The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-20
REPLY TO BILLIARD

(Mellen) took hold Of the Boston and
Malno.
The New Haven carried the Adams Ex
press Companys goods and Mr.. Mellen
soresaw difficulties II Mr.. Ledyard waited
until the New Haven had acquired the
Boston and Maine. Also Mr.. MelIen
wanted to avoid the responsibility of ex.
tending this American Express contract.
Mr. Melen admitted that the extension
meant loss of between 100000 and
$4,000 year for the railroad as COM
pared with the charges of the New Haven
or between 100000 and 100000 for
the ten years additional time.
. Mr. Meilen maintained that he was not
party 10 this matter. He said his inn
preston was that the express company
Thought It could do better with the old
MANAGEMENT of the Boston and Maine
than with him.
He said that Mr.. Ledyard had told him
that II the express company was going
20 transfer their stock they ought to have
better terms. Mr.. Mellen declared thar
De personally would not have made a IS
per cent. contract IL was finally settled
between him and Ledyard that he (Mel
ien) should come on the stage after the
thing had become n completed fact"
q. why did you arrange It In that way?
A. / did not arrange 1t. might have
suggested IT, but did not arrange IT,
He denied also that this new contract
was given as an inducement to the Amer
san company to sell its stock.
Pronounced Exchange Legal.
NJ. Mellen said that the question OF tn.
legality OF The exchange of New Haven
stock for Boston ana Maine with the ac-
compdnyng control was looked into by
Everett l.. Robbins, Mr. Ledyard and
Ricaard Olney and they had pronounced
=: legal.
Nj Folk then read to him a letter ad
dressed 70 Mr.. Mellen and signed by H.
". Whitney Of Boston. This is the letter
dated May II, 1907;
81 hope you will think IL consistent
a. An early date to take up the Bos-
ton and Maine matter. / think the
programme meets approval among
our business men as whole. but
there is still large public to be
rrcOuclled with. and IA few words now
outlining in general your policy in
case the New Haven roau should
come into control would go fay to al
lay excitement and hostile criticism
and might save you considerable an
nOyance later on.
- have also thought IL possible
that the little father In Washington
might Ike 10 get his finger INTO the
PIE, IN which case IL 1t should happen
before the public had become recon-
iniinte hurt to all your interests.
III you should think It proper TO
say something. and this could be an
proved by the president OF the Boston
and Maine, l am sure 1t would do
good"
Mr.. Mellen said that the little father"
referred to was President Roosevelt
whom he often consulted He said that
he had conference with the President
% u fh.. e
was considering the purchase OF the Bos.
ton and Maine shares.
He said that he admired lir Roosevelt
very much and he felt that the rnattcr
vas one likely TO be of public importance
ami IN those days. with the relationship
nat Le had with President Roosevelt. nc
I'D hot want to do anything that woul
De contrary TO his wishes
Therefore" said Mr.. Meilen. ct Thought
II the part of decency and good breed.
ing to talk Il over with him. visited
I'm and explained the situation to him
He told me that he was not n LAWYER
;hat La did not know whether the law
would permit anything of that kind and
ne could not assure me that II was not
T!olation of the law; that l would be
.!eated Just the same as any one else
De said the reasons | gave him as de.
'iiJle 20 buy the shares appealed to him. |
md $40 my position he said he would be-
i-r'''d To take the shares.
as'.ad
nat the shares were 10 be sold to lines
'ossioly out Of tine country. probably the
tnadiun Pacific or the Grand Trunk.
RE sent me TO discuss the matter with
-1iiih'ssioner Lane of the Interstate Com
mere" Commission" added Mellen And
then | went back and saw the President
aud got the statement from him that he
ould not help me in any way. shape or
banner II anything did was in violation
pi ItW' but that from my standpoint II
seemed 10 him that ii he were In my posi-
uon he would be inclined TO make the
purchase"
What did you do after that interview
bought said Mr.. Mellen briefly.
Kept Conference secret.
a., M Melien said that he did not report
IN result OF his conference with the
President TO any one.
! never made Il confidant OF any one
n connection with anything the Presiden.
on the United States told me-" he said.
Ny directors never tried to force me TO
'rl them OF the converse lions had with
ne President Certainly think he acted
ron the highest dictates OF public duty
II What no said to me-"
Did you see Mr. Morgan before Won
"rnt Ia Wishngton?"
Mr., Mellen said that he saw Mr.. Nor
gan frequently, but he presumed that then
ne N1S In Europe Mr. Mellen mentioned
that Mr.. Morgan had sent him to see the
PRESIDENT in regard TO other matters.
Mt Folk then produced letter signed
~ MT. Mellen addressed to Mr.. Whitney.
MS being dated May %. 1907. 1t was as
follows:
Your favor OF the 2lst instant IL
Al hand. II has been thought advsa-
DE by all concerned that just as little
otilcal Information should get into
me newspapers regarding the Boston
ana Maine matter as Is absolutely
necessary This was agreed to by Mr..
Ledyard, Mr.. Tuttle and myself and
We are acting OIL this theory at the
present time.
THE Washington situation have.
] think, completely cared for. One
never knows for certainty regard
Ing matters there. but the ground has
been carefully ploughed and every
chance for trouble considered and,
think. successfully eliminated. 7 am