Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-21

L attended a meeting at which the re-
of the Herald was con-
sidered. | took no part in the pro-
ceedings. l met, at times, Mr.. Choate
and Mr.. O'Brien, the editor of the
paper. In the course of a year | at
tended perhaps three meetings of the
board of the paper. l met Mr.. Holmes,
too, who was largely interested in the
paper"
Il never was in the Boston Herald
office. The meetings [ attended were
held in the Union Club, as | recall. l
did nothing at those meetings, except
observe the proceedings.
DO you remember how long it took
the Boston Railroad Holding Co. bill
to pass?" Mr.. Folk asked.
about so or so days after Cover
nor Draper advocated it in a message"
Mr.. Mellen replied. Il wanted to bring
stock of Boston & Maine outside of
the state under a company controlled
by the state of Massachusetts,
Mr.. Mellen further said that he
made many contracts, not only with
Mr.. Billiard, but with others which he
had not submitted to the board of di-
rectors.
What authority did you have to
make a contract with Mr.. Billiard in
volving payment by the New Haven of
a tremendous profit on a stock trans
action"
L had absolute authority and I re-
ported my action to the board
Il am quite certain that the re-
port which we are discussing is erro-
neous. It contains a great fallaey. be-
cause it suggests the getting of an
assignment from Mr. Billiard of profits
already in the hands of the New Hav-
en-. That is ridiculous. The report is
in error-an error made perhaps by
the secretary"
THE minutes are wrong, them" de-
manded Mr. Folk.
Il don't think l have stated any
thing more strongly than that the re-
port is wrong"
Mr. Folk read the contract between
the New England Navigation Co. and
John L. Billiard, by which Billiard
agreed to sell TO the Navigation Co.
the 109,14S shares of Boston & Maine
stock. The contract was accepted, the
shares to be passed to the Boston Rail
road Holding co. The New Haven di-
rectors agreed to this contract three
months afterwards.
do you recall the prayer from the
hills'?"
Yes, in general
Did you pay for it
4 fancy l have to pay for all pray
ers in my behalf
Were a large number of newspa-
;o1 he rolls the
New Haven" asked Mr.. Folk.
Il never heard of large number
of newspapers on our payroll. l new
er heard of some papers until l saw
them mentioned in the testimony OF
Vice President Byrnes.'
Did YOU know the Boston Republic
published advertisements and then sent
the bill to the New Haven
Yes, l read Mr.. Byrnes testimony
along that line"
Did the fact that Mayor Fitzgerald
was the owner of the publication have
to do with this %
1T certainty wasdnot an obstacle
Can you give me those prayers2"
No. | do not pray in that way"
you spell it prey" unused Mr..
Folk
This is the situation" said Mr..
Mellen: "Our directors wanted to
strengthen my hands in getting Mr..
Billiard to reduce his compensation. I,
in effect, was three months behind
Mr.. Billiard and was trying to catch
up with him"
WAS the action of the directors to
be used as club on Mr. Billiard
asked Mr.. Folk.
1T was rather a persuader to be
used on Mr.. Billiard" responded Mr.
Mellen.
We'll was the record made in the
minutes of the board true or false -
asked Commissioner McChord.
Il have tried to make it clear that
it was a vote given to sustain me in
negotiations with Mr.. Billiard" re-
sponded Mr.. Mellen.
THAT is not the question:" insisted
Commissioner McChord.
WAS the record true or false?"
II have said it was not correct. I
piled Mr.. Mellen.
Were not all securities of the Bill
lard Co in the vaults of the New Ha-
ven?" asked Mr.. Folk.
They were in a separate vault of
the road, the keys to which were held
by the Billiard CO. people.
Who were they"
Mr. Billiard and Mr.. Hemingway"
Did the treasurer of the New Ha-
ven have key"
Not that l know Of
Did Mr.. Robbins have a key?''
Il have read in the testimony that
at some time he had a key"
why did the New England Naviga-
ton Co. loan Mir. Billiard 81 900, 000?"
Il suppose there were some tran
sactions between Mr.. Billiard and the
How did it happen that Mr.. Bill
lard was allowed to wipe out his OBJ
legations later on a per cent. basis
instead of per cent. ?"
THAT as Mr. Billiards. way, to pay
as little interest as he could"
why did you aecede to this?'
He made objections to 5 per cent.
and / thought there was good ground
for them and the board agreed"
Mr.. Mellen testified that the price
Of 154 received by Billiard for the Bos-
ton & Maine stock and the price of
Z an ~