davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
Dodging of Politicians, Says Mellen,
Was One of His Pet Policies

In the testimony at the afternoon session
Mr.. Mellen gave some interesting Views
on politics and his relations with poll
tlcians.
Did you have any relations with legis-
lators or politicians asked MI Folk.
Most OF my relations" said Mr. Mellen.
were In trying to keep away from them.
-. Why keep away from them? a. I
was afraid OF my having something OF
value In my clothes.
.. Would they run after you? A. Not
IL knew It. Not II saw them first
want 10 say this, that there Is not halt
the attempt on the part of railroad people
to control legislation and 70 have rela-
lions with legislators as there Ii on the
part OF legislators TO have relations with
railroad officials.
Dreaded the Power Of Success
q. From your experience as head OF a
great railway system you have said II Ia
possible for largo corporation Of that
kind TO accomplish almost anything II de.
sires II II has money enough. Is that
true? A. think that an absolutely un-
scrupulous person at the head OF large
corporation. who had knowledge and abil-
ity and the wherewlthal could accomplish
almost anything For that reason l an
frank to say that l dreaded the power
that would have been placed In the hand,
OF myself or any one else had our policy
been successful. think people may vel
be alarmed at the power a man nigh
exercise II he had II under the ciroum
stances. My experience Is that there ar,
few men who would use II. They ma,
have a beneficent monopolist. but they DE-
not know who will succeed that beneficen
monopolist TO my mind there is going 4
be gotten out of monopoly efficiency anC
economy. but that monopoly Is bound I,
be the United States Government
Q. What would you say as to tn,
amount OF salary YOU received as head o
the New Haven? You said you received
$4,000 year. A That was too much.
y. What would you say as to tn,
maximum that should be paid? A.
| think that man who has not got tn,
ability to live on $4,000 n year SHOULD
go somewhere else and should not b.
working for a railroad. A man who ha
not the ability to live on s25, 900 yea
has got too little ability TO be the hea,
OF a railroad, He had batter begin hi
| economies At home.
Mr. Mellen was asked why he accepte,
a salary OF $4,000 year. and no sal,
| he was like the anarchist who had tw,
coats and wanted to keep both. II fel
that was entitled TO what was cominl
to me-" he said, my salary would rang
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22

crime at tho time" said he moment
later
Mr.. Mellen thought that ultimately the
New Haven would get the benefit OF the
identification II had done The New
York and Ontario road. no said, has al
ways been a burden.
The witness declared that ne always
attended stockholders meetings. ut which
various things were discussed The New
Haven had about $4,000 stockholders. he
said. but generally only about 100 per-
sons attended the meetings and among
these were holders of proxies for tho
Pennsylvania. the New York Central the
American Express Company and other
large holders. Ho observed that the
stockholders did not take much interest
In the meetings.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
"REBATE." SAYS VANDERLIp.
Not . "Conmission" when the MI.
lard Note YVES Paid,

Frank A. vsnderlip. president Of In.
National City Bank. said yesterday that
the charge made by Mr.. Aaeiisn In his tes
timony that the National City Bank
forced the New Haven to pay $4,000 az
Commission" when the Billiard note vas
paid OF ahead Of time was entirely IN.
founded.
Mr.. vanderiip said that tho payment
was in no sense a commission. 1t was the
regular rebate received by bankers when
obligations were paid of before maturity
This regular rebate practice Ia based on
the fact that I per cent loan, for In.
stance, might be paid of In a 8 per cent
market. the lender thereby sustaining q
loss. unless compensated by the rebats
payment.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
II. X. SMITH RECALLS VISIT.
Hut He Declines TO Comment ON the
Conversation.

FARMINGToN, Conn, May ai,-Becauss
he had not ready access to his diary and
notes tonight Herbert Knox Smith. Com
missioner OF Corporations under President
Roosevelt, was reluctant TO discuss what
occurred Mt the visit to the white House
concerning which Charles g. Mellen testl-
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
ROOSEVELT SALE NEW IAVENS WATER LINES TOMO

Roosevelt wouldn't permit Mr.. Mellsn
20 sell" said Mr.. Morse. Roosevelt
permitted Mr.. Mellen to do illegal acts
Mr.. Mellen himself told me that Rooasveat
allowed him to do these things that verS
subsequently said to be illegal.
When l came back 10 New York on
March 10 on the Imperator I said then
that the New Haven had been perrni,,sd
TO act Illegally for twenty years and doe,
not want to stop"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22

WASHINGTON, May 2l.--Here is the
memorandum which Charles 3. Mel
len read to President Roosevelt when
he visited the White House in 1907
at the request of the late J. p.
Morgan.
The memorandum was presented
shortly before Mr.. Bonaparte. Presi-
dent Roosevelt's Attorney General,
entered suit against the New Haven
to separate II from the Boston and
Maine. This suit never was pressed
and was withdrawn by the Taft
Administrator. The memorandum
in part follows:
The President
The company have the honor to
represent respectfully submits to
you:
That 1t has no liability on It's bal
ance sheet that does not represent
more than 100 cents on the dollar
That II has not issued stock or bonds
except for cash or its equivalent and
the premiums received upon Its capital
issues are far In excess OF any dis
counts. In other words, neither d.
rectly nor indirectly can II be charged
there 10 any fictitious capital upon
which the public Is taxed for re-
turn
That no revaiuation OF its property
and equipment could be made in the
Judgment OF Its management that
would not show largely In excess OF
its cost or the present market value
OF all its securities held by the pup
lie
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22

The Municipal Civil Service Commits
sion has decided that Coroners must Sc
lect their physicians from the civil service
list. Pending th!s decision the commits
sion held UP the pay OF DR.. Gerard Kas-
per OF TIA Macon street, Brooklyn, and
DIR. Lester d. Volk OF l<0 Floyd street.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
Mellen Says He Was "Practically
Fired From New Haven Presidency

Under what circumstances did you
leave the New Haven railroad?' asked
Mr.. Folk. shifting the subject
II was practically fred" said Mellen
with a smile.
O. BY whom? a. IL that material1
Q. BY the board of directors? A. I
could have stayed so far as they were
concerned
O. Did they have anything TO do with
~ A. They did not know Of 1t until after
II was over.
q. What do you mean. that you could
have stayed so far as the board OF d.
rectors was concerned? Il. / mean to
say that II I had gone before the board
rs per cent. OF them would have voted to
have me remain.
Did Not Want sIuabbIe.
Q. Why did you not go? a. Because
did not want a squabble or a fight
O. How did you learn that you were
discharged? A. I suppose that that is a
necessary way TO express It., II was In
timated to me by a gentleman who was
connected with the board OF directors
that a change, In his Judgment. would be
desirable. and. inasmuoh as | thought a
change would be desirable, was glad
to welcome the opportunity and avail
myself OF H.
~, NHtt dlu ybu nave
to your resignation? A. There was "A
contract offered 10 me, but not at my
solicitation. The contract was TO retain
my services unoff!claily, my Information.
my experience and my advice, for a term
OF Ave years at $4,000 a year, Just prior
TO the anbual meeting In October ! was
told By two members OF the COMMITTEES
who arranged for my retirement that tn.
compensation which had been voted Ia m
was a source Of embarrassment to them
and that II was likely 10 be o bone OF
contention at a stockholders meeting
which was to occur In day or two and
they asked me TO waive II, and with my
usual way OF doing business ! made them
q present OF the $4,000.
q. Did you receive any cash? A. No
and ] would not receive a single cen,
from them.
Mr., Mellen said that at the time ths
employees Of the railroad received a cut
of 10 per cent In their salary he made q
s!m'lnr cut In his own salary, which wa'
$4,000 n year, md TINT ~ the time h,
retired he was getting s5A 900 year.
when ! LETT the Maine Central tn,
directors voted me $4,000, which I re
Ccived," he added. "The Boston anC
Maine voted me $4,000"
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
mo COMAfENT-ROOSEHELT.
Steamship Matter Has Been Ex-
piained, says the Colonel.

OYSTER BAY, l. l., May 2l.-Col
Roosevelt was asked this evening II ne
had any statement TO make relative to the
testimony OF ex-President Charles S. Mel
len OF the New Haven railroad. wherein
Mr.. Mallen said that Col. Roosevelt, when
President, had advised him not to sell
the roads steamship lines TO Charles
w. Morse for s20.000.000
The Colonel said he had no comment to
make on the testimony, as he and Herbert
Knox Smith when Commissioner of Cor
porations had gone over this matter thor
oughly and that II had been thoroughly
explained The Colonel added that the
case was similar to those of the Harvester
trust and the Tennessee Coal and Iron
Company. which had been explained.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
"stone Breaker" K,i,ea By Rock

An unidentified Italian. 50 years old
known rs Louis the stone Breaker" was
crushed to death by n rock In an excs
walton made In repairing the building at
ls4 state street Brooklyn. yesterday.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
"Stock holders Like sheep"

Stockholders in times OF prosperity are
like sheep; they go on and browse" he
added. when there 10 trouble they all
mako for the same hole In the fence
and injure themselves"
Mr.. Mellen said that In the scheme OF
consolidation little opposition came from
stockholders.
.. Did you encounter opposition from
tho people anywhere or did they take
what you were going to do with COM
placency7 A. I don't think there was much
opposition except In Boston and vicinity.
Outside OF Boston there was little.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22

from $4,000 to $4,000 over my own pro-
test"
., Did you object to the other SIC, 900 &?
A. felt that I was entitled TO II.
- Arc the directors OF the Now Haven
now the same directors that operated un-
der your A. Many OF them are.
-. what changes have been made, II
any? A. l have not kept track.
Affection for the Directors.
q. From your experience while presl.
dent of the New Haven what would be
your opinion as to whether the system
can DO reformed with the same board OF
directors! A. / have tho highest opinion
rectors of the New Haven. think they
were one OF the finest bodies OF men I
ever met / take this occasion to state
that i do not believe that any one OF
them has ever got dishonest dollar
from his connection with the property.
and l state that knowing all the mlsun-
derstandinss that have been given TO
investigation. Every one of them seemed
TO have tho interest Of the property at
heart
Q. Do you think that the New Haven
can be reformed by the same board OF
directors? A. My impression is that tho
90 h.
mouo''s " uo NV ve" sys'em srs
u"ins 20 sne uea.h ot man VINO assured
US u'a' the p'ans anu pohcies were wise,
uhu ! 40 nov mink that REFORMS can pe
secured SCI s .hs We am 70. ,nan NKs
mn. .hihn ,ne ulee.ofS wou'o give
such man 'hen support
Mr; Meieh haia tnat the Sew HaVen
wouio not set r'a OF Ns troubles uhui II
GOT ria OF Ihst noatins dent
lhat oept Inus' oe .eAeh care OF oeiote
'"ey ca" 'e'''" sAa 'e'
Floating Debt OF @37o,OOo,oO0
MT. Meien aaded tnat ne inquired tnI'
noatins debt TO De an h'gh as sSIe'ooo'ooo
He said that " this deot Is To be FUNDED
LEGISLATION OF several states must DC
Drought more into unitormity' 80 mat VIVA,
was lesai IN one New england state woulo
not be illegal IN another. he said tha
was one OF the reasons that started th'
New haven 10 carry hoatihs aept'
=, TO wn st,S 90 you a, ,s m ,he ARG
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
MORSE SUPPORTS MELLEN.
says Latter's Testtaony About
Steamship Lines 10 Correct.

Charles w. Morse In the offices OF the
Hudson Navigation Company. pier 32.
North River. corroborstsd yesterday the
testimony Of OK President Mellsn of tho
New Haven regarding the projected sale
Of the New Haven's steamship lines. Mr..
Morse said that ne had offered $50, 900. 900
for the steamship lines and that ex-Pres-
ident Roosevelt prevented the sale.
The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22
Obedient 20 the Laws.

That none OF its officials have been
accused of violation of existing Law,
except BY an irresponsible news
paper. and its officers and directors
are In every respect conforming TO
the rules and regulations OF all.
properly constituted tribunals and IN
tend continuing 30 to do. except
when under advice OF counsel appear
II taken to the courts for the protec-
ton Of the property,
That In the formation OF tho sys-
tenn OF roads operated by II 1t has
secured affirmative legislation in all
the Jurisdictions involved wherever
doubt has existed. and Its position
IL not questioned at the present time
by any competent authority.
That wherever expansion OF Its sys-
TEN Of roads has been permitted
there has followed an improved con-
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-01
tn. a.port.r-A. Assignment.

The Rspertsr-AD Assignment
The nfth house from the corner in this
Little black tents against the night
sky's indigo.
Bs!de the door flashed a match tc
And
The number risht-and sudden blank.
ness took my mind!
I hesitated.peering from the gloom
Beneath the shade into the yellow.
lighted room,
Curious justly, in my errands name:
And then I blamed myself, tho I was
not to blame. -
A woman sat beside q table spread
For one, but supper time was hour.
past: her head
Bent low for listening. while at hel
thighs
A sleepy child was frownins, gougins
fists in eyes.
The woman stirred: 1 saw her young
worn face.
She glanced, impatient, puzzled, at the
empty place.
gulped. and knocked. God knows the
words said!
asked her. somehow, II she knew that
Smart Set.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-01
A CUSTOM WELL Rid.

A New Year custom CT long age
which has fallen into complete disuse
OF later years Will be remembered by
those who We're young twenty-five
years and more ago and who went
paying New Year calls dressed in their
best In the halycon days when ladies
received of New Year.
Ask your father about those New
Year calls. Perhaps he will tell you
Possibly father will grow red in the
face and ask what fooltshness your
sas.he: or your Uncle John has been
putting in your head. For, often
father has recollections Of a. New Year
and calls which grows dim along to-
ward TO close Of that day and in
ciude somewhat that was told him next
day, for the New Year calls OF that
oiden time held their dangers.
The custom Of serving liquor TO call
ers which was in vogue in those old
days and which resulted often in more
plain DRINKS than an old fashioned
barn raising has utterly disappeared.
The ladies. who should furnish every
thing in the way Of !n1oxicants from
claret to cocktails and urge them on
the young men OF today, would find
themselves objects OF the severest
criticism and would probably be ostra-
cised by the best sociesy." But IN
those old days-ask father about it.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-01
TERMS:
I 014.

Write II 1914. It is a new year, an
other milestone in the progress Of the
race. another chance for each Of US,
good time coming. Celebrate. make
your resolutions. lay on: your cam
paien today and get busy tomorrow.
There are 312 days Of work ahead
for all Of us il 1915 Is to be as far in
advance Of today and as this morning
has travelled beyond New Years day Of
last year.
Nineteen Fourteen viii have to begin
early and work late to match the ac-
complishment OF '13. For last year was
\ busy year. and filed with things
well begun and exceuently finished.
Locally the community took mighty
strides in the right directions. And this
il true of most communities. 1t would
be hard to And an Iowa city or town
or countryside which did not make
notable progress In many notable ways
during the past year. In business. IN
material progress Of all descriptions. in
community welfare, in understanding
the twelve months just passed con-
stituted perhaps the best year Iowa
has ever known. The incoming of the
new year secs no serious clouds on
the horizon Of Iowa prosperity. It Is
our year and will be what we make
It. The balance sheet Of Dec. 81, 1914
will merely show what we have done.
It Is up to us.
The Times Republican has nothing
OF which to make serious complaint 1t
is happy in its friends and content
with the character Of the enmies 1t has
made. proud Of the city and the state
which afford it home and opportunity
and wishes all these happy and pros
porous New Year.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-01
VINO BOOSTED OUR rAxEs7

Taxes within the counties in Iowa
are increasing as they should increase
because the investment made by the
public for things tina. can be provided
more economically at public expense
than at private expense are increasing
all OF the time. However. taxes are
increasing in some counties for next
year out Of proportion to the increases
in other counties The occasion for it
all is the readjustment that has been
going on in valuations. Farm lands IN
Iowa have more than doubled in SELL
ing value in ten years while their tax
able valuation has remained almost
stationary until this year when the
executive council OF the state was COM
PEELED to raise farm land valuations
from Is to 45 per cent City property,
which had always been valued pretty
well UP to its real worth, was con-
stantly being dropped down because OF
comparison with under valued EARN
lands Even corporate properties were
threatening to resist taxation because
Of the unequal valuations. In Marshall
county. for instance, farm lands, none
Of which ever sold for less than 500
per acre and some Of which brought
$500 per acre, were being valued for
taxation at $50 per acre when city
property was being valued at about
rs per cent of it's selling value. The
euualizing board raised our 5000 land
ia 319 per acre for taxation and raised
our city property 10 per cent.
The increase In valuation was made
to eoualize taxes as between all classes
az property not to increase the taxes
.paid and it was UP to the county SUI
pervisors, township boards and town
councils to reduce their millage levies
which was done among the thrifty
naatch In Scott county, but which was
NOT done in very many other counties.
The result is that Wapello and Mar
shall counties have each levied 20
uar cent increase in their taxes and
most other counties the same. The
taxing boards simply neglected to re-
luce their miiiage ievies to adjust their
kunds to the increased valuations.
Next year will be a year Of flush
funds With our township. school. town
~ opanty eOv9nmo0k II the public
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-01
MR.. RowLEY.
Huntington Hawk-Eye.1

Unless there is room for a new party
in Iowa, the Hawk Eye hopes its good
friend. John w. Rowley. editor OF the
Keosauaua Republican. will reconsider
his reported intention to run fo- gov
ernor on platform c. opposition to
the capitol extension act. To nominate
himself for that position and on sucn
q p,atferm is virtually - organize
new political party. And one even
more hopeless than the bull moore.
now in the doidrums- Mr.. Rowley IS
life long republican, too good an one to
mar II now by an act which he WIZ re-
greet later.
The capitol extension act as the
Hawk-Eye has heretofore repeatedly
stated, was a wise and necessary piece
Of legislation. Mr.. Rowlsy declared Y
UNCONSTITUTIONAL: the supreme court
has unanimously reversed Mr.. Rowiey.
The act will stand. The day will come
when all Iowa viii be glad it was en-
acted. To repeal i; yill be disgrace
to the state The great mass OF the
Iowa people are not asking for It's re-
peal MI Rowley Win nave uphill
work making an issue. OF, 1t to- say
nothing about winning the governor
ship on so absurd platform Inc oio
parties are not going to stand aside for
a by-plsy Of that character.
II Mr.. Rowley wants to keep up the
contention for the fun Of 1t, or thru
a mistaken notion Of a public duty. he
ought to run for the legislature and
make his fight there where it will at
least attract attention. altho without
avail. 1t is diffiuclt ito rally a great
number OF voters around retrograde
movement in public affairs. Wealthy.
prosperous Iowa is abnndantly able to
pay for the enlarged grounds and the
voters are not going to humiliate
themselves before the people Of the
United States by pleading the poverty
act or by acknowledgement that they
do not believe in intellectual and ma
terial progress.
Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1914-01-01
Topics of the Times

Montgomery county. Texas. has
voted her bond issue for 100000 foE
roads and has sold the bonds so con-
struction work will start right away.
Down there the people want to use
their roads every day in the year and
are not content to be snow bound or
mud bound for four months out OF
twelve.
The president played golf on Christ
mas day at Pass Christian. But at
that he had nothing on many Iowans.
except that he is president and they
only common folks. He might have
played in Marshall;own Just the same
and perhaps we could have shown him
better time.
But suppose somebody sent a mis-
directed package of eggs by parcel
post. Shouldn't they be sent to the
dead letter o1ice peIv1e tbs year Is
up?
The president used four gold pens
10 sisn TIE currency bill. Mr- Bryan
you'd probably have used sixteen sill
yer ones.
Don't waste time scoring at the post.
Get away for the finish at the wire
next December. It's long route and
a lot to win.
Louis Murphy calls attention to the
admirable way in which government
business is transacted. A few months
in Office usually convinces persons
who have seen things differently from
the outside Louie always was open to
conviction.
The tone OF the newspaper press OF
all affiliations isn't encouraging to Mr..
Rowley OF Keosauqua- The fact II
nobody but Rowley seems to wan,
Rowley. Mr.. Rowley appears to have
made a mistake in the Office. He ought
to run for county supervisor.
Vice President Marshall has ne
elected to get into the moving pictures
Perhaps that is because there isn't
enough action in the vice presidentia
office to show on Aim.
The Mexican revolutionists who jus
now have the advantage give 1t ou
cold that they intend to Kill every fed
eralist captured. That ought to bea
bull lighting.
speaking Of the backbone Of winte