The times dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1903-1914, 1914-05-21
LACKED TEMER|TY
TO OPPOSE MORGAN
Neither President nor Directors
Of New Haven Ever Inter
fered With Financier.
AMAZING STORY CONTINUES
Mellen Further Emphasizes Capt.
talist's Dominant Control of
Officials and Properties.


Washington. May 2o-Dominant con-
troll by the late J. Picrpoint Morgan,
not Cnly OF the officials. but OF tho
properties OF the New York. New
Haven and Hartford Railroad, was
further emphasized to-day, when :or-
ner President Charles s. Mcllcn, Of
the New Haven. continued his testi-
snony bcforo the Interstate Commerce
Commission.
Mr.. Meilen admitted frankly that
neither lie nor directors Of tho New
Haven had the temcrity openly TO op-
pOBe MIR. Morgan's plans. although he
said he sometimes disagreed with him
He declared, however that Mr.. Nor
cams Judgment in financial transac-
tions wrs so marvellous that anybody
well might hesitate before running
counter 10 It.
Even In the acquisition by the New
lIaven OF tho Wcstchcstcr property. In
to which millions OF dollars vanished,
Mr.. Mellen, who declared he did not
approve OF the purchase, Insisted that
had Mr.. Morgan lived the property
might have been far more valuable
ihen It is to-day. SO. too. with the
acquisition Of the Worchcstcr. Nashua
and Rochester Railroad, IN which Mr..
Aforgan, MIR. Mcl.n said. rcspon-
sihie for paying So n share more than
the stock really was worth.
DECLARES MORGAS WOULD
BHOOK no INTERFERENCE
As in the Wcstchester transaction.
however. Mr.. Morgan. according to Mr..
Mcllcn. would brook no Interference.
carrying out his plans without regard
20 the opinions OF others who were in
tcrcBtcd.
Acquisition by the New Haven OF
trolley lines In CinDccticut and Rhode
Island occupied much attention a, to-
day'% proceedings. Mr.. Mellcr con
ccdcd that some OF the properties had
been purchased 1T too high price,
but added that they We're worth moro
10 the New Haven "A, the time than To
anybody else. In purchasing the lines,
particularly those in Connecticut he
said he encountered sharp comp.ti-
tIon" from other prospective pur-
chasora and thereby the price was
boosted
v.loperd tina, former United states SEN
atcr Nelson W. Aldrich. Of Rhode Is
land primarily was instrumental In
selling the trolley systcin OF that State
10 thc New Haven.
Mr. Mcllen maintained that trolley
lines acquired hy the New iiievcm. gen
erally speaking, were valuable, and,
while they had cost a large amount. he
believed tho money had been well in
vested.
wss perceptlbly tired. Ills weariness
seemed 10 be purely physical. however.
Ills answers We're prompt and direct.
and hc apparently retained To the full.
ais wonderful powers of memory and
his comprehensive grasp of details
about which he was intcrrogated
MAY CONTINUE As WITNESS
FOR TWO DAYS or LONGER
Chicf Counsel FOLK indicated to-
night that Alr. Mcllen might continue
as a witness for two more days or
even longer.
Mr. Menen ,es,ifyIns to-day TO his
high regard for Mr. Morgan. said
81 90 no; remember his doing sim
gle thing on whc! he made a dollar
in connection with The New Haven
while was president"
Taking up tho consolidation with the
New Haven Of the New England
Steamship Company ana the ConsoIi-
dated Railroad Company, IA $4,000. .O0G
transaction. Mr.. Folk asked If this
transaction wero not TO evade the Con
necticut law that prevented Il railroad
from Increasing its capital stock with
out distributing II TO the stockhold-
crs.
This may have been So" answered
Mr.. Meilen.
80 you did by merger what Won
were prohibited from doing by law?'
asked Mr.. Folk.
Tho merger was approved by law
and we liked the merger PLAN" said
Mr.. Mellcn.
You were getting into tho merger
hubt?'
Just beginning. That was the in
ccption OF II. We went back to the
Connecticut Legislature, and an act
was passed approving OF the merger"
Who represented you before the
LeSislature-Alr. Robbins?" inquired
MIR. Folk.
"l-es. that was before he became gem
eral counsel of the New Haven"
HOHBiNS'S FEE OF SIOO.On0
WAS APPROVED Bl 3II;III,N
Mr. Mellen said he approved the fec
OF 100000 paid Mr.. Robbins for his
legislative work in Connecticut in con-
neciion with the ratification of tho con
solldation charter
Il thought he did good work and
favored paying him the money said
tho witness.
Mr.. Folk. taking up tho purchase
by the New Haven OF the Rhode Is
land trolley system asked II there h.1
not been break In tho negotiations
after they had been begun.
Therc was an interruption Of some
months, possibly almost u year" an
swered Mr.. Mcllcn.
What caused you to resume The ne
Sotiations after they had haltcdqr
"Oh. l had conversations rcgardipn
the matter with Mir. Morgan. MIR. Do
Ian and others
Didn't Senator Nelson w. Aldrich
see you about the matter?"
yes. He called at my home at
Stockbridge and asked me what Che
status of tho negotiations was. told
MIN .that. from my standpoint, l did
not think ! could yield to tho terms
lie said he thought them too sever.
and that he was going to sec Mr. Do
ian. as 1 understood 1t. and 7 presume
ho did. I believe it was the call OF
Mr.. Aldrich on mo at Stocltbridge that
resulted in tho resumption OF tho ne
gotiations but how Important was his
Influence or what action ho took I do
not know"
did the fact that he was n United
states Senator at that time have any
weight with you?" interroEated Mr..
. Folk.
''rhat had no influence with mo in
the matter"
.-nt..n.,. La N las.A 4.a.,.,.-1,