New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1914-05-12
AT Midnight Meeting They
Sort His Letters and
kilograms.
T II. BYRNES BARES
PUBLICITY DEALS
Denies He Signed Voucher for
Money to Influence
Legislation"
IRON mo Tribune Bureau


Washington. May ll.-Fur'her efforts
we're made by the Department OF Justice
today 70 induce the interstate Commerce
commission to halt It's Investigation OF
.be New Haven Railroad. II was learned
81 the Office Of the commission that repre-
sentstives OF tho department had been In
communication the greater part OF the
doy with former Governor Folk. chief
counsel OF the commission. and Commits
sioner McChord endeavoring to persuade
then, that the continuation Of the hearing
would interfere with the Attorney Gen
erals plans.
roth McChord and Folk declined TO com
ply with the request Attorney General
NcReynolds. II was said. has become
greatly displeased with what has taken
Mace and will return from New York
tomorrow to discuss the matter with
Folk and McChord.
charles :. Mellen. former president Of
the New Haven Railroad. arrived to-day
10 testify at the inquiry. At midnight
no was I'm conference with former Gov
sr,or FOLK. counsel for the commission;
lobn w. Grim and examiners for the
commission. who are scrutinizing MS let
tors and other papers which may have
b.o~i,e on the financial transactions OF
the New Haven.
Mr.. Folk declared tonight that he was
going ahead with the Investigation al
though he declined 10 tell why he was
examining Mr.. Mellen's papers before put
ting him on the witness stand. II was
hirted that If all Mr.. Mellen's papers and
letters are read a sensation would be pro-
duced.
The plan with which the present inves-
rgation will interfere, the officials OF the
Department Of Justice declare, is the DIS
solution Of the New Haven system.
The Attorneys Generals representa-
tiyes. IL was understood, have expressed
fear that the calling OF Mr.. Mellen ana
Messrs. Rockefeller Ledyard. Baker ana
Miller. directors Of the New Haven 10
testify at the hearing viii offend theh
10 such an extent that they may not con-
sent TO proceedings in Massachusetts 10
give the Boston Railroad Holding Com
pany authority to dispose of It's Boston
Maine stock.
Under its present charter the holding
company cannot dispose Of the Boston
Maine stock without vote Of the people.
Department Criticised.
The officials of the Department OF Jus
tlce have been in possession for the last
two years of much Of the Information
that is now being brought out at the
hearing. II is understood they were toid
that II they desired to take any action
they had ample time TO do so.
Timothy T. Byrnes. former vice-presi-
dent OF the New Haven Railroad. spent
the greater portion Of to-day on the wit
ness stand. Mr.. Byrnes was politician
Of prominence in tie West before he went
10 Boston with Mr.. Mellen. lie said his
chief activities were to affect public opin-
ion through publicity. lie gave the
names Of Boston newspaper men as being
on his payroll. but declared they were
not paid for reportorial work but for
bringing to him information concerning
the general situation regarding the New
Haven road
Mr.. Byrnes admitted, however, that one
OF these men-George +. Conroy-had
drawn large sums Of money. but had
never written a story which he ccnsid-
cred worth using Mr.. Conroy, he eX-
plalned. was too energetic in his defence
Of the New Haven Railroad. When asked
why he kept MI Conroy on the payroll
ne said.
Why He Kept Conroy.
MIR Conroy was very wise. kept
him for his advice not for the articles
he wrote"
- r.-nar ,lnn raiH hn had snn1n dlf-