Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-11-13
Intent Of Sen. Weeks
Monopoly onShipping
Alleged Attitude of New
Haven Railroad Dr.
rectors When Approx
al Is Said to Have
Been Granite d At
tempt to Control Mer-
ch a n t & NJ in er S
Transportation Co.

New York, Nov. Ian alleged act
Of intent 70 monopolize, committed
within the three-year period Of the
statute 0. linitations by former direc-
tors Of the New York, New Haven &
Hartford Railroad, i Of whom are now
on trial charged with criminal viola
tion OF the Sherman law was described
to the jury today. The testimony ad-
duced 10 prove il marked the second
time thus far during the trial that the
Government case has entered this vi
tai period.
open Control" propositio
The alleged offense consisted of the
approval by the board Of directors in
1912, Of q proposition TO acquire open
control" Of the Merchants and Miners
Transportation Co, and to establish a
freight line from Boston to Galveston
and through the Panama canal when
il should be completed. While il was
shown that the proposition was never
carried into effect because Of the pass
age Of legislation by Congress forbid
ding railroads to own steamship lines
using the Panama canal, the govern
rents purpose in Introducing the tes-
timo1y was to show that the intent TO
monopollze the transportation traffic Of
New England nevertheless existed All
the defendants. except Lewis Cass Led
yard and Edward D. Robbins, were re-
corded as present at the meeting at
which the vote was taken. and CORE
sponoence read into the record appear
I'd 10 indicate that Ledyard and Rob
bins were cognizant of the scheme. The
defense on the other hand plans TO show
that the contemplated line was a bene-
fit 10 the people Of New England and
was proposed 10 be established in re-
Spouse to demand for such service.
a letter written by Charles S. Meflen
proposing to the chairman Of the Mer
chants & Miners Co, that the New Ha-
ven Openly assume control as a ma
jority stakeholder" expressed the op.n-
ion that the suggested service would
probably have to be run at loss, hut
that he felt that on account Of the
strong movement on foot in Boston
the interest OF the New Haven might
require il TO assist in the proposition.
Interest Acquired
The Government led UP to this sub
ject, by introducing documentary tes-
timony by which il appeared that IN
100. the New Haven acquired an in
terest in the Merchants & Miners. very
soon after Theodore Roosevelt had Civ
en- Mellen assurances as testified by
MeIlen. that no federal action would
be taken against the road during his
administration should the New Haven
reject the s2o,to0.0o0 offer by Charles
W Morse for all the New Haven water
lines. Meilen had. in spite of the as
su-ance, Wged the acceptance Of the
offer, but was out=voted by the board,
he testified today. the late J. ?. Nor
gan being the first to cast his vote
against it The Merchants and Miners
and the Boston & Philadelphia or Wind
sor Line were two concerns which Mel
len in an earlier memorandum 10 the
board had advised should be acquired
TO strengthen the New Haven against
the Morse competition.
The Windsor Line, according 10 to-
DAYS testimony. was first acquired, and
with the exception Of some wharf prop
critics in Providence, which Mellen de-
scribed as important for the New Ha-
ven to own, was then merged with the
Merchant and Miners under voting
trust arrangement, whereby the New
Haven was able to swing a fifty per
cent interest il that company and put
its representatives on its board Of di-
rectors The story Of this transaction
completed, the government then swung
into what may prove one Of the most
interesting phases of the trial-the col
lapse Of the Morse enterprises after
the panic of 1907 and the devious trans
actions by which, il is alleged. Edward
D Robbins, general counsel Of the
New Haven got possession Of two Of
and had them transferred TO the Pa
cific coast.
The story got little further today
than q recital by letters written to and
by Mellen of the fact that early in
1908. Morse offered the two ships TO the
New Haven and that his offer was re-
jected. In 1909 Edgar Van Etten of
Los Angeles, Calf. wrote to Mellen
that Pacific coast interests were in IA
vor Of purchasing the two ships. to
which Mellen replied. suggesting per-
sons with whom he might deal.
The boats at this time were in the
hands of the receivers OF the Metro
politan Steamship Co., the Morse Line
Other witnesses will be called to COM
fore Mr.. Mellen has finished his testi-