The Washington herald., 1917-12-14
ELLIOTT PLAN
{ now ADOPTED
Holland Calls Attention to Odd
Reversal of Federal Attitude
Toward New Haven.

Howard Elliott. who is a member OF
the railway war board in Washing
ton. must view somewhat reflectiyely
snd probably with qualification the
recent appointment Of a committee 9f
I've highly competent railway mani
ayers In New England whose busi-
Gess It Is to secure the unification OF
the New England railway lines and
to perfect as far as possible the CO.
ordination OF these lines so that there
may be an adequate method Of trans
portation throughout New England.
Mr.. Elliott only a few years ago,
while serving as president Of the New
Haven Railroad Company. thought 1t
the better part to seek conferences
with the Department of Justice at
Washington with a view to secure II
possible some compromise whereby
something of the New Haven Railway
system could be saved. There were
several conferences and at last an
agreement was reached whereby the
litigation brought by the Department
d Justice to dissolve the system was
aoandoned. President Elliott accept
ed for the New Haven Railroad Com
pany the demands Of the Department
df Justice. This resulted In tearing
the New Haven Railroad into pieces
and only recently an order OF court
has been obtained permitting certain
trustees, who were authorized to sell
the steamboat properties Of the New
Haven Company. to postpone the sale
Until some time next year.
Now precisely what the Department
OF Justice Rt. Washington undertook
10, secure. either by decision of court
kr by agreement with President Ell
Nott. five Of the leading railroad trans
portation managers OF New England.
Gcting as a committe, are, with the
Concurrence Of the government, un-
dertaking to do. This committee pur-
poses the unification and co-ordina-
tiOn Of all the railroad lines east OF
Troy, N. Y, and south Of the Ca
madam boundary.
In this unexpected and somewhat
qpeer way the Washington authorities
not only permit. but probably indirect
ly compel, the railway leaders Of New
England to do something which the
Department of Justice a few years ago
brought suit in order to destroy
namely. unification and coordination
It the railroad systems Of New Eng
and.
President EIIIott's View.
When Mr.. Elliott resigned the presi-
= sncy Of the Northern Pacific Railroad
'onpany so that he might accept the
i'yitation Of the directors OF the New
'taven Railroad Company to become
resident Of that company, he had
al. 1~dy studied the New England
Hrience as president OF the New
''Hven confirmed the views he had
'I''en respecting the real economic
'nportance Of railway unification and
coordination in New England. He
4 20 convinced that 1t was to the best
' i:srest OF New England. of her many
hdustries. and reciprocally to the best
! 1tcrest of other parts of the country.
'stYecn which and New England
'Iade Of enormous proportions had
ZEN established. that the New Eng
nd railroad systems should be CO.
crdtnated.
That however. was not exclusively
PRESIDENT Elliott's view. It was chief
". IL not entirely, the view which
prompted the late ]. P. Morgan to
advise unffication and coordination of
the railways of New England, as far
- 1t was possible to be done. so that
a single system could be established.
There were accusations OF poor man.
? cement. and Of unnecessary extrava-
Nrnee on the part OF some of those
VINO were undertaking this uniication