New-York tribune., 1884-02-18
THE ROCK ISLAND CONTEST.
WARM WORDS FROM PRESIDENT CABLE.

R.R. Cable. president of the Chicago, Rock
Island and Pacific Railway, was asked by lhlBuNh re
porter Yesterday II he had any reply 10 ihSAe W "'
criticism by william H. Vanderbilt OF the present
ment of the company. BE said; n,
VII in the first place it is not true that the Rock
rand has in theNorthwestern Railway
Some wears ago. before official connection WIN 'no
Rock island John f. Tracy made president ot Do,n
companies and the boards were composed largely Oi INC
same gentlemen. When Mr.. Tracy retired from 'ne
Northwestern the experiment was abandoned MT Dul-
man. who represen I'd in this country the foreign pohu
and stock holders was retained in both boards at the re-
ouest OF his principals Mr. Flower retained IN Dolh
becou,c he was the choice OF great many large stock
holders in each company Neither is in the Rock Island
As the sentative of tnr Northwestern OF III 'he
Norhv cstcrp the representative OF the Rock Island
Their action in board Is not Influenced ny thcH
connection the other The Rock Island has no rep
resepaon in the Northwestern and wants none ana us
present management will not coEcede TO the Northwest
EN- any representation in its management.
Mr. Vanderbilt recently said: My holding OF hocA
Island l. 600 shares There ought directors IN
the Rock Island represent the Northwestern ana my
self NJ William L. Scott was my representative IN Tue
Rock Island He wanted go out two years ago. but
urged him to stay while was in Europe year ago he
retired at the same time Hugh Riddle did president
Now that the books show he holds 10000 shares Is
not dtsputed. That the Northwestern and MI. VAN
dert are entitled TO Oneixth of the board anu Two
dfths of the committee because he owns oneiOreh OF
the stock disputed and will be conceded Mr. Scott
was Mr. Vanderbilts representative IN thc ooaIn u W
elected such Ourexperlence win nin 'su'u
him 70 he advised year ago last June and not as june
"a Mr. Vanderbilt states that he could not De rceecUeu'
He did not 90 out with Mr.. Riddle. but had Oeeh OUT
wear when Mr. Riddle ceased TO be president Ater IT,
ceIyng such notice wrote letter declining reoieV
ton and saying substance that his sense of dehc'cy
would not permit him remain with the boards OF Dotn
companies"
"What experience do you refer tor
"Tbot concerning the attempt to secure to the North
western Company the Burlington, Cedar Rapids anu
Northern Railway In defeating that we we were COM
pclled TO defeat Of our own directors VINO
was n member OF our Executive Committee
hut who was OF the same time a represent
ative Of the Northwestern and Mr.. Vanderbilt.
OPPOSED TO MR. KEEP AND Mr.. HUGIIIrr.
"Mr Vanderbilt also said i wanted to put IN two
such men az Albert Keep and Marvin Hughftt' Ihey
could not told that the moon was made OF green cheese
and made to believe it. did not want to go IN myself or
have my boys and said choose VINO shouu
represcut the Northwestern and myself and not let an
onuong interest Gable and POrter run the Rock island
The frankness OF this declaration Is really adniraoe
Both Of these gentlemen have even higher degree OF III
tellgonce tlan Nj. Vanderbilt claims for then IheF
have been connected with the Northwestern many years
and know quite well its points Vulnerable 10 atacK ny
tbe Rock Island as well those at which I can assam
,h busiess og that company A. members Of the Rock
Island Board and Executive Committee, fully advised OF
its plans policy and purposes, they would De able 10 pro
feet the Northwestern and Mr. Nandcimi ana il lhey
refused to DO expense 20 the stockholders ol o
Rock Island two official heads would roll gracefully into
the cxccutioncrs basket The declarations of Ar Van
dorbilt leave no chance for misunderstanding here
aer as TO one Of tine issues between him anu the present
manasem,nt OF the Rock Island
"In one paper he is reported saying: am getting
letters by the stack from fIeghers along the road saying
how It is run And another lie uses these words i
have l2OOO shares and l think I'm entitled
to know something OF what's going On
I've got some Letters over lponting 10 his desk
in the cofner The stockholders had better look around
AID lind what being done IN he coal ana lumber
trade They had better gel some Information as to who's
interested In the coal and other branches OF business
along the Rock Island road l don't know
myself, hut I'm going to try and find
ont These insina atoms" continued Mr.. Cable,
should have passing notice. First as to that stack
of letters There is board Of railroad commissioners in
each Of the states OF Illinois, Iowa ana Missouri II
their duty to hear and decide all complaints Wmch snip
rers and others may make against railway conpine'
c;r ual r.pats show that they perform these duties
In the las. i-n years there have been dozen COM
plgipts AGAINST tho Rock Island Company though
I do not remember more than half that num-
her / confess 10 having entertained feeling
of qualification because Of this apparent evidence
~ harmonious relations between he Rock Island and its
na,rous. This statement by Nj Vanderbilt shows how
LITTLE basis there was for such feeling The shippers on
fac Rock Island line il seems were not relying Tor redress
Of grievances upon their own commissioners whose
duties were prescribed by statutes and enforced by
solemn oatEs instead they were writing stacks OF let
this champion all victims Of corporate oppression
MIR yAvpTRBIIT As A RAILROAD COMMISSIONER.
s.Yct thcro Is some compensation for the discovery
The wisdom OF the nation assembled at ls CaWol Is now
alert by da, and wakeful 10y night to discover some
method b which the power of tAe Government can he
appcd 90 the protection OF reighers against the eA
actjons of grasping corporations. Boards con
sisting of seven, nine, eleven thirteen, and
lpow not how many other odd numbers
of commissioners have been prepared. Why
,ncur All hi. expensel nominate sole commissioner
william H. Vanderbilt, OF Ncw-Iork to whom letters by
the stack may he sent by all freghters who alc
ny railroad cxtortion. His relief will be simple and
mary The offending line will be made branch Of the
Northwestern or other railway under the
absolute control of the Vanderbilt family. The
remsiang insnuatons were evidently to create
the inpesson upon the minds Of the
Rock Island stockholders that / am dealing with the
Rock Island property in regard TO coal and lumber he
X known TO be doug with the lines he controls with
rd TO cara freight lines and coal transpor
charge Of diShonesty against which shall be person
SiT nnpleassn Mr. Vanderbilt he must bear in mind
that the attack was made by llIn. he DON'T know
about he coal and other business along the Rock Island
hui is going try and find out or course MT Wander
bit xuow His examination Inder oath at sara,
toga fcS years ago shows that what he don't knSw
ABOUT railway laase1s"' of norence then a.
IN n. line of which he had been officer
for wears were humliang. He knew nothing
about the New York Central then why should he about
the Rock Island now
Bu he is going to find out something IN regard TO
the Rock Island management, and In an effort 40 com
mend1bp I'm him he shall have my aid His efforts 10
lind ou Things should not end with this inyestisauOn
II he will look into the operation of sleep
ing-cars on the Rock Island, he Will
6Hd that tho company has Onehaf interest
In be eonjpncnt that onehalf the profits 20 It's
treasury and ultimately reach the stockholders dyi
vel c %
esird directly or indirectly in any profits made sosu
ne-cars Mi Vanderbilt dictates the policy 81 several
raIr1ats-wil he OF tOn which has. under has
management received any profits from iis seepngcars
IL is said good authority that he realizes
over 100000 every year I'm dividends his sleeping
car stock,-dvidends made from moneys earned under
c0ufrcts made Ia compliance with his diCtition. When