The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-11-17
FAITH WITH 7. r..
MELLEN r O TO LOEB
Feared President Thought He Had Gone Too Far After
Interview-Court Bars Some Trolley
Line Evidence.

A ruling Of Judge Hunt with reference
to Connecticut trolleys yesterday may
shut out evidence relating to the New
York. Westchester & Boston Railroad,
regarded as n Of the most sensa-
tIonal features of the Governments case
against the eleven former New Haven
directors now on trial In the United
States Court.
After . morning Of argument, at the
opening Of the afternoon session the
Judge ruled hat only such trolley lines
a. participated In interstate commerce
could bscone part Of the evidence. A
few minutes before adjournment, whom
an effort WAS made to question Charles
8. Mellen about the due bill" road. the
witness surprised representatives OF tho
Government by volunteering tina u was
an entirely ~intrast&te Line. stopping at
the Connecticut border.
Replying to further questions by
Frank N. Swacker. Special Assistant
Attorney-General, the witness said the
New York. Westchester 4 Boston oper-
ated under q New o. State charter
exclusively: that he had never heard
that II was proposed TO extend 1t beyond
the State line. n that he had never
seen any MAPS or surveys showing that
II was to 60 further.
1t was not all one way yesterday,
however. A few minutes before the New
York. Westchester and Boston Incident
X. l.. Bats. special Assistant Attorney
General. had succeeded in reading 60
the jury a letter written by Mr.. Mel
len to William Loeb. Jr.. President
Roosevelt's secretary. on January 81.
lQ0A ~htrh t. ~A~u el~l ~. A.. ",~
ment as going far toward establishing
the contention that the New Haven
knew II was violating the Sherman
ANTITRUST act. This letter went in over
strong objections in which De Lancey
Nicoll charged that the Government
was trying to play politics. Just as 1t
had In indicting the defendants for the
The letter In part was as follows:
Text Of Mellea's Letter.
DEAR Mr.. LOEB: I have called a
meeting Of tho railroad presidents in
New York tomorrow to confer regard
ing the matter I spoke to the President
about. viz. that Of having a conference
with him.. by which the railroad interests
can become more tractable through a
better understanding Of his policy re-
gardinG them.
The President was kind o to
encourage my suggestion that I should
arrang to bring two or three railroad
presidents Of standing In the country
to meet him for the purpose Of a con-
ference. and It Ia for this purpose ] am
arranging h meeting tomorrow. and
as 4 result, shall hope that two or
three Of the more prominent Of the rail-
road presidents-men who are disposed
to take Q reasonable view Of existing
conditions-can make an appointment
with the President for the purpose OF
conference.
There 10 hardly any railroad cor
poration in the country to-day but is
liable to attack under some section OF
the Sherman law. and that is such a
menace that. II It is possible, II is most
desirable that the Presidents great in
fuence shall be exerted to bring about
some amendment OF its provisions that
will insure u reasonable degree Of safety
for the past. even II the provisions con-
tanned therein shall obtain for the future.
and regarding this. II I understand cor
rectly from the various interviews / had
with the President, he Ia not at all