Missouri Valley times. [volume] (Missouri Valley, Iowa) 1874-1931, 1914-05-21
MELLEN RESUMES
UNUSUAL TALE OF
RAILROAD DO|NGS
Tells Of $500, 900 Loan to Has
keII, of Boston-Com-
mittee Approved
the Deal.
HEARING MAY BE LENGTHY
Folk Is Anxious to Learn About
Trolley Lines-Witness Re-
mains Cheerful Dur
ing Hearing.
HEARING MAY BE LENGTHY

Washington. May 21.-lnterest in the
| remarkable story being related to the
Interstate Commerce commission by
Charles Mellen former president of the
New York, New Haven & Hartford
| railroad showed no abatement when Mr..
Mellen resumed his testimony.
! Mr. Mellen accompanied by his coun-
sci ]. W. H. Grim. seated himself at
the left of the stand from which he has
| been giving his testimony and chatted
pleasantly with several persons who
greeted him. He showed no signs OF
| fatigue from his prolonged effort of
yesterday. How long he may continue
on the witness stand 1t was Impossible
to foretell.
Chief Counsel Folk said as he entered
the hearing room that it was the expec-
tation Mr.. Mellen would be on the
stand throughout the day and perhaps
longer.
We have not vet gone into the
matter of the acquisition by the New
Haven of the Rhode Island & Con-
necticut trolley lines We should be
glad to have some Information concern
ing those transactions"
The proceedings again We're slow in
getting under way 1t was 1925 when
Mr.. Mellen finally took the stand. after
few minutes conference with his
counsel. He was not quite as pale as
on yesterday. Commissioners McChord
and Daniels We're at the commission
table.
When was a loan of $500, 900 made to
Haskell of the Boston Herald?". began
Mr. Folk.
1.-Two years or more before notes of
Haskell We're sold to Mr.. Billiard" Mr.
Melen replied
Asked to explain the transaction hn
said:
II had known Mr.. Haskell som.
years and [ laid the case before the fl
nance committee and they agreed to the
loan"
Was the fact that he was owner of
| the Boston Herald AN inducement to
| make the loan?" Mr.. Folk asked
1t was certainly not bad induce
ment."
| What was pending in the Massachu-
| setts legislature at the time of the loan
| to Haskell?"
There was always something pend
| ing in the Massachusetts legislature. .
ibid YOU have anything to do with
| the reorganization Of the Boston Her
aid Z" asked Mr. Folk
II attended Il meeting at which the
reorga nfzation OF the Herald was con
sidered. was there merely as an OBJ
| server"
| Mr. Folk turned to the Boston ROLL
road holding company bill. which Gov
ernor Draper advocated. Mr.. Mellen
! testl1led copies OF the bill had been sent
him by Mr.. Choate. or Mr. Byrnes
| That is Timothy F. Byrnes. vice
president of the New Haven and puh.
licfty man" said Mr.. Folk.
| Railroads and Publicity.
| No man can be in the railroad busi.
ness nowadays and not get publicity
\ sometimes he gets too much"
Did you retain Mr.. Choate to draf
this bill?"
MY Choate was our registered legis.
latlve agent. The main trouble owe
the railroad situation in New England
was the trolley question. IIverybod,
4 seemed opposed to the railroad owner
4 ship of trollcys. | felt an enljghtene.
| public opinion would favor railroa,
1 ownership of troleys"
Did you spend 100000 in enlight
1 enin2 public sentiment"
II know nothing of that kind
4 Mir. Mellen said that he knew littl
| of the details of the work of Vice pres
dent Byrnes
Did he spend money to infLlenc
legislation?" asked MIR. Folk.
II am sure not said the witness.
4 We're u large number of newspaper
1 carried on the pay roll of the Ney
4 Haven?" asked Mr. Folk
II never heard of a large number o
/ newspapers on our pay roll"
4 Did you know the Boston Republi
published advertisements and then sen
the bill to the New Haven"
4 YES"
did the fact that Mayor I'itzgeralc
was the owner of the publication hav'
anything to do with ths?'
1T certainly was not an obstacle"
T. Mr.. Folk read the minutes of a meet
ing of the directors of the New Havel
held in October 1909 at which con
tract with John l.. Billiard regardin,
the transaction in l09.94s shares o
Il Boston & Maine was ordered approved
MIR. Billiard, in previous testimony wa
! said to have made $2.750,000 out of tn
transaction.
Mr.. Mellen said a part Of the min
utes which made appear that the Mes
Haven had made profit of 81 1,649,22
was incorrect. but that Il clause To tn
commission was correct
The total investment OF the Boston 4
Maine in the Worcester was $7,y25, ,OO(
Mr.. Folk showed.
when Mr.. Morgan told you he ha
bought the stock OF the Worcester roa
at 1865 from the Mutual Life Insuranc
company. what did you say?"
Il think said: Jerusalem or some
thing like that"
why didn't you demonstrate wit
him?"
II did not think this was the way t
approach MI. Morgan"
Were you afraid to remonstrat
with him."
1T was not question of bein
afraid. ! had greater faith in his judg
meN than ! had in my own
Was Mr. Morgan's master mind i
New Haven matters?"
"His was the master mind prctt
nearly everywhere that Mr.. Morgan
was"
Attendance at the afternoon scssio
OF the inquiry dwindled perceptibly.