New Britain herald., 1915-12-08
M'ADOO APPROVED
 B.& M. ACQUISITION
 BY NEW HAVEN ROAD
Letter Written By Secretary of Treasury in 1907 to Mellen
 Introduced By Defense
SAW NOTHING WRONG IN
 PURCHASE OF RAILROAD

PURCHASE OF RAILROAD Judge Hunt Admits Into Record An nual Report of Massachusetts Con-
 mission Commenting the New Haven Acquisition of New York and New England System-Benefit to Communities Served.
 New York, Dec. S.-William G. McAdoo, secretary of the treasury, saw nothing wrong, while private citizen, Tn the acquisition of the Boston and Maine railroad by the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. His View in the matter was disclosed to- day in the form of a, letter read by the defense at thetrial on the charge of conspiracy to monopolize the trans portation traffic of New England brought by the federal government against former directors of the New Haven road.
 The letter was written by MT. McAdoo to Charles s. Mellen on June
 
 had acquired a majority of the Bos- ton and Maine stock. Mr. McAdoo Congratulated the then New Haven president on the progress that had been made in getting the stock, hoped his plans would be realized, and added that he did not see how "any broad guaged and progressive man can have any other view than that it will be beneficial to New Eng land,'
 Connection With Tunnel.
 MT. McAdoo had at that time pro- posed, Mr. Mellen testified today, that the New Haven build a connection in New York city with the Hudson tun- mel which MT. McAdoo was then en- gagged in constructing.
 The defense also read to the jury of various Massachusetts au- thorities approving the acquisition by the New Haven of the Boston and Maine and other roads, which the gov ernment alleged were acquired in vio- lation of the Sherman law.
 Judge Hunt admitted int othe rec ord today the annual report of the M Massa achusetts railroad commission comending the New Haven's acquisi- tion of the New York and New Eng land railroad. This is the rival road which the government alleges the New Haven forced into receivers hands and bought in.
 The Massachusetts commissions re- port was introduced by the defense as a part of the cross examination of Charles s. Mellen and as bearing on ''The intent of the New Haven di- rectors as regards violating the law.
 Benefit to Communities.
 The report said of the trunk line established by the New Haven had been "of great benefit to the com munities which it served" ~ and that with the utilization of the joint fa- cilities of the New York and New England an opportunity was now af- forded for wider and more efficient public service.'
 Taking up the acquisition of the Central New England railway in 1903, MT. Mellen said the New Haven spent half again as much as it paid for in improvements.
 Important Feeder.
 Tt is now one of the most i'm portant feeders of the New Haven system." he said. Ut would be inn possible for the New Haven to aban- don 1t ana nanule US business Dy other lines.
 That section of it called the Hart ford and Connecticut Western, upon which the government laid stress, was strategically unimportant to the New Haven, MT. Mellen explained, but was taken in as part of the whole line. The Centrl New England's value, he said, lay in it's connection with the New Haven lines over the Poughkeep- sic bridge, over which nearly as much traffic now passed into New England as by way of New York. By use of the Poughkeepsie bridge, he said, the New Haven was able to operate it's Federal Express all the way from Boston to Washington by rail.
 First to Electrify Lines.
 MT. Mellen was asked to describe improvements made on the New Ha- vens shore line. It was the first road, he said to begin the electrific cation of it's lines. He dwelt also on the scheme now being undertaken, to eliminate the car float of the New York connecting railway bridge over the East river to connect with the Pennsylvania railroad tunnels. This would cost $2O,OOO,OOO, he thought. Always, continued the witness, the New Haven had sought to meet the demands for improvements and ''The public cried for Improvements like a child cries for milk-all the time."
 OVERTON YALE CAPTAIN.
 New Haven, Dec. s.-Announce-