Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-05-29
MElLEN WITNESS
Continued from Page Ore)

counsel for the New Haven road, who
according to Mr.. Mellen knew most
about the transfer of these properties,
did not testify. He agreed to appear
when the suit OF Mrs. Morse and 9TH.
ers is finally brought in the New Jer-
sey courts.
The hearing was a continuation OF
one which had been in progress in
New York for some time. The special
master was Jesse r. Salmon. The di-
rect testimony given by Mr.. Mellen
was for the respondents in this ac-
ton. the Metropolitan Steamship Co.
and the Pacific Navigation Co.
F. J. Faulkes appeared for this side.
The most important part of Mr.. Mel
lens testimony came when he was
cross examined by Martin w. Little
ton for Miss Morse. He was called
upon to describe as closely as recol-
lection served him, the details of con-
versation he had had with Thomas
w. McGovern, who had attempted to
dispose of the assets of the Metro
politan Co. and later with a Captain
Goodal, who wanted to take the two
passenger steamers cto the Pacific
coast and who wanted Mr.. Mellen to
buy some freight steamers.
Then Mr. Littleton led Mr.. Mellen
to give so far as possible details of
the transactions in Boston by which
property of the Metropolitan Steam
ship Co. there now belongs to the
Eastern Steamship Co. Mr.. Mellen
said he did not know how this prop
ertv went to the Maine Steamship,
subsidiary of the New Haven Road
When asked who did know about the
transactions he replied
Mr.. Robbins.
Robbins was general counsel of the
New Haven.
WHO else?" asked Mr.. Littleton.
1.-The Lord only knows" was the
reply.
Between the providence of God and
the wiles of Mr.. Robbins, or vice versa,
can you tell how the Maine Steamship
Co. got the wharves of the Metropolitan
Steamship Co. in Bostong'
II cannot" said Mr.. Mellen. He added
that the records ought to tell the fact
He also remarked to Mr.. Littleton that
he had heard SO much about the Metro
politan's affairs that he was trying to
find out something about them himself.
Mr. Littleton suggested that they pool
their information.
Mr. Littleton asked why the New Eng
land Navigation Co. built the steamers
Old Colony, Bunker Hill and Massachu-
sets, and Mr. Mellen said that primari-
lv they were for freight service. They
could and have been converted for the
passenger service. Each cost about $780,
600. They were not economical In service
and were run at a loss as freight boats.
You could not have continued them
as freight boats?" asked Mr. Littleton.
ooh yes" replied Mr.. Mellen.
Not at a loss?"
"Well. it would have been survival of
the fittest," said Mr.. Mellen. THE New
Haven road would have stood loss the
longest and the Metropolitan Co. was
bound to go under"
"yastly better for the Metropolitan
Line to be out of the way?" asked Mr.,
Littleton.
There was no material advantage to
the New Haven road" replied Mr.. Mel
lem Even if the Yale and Harvard did
go to the Pacific there was not enough
traffic for both lines, nor enough traffic
for even our own boats.
How died the Old Colony, the
Massachusetts and the Bunker Hill
get into the Eastern Steamship Cor
poration?"
Mr.. Mellen said that they belonged
to the Maine Steamship Co, and that
company sold it's property to the
Eastern.
Mr.. Littleton asked what difference
this made.
Mr.. Mellen replied that it made
great deal of difference. The Maine
Steamship Co. itself had direct con-
troll of its property, but when it was
merged into the Eastern it simply
held a minority interest through its
securities.
Arthur E. Clark, secretary of the
New Haven Co, said he knew of no
record of the New Haven Road hav-
ing any securities by purchase or
transfer, of the Metropolitan Steam
ship Co.. the Eastern Securities Co.,
the Chilmark Co, or of several other
companies mentioned. From books he
produced he showed that in Decem-
Der, 1911, the stockholders of the
Maine Steamship Co. voted to sell
their steamers and property to the
Eastern Steamship Corporation. In
the terms of the sale it was provided
that the Eastern Steamship Corpora
ton should secure bond issue by a
mortgage on its steamers. which in
cluded several which had belonged to