The Sentinel=record., 1914-04-11
PROBE FINANCIAL
 PLAN OF RAILWAY
INTERSTATE COMMERCE COM. MISSION BALKED IN THE NEW
 HAVEN TRANSACTIONS.
Cannot Get Details of Relations of the Railway and Steamship Company Which It Operated.

Washington. April 10.--Vain efforts were made by the interstate commerce commission at public hearing today to ohtain details of financial transac- lions between the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad and its subsidiary the New England Naviaa- ton Company. and the so-called Bil- lard Company, through which mil lions of dollars are alleged to have been improperly diverted from the New Haven.
 Witness after witness refused point blank to testify to any of the affairs of the Billiard Company or to produce any of the books of records or agree ments said to he in existence con .cerning it's financial transactions.
 Joseph w. Folk, chief counsel for the commission, announced at the close of day of virtually fruitess questioning, that he would institute
 in the supreme court of the District of Columbia lext Monday proceed inas in mandamus to compel the reca'- citrant witnesses to reply to questions put to them and to produce the books, records and contracts called for by the subpoenas of the commission. Fur .ther proceedings were postponed until April 29 by which time it is hoped the courts may have passed on the mandamus proceedings.
 It had been expected that Charles Is. Mellen, former president of tho New Havea and John l., Billiard of the Billiard Company, would testify at today's hearing, which was conducted by the commission by direction of tue senate with a view to disclosing whether the financial transactions of the New Haven under Mir. Mellen's management with the Billiard company had been legal and whetler any sums improperly diverted from the New Haven could be recovered Because the foundation for their testimony could not be laid without the records they were not called upon to testify.
 Attorneys for the commission de clared that they expected 10 show from the books and from certain wit nesses details of the Billiard Com pany's organization, it's financial re- lations with the New Haven and its subsidiaries; that immense profits had been made by certain individuals off ciauy identified with the New Haven and with the Billiard company through unique transactions in finance be- tween the two companies; that much of this money was recoverable 10 the New Haven
 Just what the Billiard company is was not disclosed at todays hearing. No witness except Samuel Warehouse of New Haven would admit that he had any connection with the company either as a stockholder. or as an off cer, though the presumed president, treasurer and some stockholders were on the witness stand
 They declined "by advice of coun. sel' to answer any questions concern ing the affairs of the Billiard Com pany. It was maintained by their counsel that neither the Commission. nor congress had the power to require them to give the information sought.
 Mir Morehouse who said he was the attorney for the Billiard Company was the only exception to the rule. He admitted that he was the Company's attorney; that in looking after the compqny's business,' he had taken from the vaults of the New Haven railroad $10,i0000O of securities which had been kept there by the Billiard company ia fact, that he had cleaned the vault out but said he knew of no contracts between the New Haven and Billiard Company and declined positively to tell anything else concerning the company
 limitations from the counsel for tho witnesses are that the matter may not be settled without d protracted legal battle As one expressed il, this is merely the curtain raised for per fCrmance that will be long continued.
 Walker D. Hines, who appeared as counsel for the present management of the New Haven, assured the com mission that he desired in every way to cooperate with the commission and to facilitate it's inquiry He said the present management of the New Hazea had made an effort to obtain the books and records desired by the commission but had not been success ful