The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1915-12-09
NEW HAVEN SHOWS
APPROVALB By US.
sFrom President Down." Says
Mellen. Alleged Conspiracy
Was Approved.
KcADOO AS "TEG FULLER"

more recommendation. the report OF a
commissioner or Of a commission. the
20. X" of m Attorney General Of the
United States or of a State. the approval
OF . high public man. Charles r. Choats
yesterday continued to establish tho Jus
.inca.ion Of tho eleven New Haven d.
rsctors on trial charged with oonspiring
10 monopolize the transportation facili.
ties Of New England.
He proceeded with the AID OF the
memory Of Charles 3. MeIlen, techni-
oally under cross-examination. but in
Wealthy establishing and developing the
defence OF the men confronting the jury
in the United states District Court. Be-
fore the day ended theee facts, regarded
~ the most important 80 far brought
out on behalf Of the men On trial. had
been established:
Secretary of the Treasury william
Gibbs McAdoo. then a private citizen.
wrote to Mr.. Mellen In 1907 congratu-
lAting him on the prospects for the ac-
QUESTION OF the Boston and Maine Rail-
road, calling his attention TO a Sun
EDITORIAL. which was not entirely iauda.
tory OF the efforts OF some of the dis
-insuiehed New Englanders who were
sndeavor!ng to 'nterpose distractions to
che deal. Before that Franklin X. Lane.
then Interstate Commerce Commits
sioner. now Secretary OF the Interior,
had approved the deal. which marshals
he men of the Roosevelt, Taft and in
directly tho Wilson Administrations on
III side of the railroad.
Acknowledgement Wickersham In his
annual report for 1909, announcing that
he had WI the suits against the
New Haven and the Boston and Maine
brought by Charlie J. Bonaparte, set
forth that after an Investigation he was
convinced that neither one had violated
the law. Promptly Charles r. Choate
exhibited a map and got from Mr.. Mel
len that with the exception OF about
three minor trolley roads everything
OF which the Government now COM
plains had been acquired before that
time. the Grand Trunk excepted. That
deal was never completed.
One of the plans in the acquisition Of
ne Boston n Maine, according TO Mr..
Melien. was the establishment. OF a mill
tary base railroad from New York,
through New England to the Canadian
border, whereby aid might be rushed to
every point OF New England from n
paft OF the country.
Have Subject AZ FSnsers' Ends.
Somebody called II legal hypnosis the
way Mr.. Choate and Mr.. Mellen got
that McAdoo letter before the jury yes
tsrday.' The lawyer and his witness
ne 10 cross-examining so thoroughly
Know what they are talking about tina
the1r questions and answers come in n
steady stream without a ripple. Be-
tween them a most complex subject is
incoming untangled so that their listen
erV get an idea of what II was all
about. Objections are few and only
occasional smiles show that every one
10 following closely.
Mr.. Choate, questioning Mr.. Mellen
about steps taken by him n his direc-
tors before going into the Boston ana
Maine deal. asked whether Il was the
result of a conspiracy.
There was never a conspiracy" said
the witness, one days oubles beget
another day, emergency and we acted
accordingly, My directors ordered me 10
obtain the advice and approval of every
body necessary or the subject and I
did. from the President Of the United
States down the line"
Then the witness ratified or Cover
nors, legislative acts, commissions n
commissioners.
enato Lodge of Massachusetts,, ne
recalled, WAS me and then there was
one approval from "a Mr.. McAdoo."
II show you the photograph of a
letter" said Mr.. Choate. 'is that the one
you received
Gets Meade" Letter In.
1T was"; and Mr.. Choats promptly
offered II in evidence. 1t was admitted
without objection and Mr.. Choate read
az follows:
JANuARY I, 1907.
DEAR Mn. MELIEN; You have no
NJ read the editorial In THE SUN
Of to-day, but for fear II may have
escaped you. I enclose II. This Is too
good for you 10 miss. ! am afraid
there Is more truth than poetry IN
THE SUNS brilliant satire. but there
are, 1 am glad to say. a few e!gns
Of returning eanity on the part Of
public officials, az. FOR instance, Gov.
Hushes's veto Of the two cent per
mile railroad faro bill. am snough
NJ an opt!mist to believe nat the
country will. sooner or later (al-
though later I fear than %sooner), real
ize that the leadership OF the Phar-
sees, who have been In control for
some time. Is not the unmixed bless
ing that so many now believe Il 70 be.
congratulate you on the progress
YOU are making toward the acquis-
'tion Of the Boston and Maine, and
hope that your plans may be real
ized. do not see how any broad
Gauged and progressive man can take
any other view than that II will be
beneficial to New England. I recall
our conversation on this subject a
few months ago.
Who is Mr. McAdoo?" asked Mr..
Choate.
Il believe he is now Secretary Of the
Treasury" answered Mr.. Mellen. He
WIS then the head of the Hudson tubes.
rhe witness said that Mr.. McAdoo
wanted the New Haven TO build an
extension 10 connect with the tube al
'Thirty-third street and he wanted Mr.
NIcAdoo TO extend the tube to the Grand
central.
zone was trying 20 pull the leg OF the
other. and neither succeeded" said the
witness, Then Mr., Choate offered TIL
Sun editorial which had considerable
run with some prominent fellow towns
men in Boston. but just then r. l.. Bats
and Frank 81. Swacker came out OF
the spell and demanded to know VIVA,
was meant by it all,
"r would have excluded the evidence
- you had objected" said Judge Hunt
They finally relegated the editorial for
private consumption,
More ApprovaIs Cited.
More official approvals were read for
various acts and when the Rutland
Railroad deal came up there was the de-
o!sion OF the Public Service Commits.