In 1903 10
the New Haven as president. He became
president of the Boston q Maine In 1870
in the requirement of which road and It's
subsidiaries In 1897 the New Haven gained
practical control of the entire railroad
situation In New England.
This was not the only expansion Of the
New Haven under Mr. Mellen. Other
properties acquired are the Connecticut
Western. most of the steamship lines
running out Of New York to New Eng
land and many hundreds Of miles Of troll
lev roads I'm Connecticut, Rhode Island
and Massachusetts,, which were greatly
extended by subsequent development.
He also developed the Poughkeepsle
Bridge route by way Of the Ontario a
Western. giving the New Haven access
by its own lines to the Pennsylvania coal
regions
In the New Haven property itself MS
most important Improvement was the
identification Of the line, which has been
carried from New York beyond Stamford,
with further work now under way.
State Takes Up Merger.
The expanding interests of the Ne"
Haven have not gone on without rous-
ing criticism. When the Boston q Maine
was taken over Governor Guild OF Nsssa-
chusetts sent a special message 10 the
legislature urging the importance OF en-
acting new laws before adjournment Tor
the protection Of the state against water
ing Of stock or excessive tariffs as a result
Of the merger.
The message was accompanies Dy
statement from Mr.. Mellen expressing IN"
hone that the merger would be accom-
pllshed under such regulation as the COM
monwealth should deem desirable or
necessary and disavowing any Intention
TO water or initiate stock.
Another movement toward expansion
OF the New Ravens control under MT
Mellens direction TO draw governmental
attention was the alleged dealings OF
that company with the Grand Trunk
Railway. In December, 1912, federal
inquiry was begun into the New Haven
Grand Trunk agreement and traffic con-
ditions in New England. resulting In the
Indictment on December % OF MI. Mel
len. together with several officials OF the
Grand Trunk. charged with a conspiracy
to violate the Sherman antitrust law.
Years Imprisonment Possible.
The crime was committed, the indict-
ment charged. through an attempt to
bring about a traffic agreement between
the two roads that would have removed
the last vestige OF competition from the
path OF the New Haven and made abso-
lutte it's traffic monopoly in New Eng
land. The penalty for the crime charged
is one years Imprisonment or $4,000
fine, or both.
In January OF this year the indicted Of
Gals were reindicted on charges which
we're a repetition Of those In the first In
stance, but enumerating four counts.
making the maximum penalty four years
and $1,000 fine. The indicted men were
put under $1,000 bail each, pleading not
guilty to the charge.
Before this case another alleged effort
at unlawful expansion of the New Haven
was taken into court ty a suit brought
by minority stockholders OF tie Rutland
Railroad TO restrain the New York Cen
trail from selling It's majority stock In the
Rutland to the New Haven. on the ground
that the New Haven was buying the
stock in pursuance Of conspiracy In re-
stralnt Of trade, By which the minority
stockholders would suffer material dam
age.
Another source OF trouble-making In Mr..
Mellen's recent career has been the sue
cession Of disastrous wrecks on the New
Haven, beginning with the wreck Of the
Federal Express at Bridgeport In 1911.
MansIauehter Indictment.
As a result Of the federal investigation
into this wreck, the road was advised to
lengthen the cross-over switches en-
ployed on It's tracks. Then came the
Westport wreck OF 1912. caused by the
engineer taking one Of these short CROSS
overs, which had not been heightened, at
full speed. AS result OF this wreck, MT.
Melien and f, II. McHenry. vice-president
OF the road were indicted on charges OF
neglect and manslaughter. They were re-
leased on 5000 bail each. and have not
been brought to trial in this case.
The last wreck to bring Mr.. Mellen into
notice on this score was that at SIAM
ford June IL Of this year. This disaster
is now under investigation by the coroner,
who placed Mr.. Melen on the stand last
Monday and endeavored to draw from
him a statement Of the limitations and
scope of his duties for the purpose OF
fixing personal responsibility. but MIR.
Mellen took refuge behind his statutory
right to refuse TO answer questions that
might tend to incriminate him.
There have been many rumors Of Mr..
Mellen's intended retirement from the
presidency OF the New Haven. They were
vigorously denied. /
Morris Mcdonald. who Is to be the new
president of the Boston g. Maine and Of