The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1914-05-19
Mellen Says He Held the Finan-
cier in More Awe
Than Any Other Man He Has
Ever known.
HE RESUMES HIS TESTIMONY
Before Interstate Commerce
Commission at Washington
Regarding the Financial Oper-
atiOns of the New Haven.

Washington. May 19.-Charles 5.
Mellen today resumed the story ne
il unfolding before the interstate com
merce commission. concerning inc
vast and complicated financial opera
tions of the New Haven road ana us
variouss subsidiaries. CHIEF Counsel
Folk. for the commission developed
that the dominant part was taken IN
the transaction, by prominent 1ieures
on the board of directors. of the new
Haven road and more particularly the
lot. Pierpont Morgan and VIM.
Rockefeller.
M Mellen told in detail OF MS re-
lotions and his differences with Mr.
Morgan. He also went fully into tne
acquisition of the New 1oin, ~. New
Chastor and Boston road by the NE"
HoTen This brought out further re-
farences to the part taken by the ia.e
DoIice INSPECTOR, Thomas r. ByIhes "
New York, who Mellen testliieu op
ated through the people on Fourteen.n
street, where you hho"
hall is located" h,+
Mr.. Mellen when questioned aDUus
differences with Mr.. Morgan reearulne
the West Chester deal, detahed q IN
yersation with the late aii.si Ilnani;
which he said had greatly huniilde.o
"A
~ conversation because Morgan was
dead. but when pressed for an answer -
10 said that Morgan had asked MIN II
he thought he knew more apou. ~, ~
a report on the west Cnester -
oueht to have been drawn than ne, Mr.
Morgan did. ,r
Were you AFRAID Oh MI NoA
Mr.. Folk asked. a;,.n Mr.
Mellen answered. II held MT. morgan
in more awe than any otner nl@A
ever knew. ,a f,re
If questions with readiness and seem
ing composure and frequently eVokSu
1anrhter by some sally. He was sui
under examination when the noon re-
cess was taken.
Called to the Stand.
Mr.. Mellen was called to the stano
about 1880 o'clock In response "a
how he had become president OF tne
Northern Pacific. Mr.. Morgan 81
Pierpont Morgan. was responsio1e ~
Mr.. Mellen as president OF the Nortn-
ern Pacific. s,a.r+ of
%ba Northern Pacific railway" was the
6rs+ question put to Mr.. Mellen by Gov
ernor Folk.
"Six years."
"How did you become presidents?
was asked Dy D. 1SAOA 60A ~ w
come president, said Mr.. Mellen.
Mel1en then testified that Mr.. Nor
ran called him on the phone and tnat
the conversation was about as 1oilows'
That you. Mr.. Mellen?
Yes
".Can anybody hear?'
".Win you take the Northern Pa
cific presidency?
"Yes.'
Leave all the details to me?'
"'Yes.'"
Nothing Said About Salary.
About two or three weeks later Mr..
Mellen testified. he became president
He did not know when he took the Of
five what the salary would be. He
added that he knew it would be all
right
while you were president of the
Northern Pacific was the matter OF the
New Haven presidency taken up?" Mr..
Folk asked.
Yes. Mr.. Morgan told me he would
make me president Of the New Haven"
"As president of the New Haven.
what were your relations with Mr.
Morgan?"
''Were you Morgan's man?'
1T have been called his office boy in
tho press,'' Mr.. Mellen laughingly re-
what would you say as to the rela-
ticns?'
IT was proud OF his confidence and
pl oud to be called his man. thought
a great deal Of Mr.. Morgan"
Ibid you carry out his policies?"
IT do not know that he had any par
ticular policies
.What was the relative importance
Of the directors as related to Morgan?"
THAT is giving an opinion. We re-
Rarded Morgan as man of ability. ex-
perience and capacity. I recall no case
in which he did not have his way
How many directors shaped the