The Manning times. [volume] (Manning, Clarendon County, S.C.) 1884-current, 1914-06-03
MORGAN WAS BOSS
FNANCIER WAS EVIL GENIUS OF
NEW HAVEN RAILROAD.
Ex-President Mellen Tells How
Eleven Millions of the Roads
Money Was Spent by Morgan.

Money Was Spent by Morgan.
A story of the late j. P. Morgan's
absolute domination in affairs OF the
New Haven railroad, of the spending
of millions in awed and ignorant 81
Ilence at the command of the all-poW-
erful financial ruler was told to the
interstate commerce commission
Tuesday by Charles S. Mellen, form
er president of the New Haven. 1t
was the most extraordinary chapter
yet unfolded in the commissions in
quiry into the alleged exploitation of
the great New England railroad and
disappearance Of fortunes from its
treasury through acquisition at ex-
travagant prices of subsidiaries pro-
perties.
There was not time in a single day
in which to crowd 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 questioning that
will continue. Members of the COM
mission, counsel and interested spec
tators fairly hung on every word OF
Mr.. Mellen as his story developed
dramatically under the examination
/ of Chief Counsel Folk.
Everybody listened with absorbed
attention and at times evident
amazement as ne related how he had
stood in awe Of Mr.. Morgan, because
of his comprehensive grasp and per-
feet pescience Of financial matters;
how he had consulted with Theodore
Roosevelt, then president Of the
United Statese, regarding the pur-
chase of the Boston & Maine rail-
road; how he had prevented the late
II. H. Hartman from acquiring the
Boston & Maine by getting it himself
for the New Haven; and how he had
dealt with the late police inspector,
Thomas F. Byrnes of New York, to
obtain the Westcheste:' stock held by
persons whom he assumed to be con-
nected with Tammany Hall.
AS when on the stand last week,
Mr.. Mellen gave his testimony with
apparent willingness, answering every
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
bruseuely refusing to give him in
formation concerning the Westchester
transaction to which he thought, as
president Of the New Haven, he was
entitled.
When he finally related the Incl
dent, his face was, drawn into hard
lines, and he clasped his hands over
the table in front Of him almost con-
vulsively. His voice indicated no
signs of emotion, however.
Later he even gave the story a
touch Of humor. When Directors
Hemingway and Skinner Of the New
Haven demanded Of him why the
road was expending s11,000,000 ono
the Westchester purchase, he said he
offered to appoint each Of them a
committee of one to find out; that he
had "barked his shins" in futile
endeavor to obtain information from
Mr.. Morgan and that they could try
| it of they desired.
"They ducker," concluded Mr.. Mel
len, grin1ly, and a ripple of appre-
ciatiye laughter ran around the hear
| ing room. Particular interest was
aroused by Mr.. Mellen's account OF
his conference with the then presi-
dent, Col. Roosevelt, respecting the
acquisition of the Boston & Maine:
He explained that he was a great
admirer Of Col. Roosevelt, and fire.
quently conferred with him about i'm
portant questions.
Col. Roosevelt said to him at that
conference, according to the testi-
mony, that he was not lawyer and
! was not prepared to advise him what
to do about the proposed purchase,
but on Mr.. Mellen's statement of the
situation, he said there might be
nothing Objectionable in it. Mr.. Mel
len testified that the president said
that he could countenance no illegal
action in the matter, and suggested
that he confer with Commissioner
Lane Of the interstate commerce COM
mission. From Mr.. Lane, he said, he
got no expression of opinion.
A letter was submitted by Mr..
Folk, written on May q, 1907, by
Henry ". Whitney to Mr.. Mellen.
suggesting that he "say something at
an early day touching the Boston &
Maine matter" that "a large public
is still to be reckoned WITH
ct have th~ught it possible the
Little Father at Washington might
like to get his finger into the pie, in
which case, if it should happen before
the public should become reconciled
to the change, might result in in
finite harm to all your interests
Mr. Folk then offered in evidence the
reply to that letter made the follow
ing day, in which Mr.. Mellen wrote:
'It has been thought advisable by
all concerned that just as little OFF,
cial information should get out to the
newspapers regarding the Boston &
Maine matter as is absolutely neces-
sary. This was agreed upon by Mr..
Ledyard, Mr.. Tuttle and myself. and
we are acting on this theory at the
present time. The washington sit
uation I have, think, completely
cared for. One never knows for |
certainty regarding matters there. but
the ground had been carefully
ploughed and every chance for trou-
bic considered, and, think, success
fully eliminated"