The Sentinel=record., 1914-05-22
COMMISSIONERS ARE NAMED
 FOR LITTLE ROCK HIGHWAY

money as campaign contributions. can explain that" said Mr. Mellen Tt was prepared by Mir Kochersper ger, in charge Of the finances of the New Haven. l wanted to know what had been paid in political contribu tions in other years. That memoran- dunn shows that in the Mckinley cam. Ipaign four years previously. $50,00C had been contributed
 Based on that l made the same con tribution to the campaign of 1906. knew nothing personally of the Me Km'ey contribution. At that sime I was pursuing my peaceful way as president of the Northern Pacific
 Under what circumstances did you leave the New Hayer ''
 q was practically fired" replied Mir. Mellen.
 Mir Mellen testified that a contract was offered him under the terms of which the New Haven was to retain his services ta an unofficial capacity to give advice, etc, for five years at an anuua' salary of $30000
 "Later' he said, two members of the committee that had arranged for my retirement called on me and said the matter of compensation was caus- ing embarrassment and asked me if would relieve them of this. I then practically made them present of the $150, 1000"
 Questioned more in detail as to his salary as president of the New Haven, Mir. Mellen said that at the time of his retirement it was $54,000 a year
 q started at $50oO0," he said. "ald later this was raised to s60,O00. When the sa aries of all employees were cut ten per cent cut myself to $5i,000. p
 He added that he received at the time of his retirement lump sum off $G0.000 from the Boston and Maine, for acting as president of that road three years, and was given in like manner $40.O00 by the Maine Central.
 Mir. Mellen stated that when he be came a director he bought 100 shares Of the New Haven at 195
 What was the value of these shares at the time of your retirement?"
 About par"
 Asked to give the reasons for the demoralization of the road Mir. Mel len said that it was principally due to a large floating debt which was caused in great measure by the West chester transaction, the Boston and Maine purchase, had Investments, the general feeling in New England and the large expense of improvements to the Grand Central station.
 MT Mellen said he attended many of the stockholders meetings and that little interest was shown in the finan- cial transactions of the road by the holders of it's shares,
 Did you have any relations with public officiaIs?' Mir Folk asked
 "T always tried hard to keep away from them. And I want to say there is not so much effort on the part of railroads to have relations with egect- ed officials as there is on the part of those officials to have relations with the railroads. I think if an absolute ly interruptions person were ait the head of a large railroad and had the know edge. ability and wherewithal, he could accomplish almost anything.
 Do you think your salary of s60,- GOO was too much?"
 "Yes, I think $25.0O0 is enough for any railroad president and if he hasn't the ability to live on that he ought to go elsewhere"
 'Why didn't you start that reform yourself?"
 Well, thought I was entitled to what others were getting when I was given the $50.O0O. never asked for the raise to s60,0OO, and even protest ed against it."
 MT. Mellen said he firmly believed that Mir Morgan, had he lived. could have funded the floating debt He de clared that it would take $100,000, GOO to do this.
 'In the Legislative work did you not have agents in different states ?''
 'Yes, we had some"
 The hearing was adjourned until 10 o'clock tomorrow, MT. Folk announc- ing he had only few more questions to put to Mir. Mellen.