The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-05-20
Says Millions Were Spent At Command of Late
 Financier
PAVES WAY FOR
 FURTHER QUERY
l. (. C. Officials Amazed At Dra- matic Story of Morgan's Mas tery of Financial Affairs.
 Consulted Roosevelt

Washington. May Ig.--t story of the in affairs of the New Haven raiIron,--of the spending of millions in awcd and Ignorant silence nt the command of the aIi-powerful eaIcr--wns told to the in- Charles <. Mclien. former president of the New Haven.
 K It was the most extraordinary chapter vet unfolded in the commissions inquiry in the alleged exploitation Of the great New England railroad and disappearance of funds from it's treasury thorough ae- auisition at extraVagant prices of sub sidiary properties
 There was not time in d single day in which to crowd details of all the incl dents and events dealt with the witness testimony He barely touched on some of the big things. paving the way for ex- haustive questioning that will continue tomorrow
 Hung On Every Word Members Il the committee, counsel and interested spectators fairly hung on every word of Mr Melen today as his story developed dramatically under the examf- s nation by Chief Counsel Folk Everybody listened with absorbed attention, and at times evident anazcment, as he related how he had stood in awe of MT Morgan. because of his comprehensive grasp and perfect preseience of financial matters;
 how he consulted With Theodore Roose- welt, the President of the united States. lfcgardiRg the purchase of tha Boston aud Name sastir,ad nov he ha,i prevented ! the late F.. IT, Hartman from acquiring
 the Boston and Maine by purchasing it | himself from tie Now Haven, and how
 he had dealt with the late police inspec- tor. Thomas r. byrnes, of New York. to obtain the Westchester stock held by per
 sons whom he assumed to be connected with I'amnany Hall.
 As when on the stand last week. MT. Alellen gave his testimony with apparent willingness, answering every question readily.
 Tells of Limitations
 He did try to avoid telling about the time when Mir Morgan humiliated him by brnsduely refusing to give him in- formation concerning the Westchester transaction to which he thought, as presi- dent of the New Haven he was entitled. When he finally related the incident. hia | face was drawn into hard lines. and he I elapsed his hands over the table in front of him almost conculslvely. His voice in- 1 dicated no sign of emotions, however,
 continuing clear distinct and resonant Later ne even gave the story touch
 of humor. When Directors Hemingway
 and Skinner of the New Haven demanded l of him why the road was expending S1l,- l 000,000 on the Westchester purchase, he l said he offered to appoint each of them | a committee of one to find out: that he lt.. deavor to obtain information from Nor
 gan, and that they could try if they l desired.
 They tucked" concluded MT. Mellen grimly and ripple of appreciative laughter ran around the hearing room Interest Aroused 1 Particular interest was aroused by MT 1 Mellens account of his conference with
 then President Roosevelt respecting the acquisition of the Boston and l Maine He explained that he was a great admier of Colonel Roosevelt. and 1 Frequently conferred with him about im- | portant questions. Colonel Roosevelt said l to him at that conference, according to I the testimony. that he was not a lawyer l and was not prepared to advise what he | should do about the proposed purchase. but on Mir. Mellen's statement of the sit-
 nation. he though there might be nothing 1 objectionable in it. Mir. Mellen added 1 that the President said lie could coun- tenanco no illegal action in the matter. and suggested that he confer with Com missioner Lane of the interstate com merce commissions From Mir. Lane he said he got no expression of opinion. A letter was submitted by MT. Folk writ ten on May 2i 1907. by Henry W. Whitney to Mellen. suggesting that he say some thing at an early day touching the Bos- ton and Maine matter that "a large |