Evening star., 1914-07-23

raw materials and finished products, sc
that a transportation monopoly there Is
of vast interest to every section Of the
United States. Maps accompanying the
bill show the difference between transpor-
tation conditions of 1893 and 1913. In
the former years they show New England
with nearly dozen competing systems;
in 1913 with the New Haven and the
Central Vermont and Grand Trunk only.
In 1893 the map shows hundreds of town..
and villages IN the five states reached
bv more than one Transportation system:
in 1919 1t gives possibly twenty where
there is competition in TRANSPORTATION.
the rest touched only by the New Haven
or its subsidiaries.
Many Abuses Resulting.
conditions the government alleges, has
led to unreasonable delay In delivering
freight. use OF inferior and unsafe roll
ing stock. the lack of proper signal
systems and safety devices. the destruc-
ton of the autonomy of the units now
combined in making rates. the suppress
sion of competition among these units,
the diversion of freight traffic to the New
Haven company. an effort to increase
freight rates and dilatory and arbitrary
methods In dealing with patrons.
The brief is one of the most compre-
hensive filed by the government In any
49,
preparation almost year ago and has
worked steadily upon 1t much of the time
since 1t goes further than the Depart
ment of Justice proposed TO go III un-
tangling the New Haven in the agree
nent for that purpose made last March
sought in that widely published pact the
bill of today asks that the New Haven
be stripped of its ownership in the New
England railroad. which parallels its IA
NOUS shore line from Boston to New
York and that it he made to give up its
so-called sound steamship lines, the re-
tention of which was under the agree
ment to he left to the interstate COM
merce commission.
Possible Result Of Suit.
If the court takes the view Of the case
presented In the bill the New Haven may
find itself Invested of almost everything
but its line along the Connecticut and
Rhode Island coast between New York
and Boston. with short projections into
the interior of these states.
No mention is made in the bill of the
rights which the state Of Massachusetts
has in the Boston and Maine Company,
but it is believed that Massachusetts will
ask and receive the governments permis-
sion to intervene in the case to preserve
those rights.
Although there was no Indication today
II was understood that the Attorney Cen
eral does not expect the New Haven to
attempt to prolong the case, except pos
sibIy in the matter of the Boston and
Maine. If this is true it probably will
not take the usual three or four years to
reach the Supreme Court and come to
final decision.
Hopes for Peaceful Dissolution.
NEW YORK. July 23.-Despite the de-
cision of the federal government to pro-
ceed with suits against the New York.
New Haven and Hartford railroad COM
pany the directors yet hope that a way
will be found to accomplish the dissoi1-
tion of the system by agreement with
the government. President James H.
Hustis declared in statement last
night
Mr. Hustis asserts that the New Haven
has not refused to carry out the agree
ment reached with the federal authorities
some time ago and points to COM
promise offer made by the committee of
the systems directors in Washington
Monday, under which trustees appointed
by the Attorney General and the Cow
ernor OF Massachusetts would have been
given power to absolutely control the
Boston and Maine. while the rights of
the interested parties were being decided
by the action of the courts or by the
The demand of the government in con-
nectfon with the Boston and Maine stock,
he declares, Is a change in the original
agreement. which would have entaiied on
loss and at the same time Increase enor-
n,ously the difficulty Of reorganization
of the Boston and Maine railroad"
Talks After Conferences.
The statement of Mr.. Hustis was issued
after a series of conferences among the
directors, at which 1t also was decided
10 issue a statement to the stockholders
of the New Haven. This latter state
n1eHt goes over the same ground a.
that covered by Mr.. Hustis, rehearsins
the controversy with the government
file suit against the company, and also
expressing the hope that a way will be
found after the suit is brought, through
negotiation and action of the court, to
carry out the compromise agreement and
thus achieve a result which all parties
earnestly desire
Hustis' Statement.
In his statement President Hustis fur
;ther said:
As evidence of the good faith of the
directors representative committee con-
.sisting of President Hustis, Mr.. cuyler
and Dr Hadiey, accompanied by Mr
Moortield Storey, counsel in these pro-
ceedings. waited on the Attorney General
July 20 and offered to carry through the
settlement In all respects. according to
the agreement. and further, in order to
meet the difficulty which had been
created by the Massachusetts legislature.
the committee Offered to place the control
of the Boston holding company in the
hands of the trustees which had been
selected by the Attorney General and the
Governor OF Massachusetts with full
power to absolutely control the Boston
and Maine railroad until either the
Massachusetts, legislature passed the nee
essary legislation or the rights of the
parties interested were decided by the
federal court In proceedings which the
company offered to expedite in every
way possible.
Hope to Avoid Loss.
In making this offer the committee
did everything possible to avoid hostile