The independent. [volume] (Lincoln, Neb.) 1902-1907, 1905-02-16


stands pre-eminent as the most infu-
entail force on the side of the rail-
!Toads. In the fight to a finish that is
to be fought out at this and subsequent
sessions OF congress, he is looked on
as the leader.
Up to within few days ago he was
chairman of the board of directors of
eight Vanderbilt railway Ines His in
come from this source Is extraordinary.
His powers and responsibilities are
also enormous. For reasons best
known to the directors of these eight
railway companies, Senator Depew re-
tired from the craftsmanship of two of
them.
1t was given out that this was done
to combine more closely the Vanderbilt
systems and bring them under one
management
These eight roads belonging to the
Vanderbilt family, to which he may be
said to owe his great wealth and pres
tige, extend over $1,000 miles and their
annual earning approximately $685.
100000. These earnings are divided
as follows:
New York Central, West Shores and
Boston and Albany lines $75,0OO,OOO;
Lake Shore and Michigan Southern,
$25,0O0,000; Big Four, $4,000, 900; Nick
ell Plate, $S,000,000; Lake Erie and
Western. $6,0OO,0OC; Michigan Central,
$21 100000.
Chauncey M. Depew is the individual
representative of all these railroads
In Washington. Every president of
these roads, every general counsel,
every lobbyist, every yotary who comes
here, must report to DepeW or to one
of his handy men.
Depew has fifteen persons employed
here as an office force" He has four
secretaries.
One man in his employ Ca south
crner, formerly in the railroad bust
ness) receives salary of $500 month
for his influence with members of
congress. He is allowed also extrava-
giant Expense" for entertainment and
other purposes.
Nearly every railroad man who has
appeared here as witness in the
hearings on the lraffic-rate legislation
before the committee first had talk
with DepeW.
Men known as general counsel" and
who receive salaries from $4,000 a
year upward, frequent Depew's con-
ferences, and not since the "palmy"
days of the Huntington Southern Pa
Cific contest have SC many of this class
had reason to visit Washington as
have this winter.
Most OF them have left the capital
now, having done well their work, and
confident that no traffic-rate legis-
lation would be likely to cause their
return or require their presence again
before March 4.
They are able lawyers for the most
part and clever nanipulators as well.
The Gould system had Winslow S.
Pierce and John f. Dillon; J. Pier
pont Morgan's interests, Francis l..
Stetson; the Moore system of the south
west, Robert Matthew; the Bur-
llngton, James W. Blythe; the Chica-
60, Milwaukee and st. Paul, George r.
Peck; the Baltimore and Ohio, Hugh
L. Bond, jr., far western lines, Victor
MOrewetz.
All these and many others are in
close communication with Depew He
II IcSdIOcu DIS Tic ucdu vi tll6lT wash
ington contingent"
Depew's influence and power in rail.
road circles was shown, it is stated on
good authority, by the resignation of
M. F. ingalls, few days ago as presi-
dent of the Big Four, his retirement
being accredited to Depew, from whom,
1t IS said by railroad men, ingalls,
would not take orders"
Depew is, incidentally, chairman of
the senate committee on revision of
the laws of the United States" and
a member of both the committee on
commerce and the judiciary committee
He makes frequent trips back and
forth to New York, usually leaving
here at short notice, as if summoned on
important business.
Uocialists In Disguise