The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-05-22

A Yes. Then learned the President
thought / had been too fresh that had
gone further than the interview war
rantcd.
.. Had there been prosecution
started? A. No. not at that time.
.. When was this bill you speak OF
filed by Attorney-Ge General Bonaparte? A.
In 1907. II was after all these inter
views.
Q. Did you endeavor TO have the steam.
ships left out OF tho bil7 A. No,
did not endeavor to do anything Long
before knew there was any bill In con-
temptation my interviews with the Presi-
dent took place.
Mr. Melleh went on to say he had had
three interviews with President Roosevelt.
The first conference was in reference to
steamships; the second In reference to the
Boston and Maine. and the third was
when he came to the White House at the
request OF the late J. p. Morgan and filed
statement with Mr.. Roosevelt. Speak,
ing OF his talks with Mr.. Roosevelt Mr..
Mellen said II told him what was in
contemplation. told him frankly, as I
would have told my Maker
Q. DO you know why the steamship
lines were left out of the bill? A. No, I do
not know why. except, l imagine. Mr..
Roosevelt kept faith with me.
.. What was that faith you are speak
ing Of? A. He said that II did not sell to
Mr.. Morse should experience no trouble
with his administration for any holdings
of steamships. That was the substance
OF II. And l think he acted wisely from
public standpoint. l have always ad-
mired him for his frankness and the way
he kept faith with me.
Q. And this report got up by
Herbert Knox Smith. what was that? A.
That was a memorandum dictated by him
Immediately after the interview. and II
was the only record that had to depend
upon. l was very much exercised that
Mr.. Roosevelt should think that l would
deceive him In any way. II might have
developed into a question OF veracity be-
tween tho President and myself. which
/ should have deplored.
Mr.. smith "MethodicnI."
Q. What would have happened? A.
Nothing would have happened. l think
no thought too much OF me- and thought
too much OF him. Herbert Knox Smith
to his office and transcribed or dictated
what had occurred at this interview.
II was Gods providence that he did, for
was wholly dependent upon what he had
written. learned the fact that he had
memo from Mr. auckland. who was our
representative in Washington at that time.
II was because OF that that [ urged Mr..
auckland to have Mr.. Smith meet me at
the Presidents office and see what he had
written down a result Of this interview.
That cleared the whole matter.
@. SO the steamships did not go into
the bill? A. assumed that was tho rea-
son. I hope II was tho reason. l have
always admired Mr.. Roosevelt, but he was
very hot at the time, no doubt, and you
know he used to get hot once in a while.
I admired him very much that with all
the heat he was under and the pressure
he was under he observed his obligations.
should never have said one word about
Il II he had disregarded them.
Mr. Folk took up with Mr. Meilen the
question of concentration OF railroad con-
troll. Mr.. Melen thought control should
be concentrated In one place.
IT came pretty near doing H." said he,
Ot CObl4 euB6NStci ny
Folk.
Tho cost OF single unit in large
system is not material" replied Mr., Mel
len. ut Is the purchase cost per mile
when completed that you must look at"
There must be control in large units"
added Nc Mellen. 81 think that control
by the Government must come and think
! was working unconsciousy toward that
end. One man power is msnomer. I
had more bosses when I was getting
$50, 900 as president OF the New Haven
than when I was getting $50 as clerk
The higher man goes in this world the
more bosses he has and the more consid-
GRAFTON he has TO give to ibis neighbor,"
what boss do you refer to-"
"You are one OF them" said Mr., Mellen
TO Mr.. Folk Everybody who has au-
thority Is a boss. could not do anything
without consulting directors
Q. The real boss was Morgan. was he