The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-03
GRAND TRUNK
DEAL DESPITE
MORGAN'S WISH
Mcllen Says He Prepared
Agreement Against FL
nancicr's Desire.
RHODE ISLAND TAXES
BASIS OF THE FIGHT

Tinted states District Court yesterday
that he calmly disregardcd the will Of
the late J. J.. Morgan when no pre-
l,arcI , traffic agreement viii the Grand
Trunk railroad.
Tie testimony came toward Tho close
Of the afternoon session OF the case OF
the eleven former directors of the New
Haven, Enlarged with having conspired
to ~monopolize tho transportation facili-
ties II New England. 1t related to a
meeting held at the Grand Central sta
lion IN october. 1912, Of Mr.. Mel
On, r. J. Chamberlin. president OF the
Grand Trunk Mr.. Morgan. Albert Smith
.rs. chairman of tho Grand Trunk
board, and r.. c. Smith. x-Governor oi
Vermont, now president OF the Central
Vermont Railroad.
SLr. Morgan made q speech at the
opening OF the meeting, the longest, Mr..
Mellen said. he had over heard the fnan-
c,er deliver. II was to tho effect that
unless the Grand Trunk was prepared
TO turn over tho lease of tho New
London and Northern Railroad. held by
the Central Vermont. controlled in turn
b. the Grand Trunk, he, Mr.. Morgan. aid
10 SEQ any use IN negotiating at all.
After the departure OF the %finanCier.
Mr.. Mellen testified. he turned to the
two Grand Trunk officials with tho
statement that II they were ready to
proceed on the theory hat the New
Haven did not want either the Centrai
Vermont or tho New London and Nor
thorn the meeting could proceed. He ex-
dressed the opinion that Mr.. Moran
did not understand the difficulties in
the way Of the thing he was discussing
and tins tho New Haven did not want
either road"
Believed Grand Trunk Blu0ng.
Mr.. Mellcn testified that he believed
that the Grand Trunk was bluffing
much OF the time. but that they pu, up
some wonderful bluffs. II all hinged,
according 20 his idea, on the determine
t.on OF the Grand Trunk to force n
-raffc agreement with the New Haven
more favorable that that railroad wished
70 give. Therefore. the Grand Trunk
prepared TO invade New England az
far as Providence and connect with a
steamboat line as far Us New York
city.
The fighting lasted so long IA Charles
VI. Hays. second vice president OF the
Grand Trunk. lived. and II ended prac-
;i'ally the night Mr.. Hays lost his life
on The Titanic in April. 1912. How
ever. At one meeting Lewis Cass Leiyard
agreed that the Grand Trunk might
'lUl % direct route into New York over
ne ontario and Western, as part OF a
conprom.se. II is argued that his
shows distinctly that the New Haven
"nuli N,- have been after IL monopoly
20 10. taat.
T"st!;yiu, ABOUT the 1910 Interview
Mr.. Mcllcn said Mr.. Hays expressed hi,
willingness 10 transfer the lease of the
New London and Northern from tbs
',.,r.' Vermont to the New Haven pro.
V.lrJ tie Grand Trunk could get an en-,
trace mo New York city by way 81 tn,
p.,t"iO "a / Western. NJ. L.edyard ga V.
"lt ~ ais opinion, according to the wit.
lrsS. Wat this might De dono by ar
arrangement with the New York Central
The New York Contra expressed /;
Willingness 70 agree" continued the Wit
Hess. " but shortly afterward Mr.. Hay!
eimc out with tho announcement that h,
vas going to build the line into Provi
,cuce. We never saw him again.
There was no doubt that the New
Haven for a time went into battle 4
prevent tho Grand Trunk from gettini
dow 10 Rhole Island. The witness
said that one OF the rea for thi
opposition was that the Grand Trunl
proposed 70 eliminate all grade cross
ings and 20 utilize some OF the Ney
IIaven facilities az Providence. "Tha
would have imposed a heavy taxatioI
burden on property, and the New Have
.s a large owner would have been force
to share the burden.