The Sentinel=record., 1914-05-20

Washington. May 19.-A story of
 the late J. r Morgans absolute dom
 nation in affairs of the New Haven railroad. of the spending of millions
 in awed and ignorant silence at the
 command of the allpowerfu. finan-
 cial ruIer-was told to the interstate lcommerce commission today by ICharles $. Melen, former president
 of the New York.
 It was the most extraordinary chap ter yet unfolded in the commission's s Iiuquiry into the alleged exp citation
 of the great New England railroad and disappearance of fortunes from it's treasury through acquisition at extrayaeant prices of subsidiary prop critics.
 There was no time in a single day in which to crowd details of all the incidents and events dealt with in the witness testimony He barely touched on some of the big things, paving the way for exhaustive ques- tioning that will continue tomorrow.
 Members Of the commission, conn sel and interested spectators fairly hung on every word of Mr. Mellen today as his story developed dramat- ically under the examination by Chief l Counsel Folk
 Everybody listened with absorbed attentiol and at times evident ama2ement, as he related how he had stood in awe of MT Morgan because of his comprehensive grasp and per feet prescience of financial matters; how he had consulted with Theodore Roosevelt, then president of the United States. regarding the pur- chase of the Boston and Maine rail road how le had prevented the late F. II. Hartman from acquiring the Boston and Maine by getting it him self for the New Haven, and how he had dealt with the late Police h. spector Thomas F. Byrnes, of New York, to obtain the West Chester stock aeld by persons whom he as- stunned to be connected with Tam many Hall
 As when on the stand last week, Mir. Mellen gave his testimony with apparent willingness, answering ev- cry question readily and concisely- that is every question except one. He did try to avoid telling about the time when Mr Morgan humiliated him by refusing to give him informa- .tion concerning the WestcIester transaction to which he thought, as president of the New Haven, he was entitled When he finally related t.e incident his face was drawn into hard lines and he clasped his hands over the table in front of him almost convulsiyely.
 His voice indicated no signs of emo. ton, however, continuing clear dis tinct and resona~
 Later he even gave the story a touch of human. When Directors Hemingway and skinner of the New Haven demanded of him why the road was expending $ll,00O.O00 on the Westchester purchase, he said he of fered to appoint each of them a com mittee of one to find out; that he had parked his shns in futile endeavor to obtain information from MT Morgan and that they could try if they desired
 They tucked" concluded Mir Mel len, grimly, and a ripple of laughter ran around the hearing room.
 Particular interest was aroused by Mir. Mellen's account of his confer ence with the then president Colonel Roosevelt, respecting the acquisition of the Boston and Maine. He explain ed that he was a great admirer of Colonel Roosevelt and frequently con ferred with him about important ques- tions
 Colonel Roosevelt said to him at that conference, according to the tes- timony, that he was not a lawyer and was not prepared to advise what he should do about the proposed pur- GUdHtt bul Olt NlA. 4Nt4l'l . HtttNNiAlNtAt ' il the situation, he thought there might be nothing objectionable in it. Mr. Mel en added that the presi dent said he could countenance no illegal action in the matter and sug- gested that the confer with Commits sioner Lane Of the interstate com merce commission From Mr. Lane, he said. he got no expression of opin. l ion.
 A letter was submitted by Mir Folk, written on May q. 1907. by Henry w. WSimey to MT Mellen, suggesting that he say something at an early day touching the Boston and Maine matter; that "a large public is still to be reCkoned with. !" and concluding with this paragraph: ' "I have thought it possible the Tit.