The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-01-09
New Haven Will Ask I.
C. C. for Right to Hold
Steamship Lines.
ELLIOTT TO MEET
DIRECTORS TO-DAY
Chairman Still Hopeful That De.
partment of Justice Will Agree
to Such Plans for Reor-
ganization as Road
Officials Believe
Are Practicable.

washington, January o'-Atter an
other day of conference with Attorney
General alcReynolds, Chairman Howard
Elliott, OF the New Haven Railroad.
left Washington tonight to meet his
directors IN New York tomorrow. still
hopeful that the Department OF Justice
will agree to suoh plans for reor-
ganixntion Of tho road as It's officials
believe arc practicable. Mr.. Elliott
Is expected 20 return to Wa ashington on
Saturday or Monday, when. II Is oe-
Iieved. the Attorney-Genernl and his
assistants will press the whole New
Haven "case'' to some conclusion. either
the peaceful ono OF reorganization or
to a dissolution suit In court.
with the announcement to-day that
tho Now Haven had taken the frst step
TO bring before the Interstate Com
merce Commission the question OF us
retent,on of competing steamship lines.
I, was said, one difficulty had been
removed from the path of. the negotia-
tors. The principal point In contro-
yerav when Mr.. Elliott left was under-
stood to be the disposition of the New
Iavcn's trolley line,
To Attention of I. c. G.
Thc NV Haven brought tho matter
Of its ownership OF competing steam =
SHIN lines to the attention or the
Commerce Commission, in compliance
With the Panama Canal act OF 1917.
That act prohibited after July !. 1914.
any ownership or interest by railroad
or other common carrier in any com
mon carrier by water when the rail-
road does or may. compete.w VAIN @ sucil
water carrier In ansapendmen en- t,gs : rs 9
determine questions of fact as to COM
petition. and was authorized TO extend
bcvond July l the time in which q
railroad may continue the operation OF
steamship lines, where such service
lis of advantage to the convenience
and commerce OF the people"
The New Havens application asks
permission for continuance on the
ground that rates are lower on the
rail and water routes maintained than
on tho all-rail routes. 1t declares the
continuance Is OF advantage 10 the con
venfence and commerce of the people.
Under this application the New
Haven undoubtedly will be granted an
opportunity TO argue tho jnstness OF
its claim. No date has been set to-
night for a hearing.
NO Binding Effect.
Il was pointed out tonight. how
ever, that although this step by the
New Haven has put the matter Of
steamship line ownership before the
commission. II has no binding effect
upon the Department of Justice. The
department Is not negotiating with
The New Haven over vne Panama Canal
act. but tho Sherman law. and If II
feels the ownership OF steamship lines
is in restraint of trade, IL can adopt
its own method OF procedure.
Mr. Elliott, both before the commits
sion and in his conference with the
Attorney. General, held that tho Fall
River line Is not competing line, but
that through It better service can be
rendered and lower freight rates
granted.
The list of subsidiary corporations
engaged in water traffic shown by this
petition, indicates the character OF
the system the New Haven Road has
built UP. These are: The Fall River
Line, tho New Bedford Line. New Lon
don Line. New Haven Line, Bridgeport
Line, Rockland Line, Newport and
Wexford Line, the Merchants Line
the Bay State Line, Marthas Vineyard
and Nantucket Steamboat Limo. the
Merchants and Miners Transportation
Company, Boston and Portland Line
Kennebec Line. Bangor Line, Interna-
tlonal Limo, Portland and RocFland
line, Portland and Booth Bay Line
Both and Booth Bay Line. Mount Desert
and Blue Hills Line the Frontier Line
metropolitan Steamship Lines, the
Maine Steamship Line and the Var
mouth Line