Newark evening star and Newark advertiser. [volume] (Newark, N.J.) 1909-1916, 1914-05-14
CHANGE FORM OF
, SUBPOENA TOILET
! MELLEN TESTIFY
Broaden Inquiry Into New
Haven Road aseex-Presldent
Takes Stand.
HAS TRUNKS FULL OF
TELL-TALE DOCUMENTS
Declares Influence of Morgan
Financiers Made Him Head
of Railroad.

WASHINGTON, May 14.-Former
President Charles S. Mellen, of the
New York, New Haven and Hartford
railroad, today took the stand before
the Interstate Commerce Commission,
in its inquiry into the New Haven
affairs. Counsel PFolk called Mr..
Mellen, despite the controversy be-
tween the commission and the de-
partment of justice as to whether the
inquiry should continue, in view OIL
the possibility of the testimony rem
dering witnesses immune from prose-
cution in the courts.
The scene at the hearing when the
session resumed was one of unusual
activity. Commissioner McCord and
Chief Counsel Folk arrived about 1880
and were followed soon by Mr.. Mel
len and his attorney, J. w. Fl. Grim.
Owing to the interest shown and the
& large number of attorneys and spec
& tators present the hearing was shifted
4 to more commodious quarters on the
mezzaline floor of the hotel where the
81 sessions are being held. In and about
&the room was a crowd of upwards OF
loo people. A battery of cameras
was trained along one side of the
Front of the room.
Hitch in Mellcn Subpoena.
Mr.. Mellen and his counsel retired
Tor a short conference respecting the
papers to be produced by the former
president of the New Haven. Con-
! siderable delay was also experienced
Abecause of the necessity in the view
4 Of the commission to make change
!. in the subpoena to Mr.. Mellen.
k The original subpoena only for such
papers and documents as related to
+ The operations of the New Haven and
"a he Billiard Company. 1t was decided
SO broaden Mr.. Mellen's examination
ut and a subpoena was served upon him
zthis morning, requiring him to pro-
81 duce all papers and documents in
his possession or at his command
concerning not only the Billiard tran
sactions, but also all relations with
4 the New Haven and its subsidiaries.
1t was 10:45 when Mr.. Mellen as
cended the platform and took the
witness chair. The oath was admin
B fstered to him by Commissioner Me-
4 Chord, Mr. Mellen responding in a
firm resonant voice.
Chief Counsel Folk began his exam
lnation by asking the full name of
The witness.
Witness Describes Himself.
Mr.. Mellen said
My name is Charles S. Mellen.
# reside in New Haven, Conn, and am
ii blAty-Inree years ola.
"What is your occupation"
II am assistant to the Interstate
Commerce Commission" replied Mr.
Mellen with a broad smile.
This sally was echoed by laughter
that rippled among the spectators.
H'You were Subpoenaed and directed
to produce all papers and documents
II, relation to the oprations of the
New Haven railroad" suggested Mr.
Folk. Have you them with your
They are in possession of my coun-
sell"
Counsel Grim stated that the papers
and documents were in the court
room and would be produced when
needed.
Mr. .eMllen supplemented his coun-
sells statement.
"I have all the papers here which l
have ben able to get. ] have some
other papers at my home and at
Stockbridge, and such ! will be glad
to produce within a reasonable time. .
Start of His Career.
In response to further questions
about his career, Mr.. Mellen said that
he was born in Massachusetts and
that he had been educated at Con-
cord, n. II. His first railroad ex-
perience was with the Northern Rail
of the Boston and Maine.
President Mellen's formal state
ment. submitted to the commission,
was as follows:
EARLY in 1906 there were negotia-
tions started between the Grand
Trunk and the New Haven looking
to the establishment of through
n routes for the interchange of pass
81 enger and freight traffic.
~ tiNrrbaca apotiatiODS were more or
& less continuous and while at various
n times approaching an agreement,
~ something with other connections of
the New Haven was continually
transpiring making changes necessary
in the basis of the arrangement con-
4emplated with the Grand Trunk. p"
Illness Plea of Others.
W No determination yet has been
teached as to action in the cases OF
4 William Rockefeller and George Mac
M MCulloch Miller, directors of the New
n Haven, whose physicians have sub
hitted to the commission certificates
hat they are unable physically to
.ppear as witnesses in the inquiry.
Their testimony may be considered
A by the commission to be essential to
the purposes of the investigation. In
that event, 1t may be deemed desir-
q able to resort to drastic measures to
compel them to appear.
While neither the Senate as a
body, nor the interstate commerce
committe of the Senate, is taking
~ any initiative in the resolving of
differences of opinion which have
4. arisen over the propriety of putting
ttsMr. Mellen and the New Haven
directors under examination, it is
3 #understood that, in as much as the
commission is operating under a
Resolution of the Senate, an intfma-
st;on from that source as to action
probably would be followed.
Senator Norris. of Nebraska,
author of the resolution, vigorously
snpports the commission in it's efforts
# to develop all the facts, quite ire
g 6pective of any proceedings pending
or in contemplation. That, in all
4 probability, would be the attitude of
the Senate If the matter should be
given consideration by that body.