The Birmingham age-herald., 1914-07-23

violation of the sherman law the Boston and Maine system itself may hereafter be subject to proceedings for the disso- lution at least of those sparts of the system which were brought into it's con- trol after the present federal laws were put upon the statute books.
 The New Haven and Its Subsidiaries Probably a question of much greater consequence will be raised in case the government brings proceedings in equity to dissolve the relation between the New Haven and the Boston and Maine and in case the courts find that relation in violation of the federal statutes In the report made a few days ago by the interstate commerce commission to the senate setting forth many features Of the New Haven management which in it's opinion justified severe criticism, and possibly something worse, 1t was also said that the New Haven is now a spien- did property. The intimation made lD the commission Is clear that the New Haven has great inherent values in it and that Wise management. combined with con stant improvement of it's physical condi- tions, should bring about benefits both to the railroad itself and to industrial New England
 Yet should the colrts find that the New Haven's control of the Boston and
 hdiffc IS III NitldtlOil Dl tut oHcIiiin Id ana must therefore be ended, it would seem to be inevitable that, relying upon this decision, there be supplementary pro- ceedings in equity for the purpose of talk ing from the New Haven its control of otEer railroad systems either by lease or by purchase and absorption.
 One great factor in .he improvement of the New Haven system so that it has become what the interstate commerce commission calls a really valuable prop erty is to be found in its purchase and absorption of what used to be known as the New York and New England railroad company.
 This company has one of the most TO- mantle, even tragic, histories, which 1t would be possible to write about any rail- road of the United States. It was con ceived many years ago. Its promoters planned the construction of a railroad which by means of a ferry across the Hud- son river at Fishkill would make connee- tion with the Erie railroad then the great trunk line between the lakes and the At lsntic seaboard This railroad was so planned that when built 1t would run from Fishkill across eastern New York, II iddle Connecticut and thence to Bos- ton.
 At that time the New Haven railroad was only 6S miles in length one terminal was at New Haven and the other at it's Junction with the Harlem railroad at the northern boundary of New York city. Originally this railroad vas called the Boston. Hartford and Erie. Very able men planned it, and they wera wise enough to secure unsurpassed terminals at Boston. It became the football of spec ulators, manipulators and wreckers. It was always a very disturbing element In the railroad situation of southern New England. It was a competitor for western trr.f FtA xr<ft ttx tt.1 -I 1lxx.x. which it practically paralleled. After the New Haven railroad expansion began, under William P. Bishop. in 1S72-a policy of expansion which MT Morgan and MT. Rockefeller tried to carry to it's logical cunclusion-this railroad across Connecti- cut and southwestern Massachusetts be- came true competitor of the New Haven. At one time the late Archibald Mcleod of the Reading secured control of it with intent to make it link of his Reading system. )
 Its manager devised all sorts of plans for competing with the New Haven, in cluding, among other things, a railroad ferry across Long Island sound. It was constantly an irritating and disturbing clement not alone to the New England railroads, but the business interests of New England. At last the New Haven railroad bought it and absorbed 1t, and this was done after the Sherman law was enacted and done also under the eyes of the interstate commerce commission. So far as the industries of New England were concerned, and the railroad situa- ton as well. the purchase of this line by the New Haven was highly beneficial. That has been constantly acknowledged by business interests.
 If, therefore. the courts should decide that tie purchase by the New Haven of the Boston and Maine system is in vio- lation of the federal statutes the next step must inevitably, in the opinion of many of those who have taken careful heed of the circumstances, be proceedings which will compel the New Haven rail- road to part with the New York and New England lines. for that line is, in the best meaning of the term, truly competi- tive, and it practically parallels the main line of the New Haven from Boston and eastern New England to the Hudson river.
 Therefore. it does seen to some of those who have been closely observing the st- uation as though 1t may be best to obtain from the supreme court at Washington judicial interpretation respecting the le- gality of the New Haven's control of the Boston and Maine. Should the supreme court deny the claims of the government, then the New Haven company will have no cLpi ehensfon about It's other properties Should the supreme court sustain the government, the New Haven must be ready to meet additional litigation