Norwich bulletin., 1915-10-26
LETTERS w EVIDENCE AT
NEW. HAVEN DIRECTORS, TRIAL
Showing Efforts Made 20 Monopolize
New EnsIand's Transportation Trsf-

N lew HAVEN DfHESiO ro' Y RIAL
Showing Efforts Made 10 Monopolize
New EnsIand's transportation Trsf-
nc.
New York, Oct. 25.-Letters to and
from Charles S. Mellen. which he iden-
tilted for the jury today in the trial
OF the eleven present and former d.
rectors Of the New York. New Haven
and Hartford railroad on the charge
Of monopoIizing New England's trans-
portation trafac, furnished written
evidence of the steps taken by theI
New Haven road TO crush its princi-
pal competitor. the New York and |
New England Railroad company.
The letters, dating back to 1898 ard i
1894 set forth the action taken by /
the New Haven TO require the prepay |
ment of freight charges by the New
England on traffic interchanged be-
tween the two roads at connecting |
points and the steps taken 10 induce
| the trunk line railroads outside OF New
England TO route their traffic over the |
New Haven instead OF over the New
England road. which had connected
with them by way Of the Poughkeep-
sic bridge over the Hudson river.
"Our bitterest antagonist was the
lappellation given to the New England.
! in one letter Mr.. Mellen wrote TO
Charles p. Clark, president of the New
/ Haven in discussing the question OF
getting from the Jersey Central the
| Reading. the Lehigh Valley and the
Baltimore and Ohio. Mr.. Nellen was
then second vice president in charge
Of traffic.
~Your whole intention seems TO be
TO drive us out of business If you
tcan,'' wrote H c. Randolph, general
! traffic manager OF the New. England.
10 Mr.. Meiien. in protesting agnins,
i of freight charges This was at a
time when. the witness had previous
ly testified. the New England's finances
were ION the ragged edge"
II, Mr. Mellen wrote back. December
'l13, 1913. that mo railroad is bound I'M
der any existing law to make joint
rates, billing or divisions with any
other railroad unless 1t finds It Is To-
it's interest to do so. What you air.
4 at is to continue taking business
] or from our local points by absorbir
our arbitrary (rate1 and then exper;
US to. furnish tho necessary capital
or credit 10 help you deprive oir
4 stockholders Of their earnings. You
Il ask us TO advance to you in cash, az
!. local points on our line, well knowing
q that we must give two or three weeks
credit before we can make a collec-
ton"
l.
road was being Disseminated against.
to which the New Haven vice presi-
dent replied that sile might wait and
see whether the rule was not applied
to other roads with which the New
4 Haven connected
, WAS that rule applied to othcr
roads ?" asked Frank L. Swacker. the
examining attorney for the govern
fnent
well, that was so long ago that ]
al ,rlav- Ted 81,
lit IS the governments contention that
, the rule was devised for the sole pur-
. pose of injuring the New England. To
! prove that the New Haven officials had
no other purpose in mind, the govern
. mentf attorney introduced letters, APP
I parently satiricai exchanged between
Mr.. Mellen and c. Peter Clark. general
,, freight agent of the Old Colony and q
. son Of Charles p. Clark. The Old Col
oHy, one of the lines the New Haven
, had already absorbed, connected with
. the New England at Walpole, Mass
Mr.. Mellen wrote that he had no doubt
that Clark could fix up a good letter
: that will draw tears TO the eyes OF
I those who receive II, letting them know
|. that We are only driven to this by dire
|. necessity.
To. this Clark replied that to write
: a. letter would take too much "evi-
dence" but that he would send young
: : Palmer" to see the New England PEG.
: iple. who win reflect our grief at th'
: cruel situation"
Clark explained that young Mr.
:. Palmer had Just come to the Old Col
. ony at a lower salary than he had beer
! receiving at a time when he was jus
: ahouc to have been married. And tn
. POOR fellow has been waiting waiting
: waiting ever since. ] think his mourn
full appearance viii enable him to d
ample justice 10 the sad side Of thi
unfortunate business"
# There, was a broad smile on Mr.. Mel
: lens face while the letters were bein
> read. and he Joined in the laughter tina
q followed.
There surely will be a circus whe
: Clark gets back" wrote Mr.. Mellen {
% a subordinate official in 1894 in regar
i to the business the New England ha
: been recently getting from its trun
: line connections. IF there is one thin
Mr.. Clark won't put up with. it is thi
J. roads not being able to hold its ow
l. with the New England
J. The. New Haven. subsequent letter
T. revealed. had a traffic arrangemeI
NJ with. the Pennsylvania railroad for II
" 1 through freight in and out OF Ne
lg England. and began negotiations wit
the Lehigh Valley. the Jersey Contra
Id the Reading and the Baltimore an
&c Ohio to get their business also. bl
Re only on condition that they shoul
IN cease sending IL by the New Englan
ne roads route. To this 1t was appareI
= III one letter the PENNSYLVANIA prC
1e tested. whereupon Mr.. Mellen wrote
l. Charles p. Clark on Jan. 20, 1894:
This business Is coming in by II
lines of our bitterest antagonist. tt
= Pennsylvania is our favored come,
!" ton first, last and all the time bl
=. we should not be obliged TO foret
- business that helps US. weakens OF
~ antagonist and does no harm to the
e 1.-THE Pennsylvania)."
THE business referred to-" explaint
cl< -