Norwich bulletin., 1914-01-05
Reorganization
OF New Haven
RAILROAD WILL SEEK TO AVOID
PROSECUTION
TO VISIT WASHINGTON
Chairman Elliott Expected to Present
Plan Tomorrow for the Approval of
Trust Busting" Officials.

Washington, Jan. &-ChairTnan Eli
OFT of the New York, New Haven and
Hartford Railroad company is coming
10 Washington Tuesday, and that part
OF ofitcdal Washington particularly con-
cerned with trust busting is won
dering whether the New Haven system
is about to follow the lead OF the
telephone trust" and agree to Il re-
organization that will meet the views
OF the department of justice and avoid
court proceedings. Mr.. Elliott is ex-
pected to bring the answer.
Although Mr.. Elliott has not been in
Washington for more than a month, it
mas been apparent to observers in the
department. of justice that the New
HaVen system is showing a spirit that
gives hope OF a termination of the diff
1culties without a law suit Within
the last few weeks, since the announce
ment OF the agreement between the at
torney general and the telephone
trust there have been several state
ments concerning the New Haven
which have excited great interest here
Preparing to Sell 3. & M.
The first statement declared that the
New Haven was willing to put the
Boston and Maine in the hands of trus-
tees, with the idea that eventually the
stock of that road might be sold to
some one other than the New Haven
the trustees and other matters, inolud-
ing the question of stock disposition.
No denial of this report has reached
the department. The other statement
was official, and declared that the New
Haven had cancelled its agreement
with the New York Central for the
Joint sharing of profits or losses of the
operation Of the Boston and Albany
railroad. Word also has come unoff1 =
cially to Washington that the New Ha-
ven might be willing to give up It's So
called outside steamship lines operat-
ing between Boston and New York,
and Boston and more southern ports.
These steps, If taken. would meet
the view of the attorney general, but
there is said to be considerable doubt
that they alone would be regarded as
sufficient ground to forsake g. prosecu-
ton of that road in the courts.
Ore Section Relieved of Monopoly.
Government investigators have re-
ported that the New Haven is prac-
tically in control of every means of in
terstate or water communication be-
tween the west and south of New Eng
land. Breaking its control over the
Boston and Maine system would put
the old Ffchburg railroad, now owned
by the Boston and Maine, into the field
again SO far as traffic from Boston and
northern Massachusetts,, southern New
The Fftchburg line runs from Boston
to Troy, n. Y. The annullment of the
Boston and Albany agreement would
be another step to free the state terri
tory from the alleged monopoly, and
the release of the outside steamship
lines, officials say would be calculated
to restore some degree of competition
between New York and Boston. and
Boston and Philadelphia and southern
ports.
No Competition Along the Sound.
Officials point out however, that an
agreement to give up the Boston and
Maine, the Boston and Albany and the
outside steamship lines would still
leave the Long Island Sound cities
and the cities reached by the Rhode
Island trolley lines, without the meas
ure of competition they deem is due
them. Therefore, any plan which di6
not include the giving up Of the Sound
steamer lines and the tro1leys probably
would be refused by the department OF
justice, much as the attorney general
would like to see the problem of New
England transportation solved without
the delays of litigation.
Might Retain Old New England Rail
road.
In looking into the matter the in
vestig'ators examined the connection
between the New Haven and the old
New England railroad, a line which
runs through the central part Of Con
necticut and for more than a hundred
miles would be a natural competition
Of the rival which absorbed II. This
line was taken over by the New Haven
many years ago, however, and it is
said that if Mr.. McReynoIds could be
assured that all these other steps to =
ward a restoration of competition
would be taken. he might not insist
upOn this one