New Britain herald., 1925-11-21
Federal Judge WinsloW Rules for Modification Of Decree
 Of 1914
FINDS CONDITIONS NOW
 DIFFERENT FROM THEN
Decision of Court Is That Under Ex- isting Conditions Railroad Would Not Be Violating Antitrust Law by Holding Other Stock.

Dy HOlulnS tuner StOCk.
 New York, Nov. 21 Pl-The New York, New Haven & Hartford rail- road today won it's fight for modifi- cation of the decree of 1914 which required it to dlyest itself of its street and suburban railways in New Eng land. Federal Judge Winslow rem dered the decision favorable to the railroad.
 The decision gives the New Haven he right to control the Berkshire stret railway and Vermont railway, the New York and Stamford Railway Co.,. the New England Investment and Security Co. and the Connecti- cut company.
 Judge Winslow said in his decision that revolutionary changes have / taken place in the transportation line since 1914 and held that the railroad would not, under present conditions, bo violating the Sherman antitrust law by holding the stock of the diff trent corporations.
 Bus Plea Denied
 The petition of the Connecticut Motor Stage corporation for modi- iication of the 1914 decree against he operation of buses by the rail- oad was denied, and the petition re- 'rred to the Connecticut public 'jitics commission.
 Judge Winslow's opinion did not '1 with that part of tho 1914 de-
 which required the New York,
 Haven and Hartford to dispose
 holdings in the New England
 rhip corporation. and the New
 ;nd Hartford Steamship com
 Earlier he had indicated his
 "Nt that the jurisdiction of
 'wo steamship lines should be
 in the hands of the interstate &rrco commission.
 Ncf"rring to an affidavit by Pat k Healcy of Waterbury, Conn.,, ,Unsel for motor bus operators of onnecticut and Massachusetts, pro- sting against modification of the nl4 decree, Judge Winslow said that he court was virtually asked in this ffidavit 10 grant q monopoly to this @1up of operators.
 Held in Trust
 The stock in the companies af- .ctcd by today's ruling has been },hl in trust for the New Haven .ncc the decree. according to the rrcurds. The railroad had not re- 'rvcd satisfactory offers for the ., ock. in Judge Winsow's opinion.
 Judge WinsIow's opinion agrees in alOst essentials with decision made " Federal Judge Mayer in 1922, therein the 1914 decree was modi- .ad 10 permit the New Haven to lave five directors on the Boston < Maine railroad board, on the ground that conditions had materially hanged since 1914.
 Earhcr this year the New Haven .ld announced plans for the eX- ,rnsivc operation of bus lines in Massachusetts. Rhode Island, Con- 4octicut and New York.
 New Haven, Nov. 21 Pl-Word las come 10 the executive offices of he New York, New Haven x Hart '0rd railroad today of the decision of Federal Judge Winslow in the ,tction of the company to secure re- urn 10 it of it's former subsidiaries, which included the Connecticut com Dany. but thC scope of that decision nas not known. President Pearson @nd Vice President and General "onnsel E. G. Buckand were not at heir offices and until their return here will he no statements issued. The Connecticut company has been for many years held by trustees appointed by the federal court.
 "Conccrning the Berkshire Street Railway and Vermont Railway" Judge Wlnslow avowed, the record ustiiies the conclusion that there is no substantial competition with the petitioner at the present time so as to constitute a violation of the Sher- man Antitrust act. X trolley serv- ice from door to door cannot be competitive, in a broad sense, with street railway service from station 10 station. l am satisfied that the convenience and necessities of the Massachusetts public require the re- t,ntion of these properties by, and their coordination with the traffic of, the purchaser.
 No purchaser has heen found of these properties. The proper alter native. in the light of present day conditions. is the retention of the property by the petitioner.
 AS 10 the New York and Stam- ford Railway company the court cannot be blind 10 tho most insistent and immediate problem of trans { portation congestion in this terri tory"