The St. Louis Republic., 1905-11-18
RAILROADS DIVIDED
ON COMPROMISE"
Western Lines Squarely Opposed
TO Cassatt Measure Conceding
Rate Making Power.
MELLEN SUPPORTS PRESIDENT
With Railway Presidents Unable
to Agree. Rate Legislation Is
Believed to Have Good
Chance.
MELLEN SUPPORTS PRESIDENT
Ths Republic Bureau.


Washington. Nov. T.-Railroad interests
As a whole. according 10 sources closely
identined with railroad influences at the
capital. viii. by no means. unite with
President Cassatt Of the Pennsylvania and
President Baer Of the Reading in support
Ing the compromise on railroad-ra,e leg
isiation which these gentlemen have indi-
Gated a Willingness to accept, and which
Was Outlined in yesterdays 5 Republic
The cassat; plan as now advanced con-
cedes rate --naking power. and this Is the
., point VIII, which all along has been the prin-
.ar. only. Goes the Cassatt ''cUmpror,,:sa'
faii snort OF the Presidents expressed
wishes, 1t .btlks al We. ting the presen,
such power. but wants II given 10 another
body TO be composed OF railroad exp.ris-
meaning railroad-traffic men-and law
yers-
PRESIDENTS ATTITUDE
In his southern 2peeches the Pressden,
spoke Of an administrative byi; :. moi
tanning n.n ths Interstate Commerce Commis-
sion which would indicate that he TOO
would agree to vestins the power in a
new railroad commission rather than
"ith the Interstate Commerce Comn,Is-
oped warranting the BELIEF that other a.,
the most influential railroad macnste. viii
go 30 far toward surrender without ,ir.t
pI,,ing up the best fsh; they can.
samuel spencer president OF III. South
eTl halfway. Is actively against any legs
lat'on granting the power TO declare n .ats
onieas"nabie and to substitute snoihe:
and = maximum rate. Mr.. Spencer Is
known TO represent J. P!erpont Morv,n in
taxing this stand and. consequently MIR
spencer may be looked upon as the spokes
man or all the Morgan roads
Standing with Morgan. as the situa ton
no* understood here. are George I
Gould and the influence welded bS the
SntFs Gould system. James J. Hill And
ms lines; r. ~ Hartman. S,uyvesani
rlsh or the Illinois Central and the in
t.rests dominating the santa Fe and the
ROCK Isiand-Frtsco combination. Taken
IN Its sum total considering she Csss,tt
the situation a. between the railroads an
p.ars to be an issu. between the wes,
and tn. East
WEST SQrARELY OPPOSED.
On the proposition OF ensctInx a Law
which vii! provide real rate regulation
and give authority TO change schedules
with exactaess. all the powerful finaUc.crs
Dominating the poiic!.s cs the great West
@ s-n trunk line, pp, up 70 To- the pt present tin, tim.
contention has been that such q legs.a-
tive step attacks their property rights.
f.enaces their earnings. threatens their
prosperity and Will deprecista their bonds.
and stocks. and thus ultimately throw the
burden on the investing public. They
regard their point as vital.
OF course. the wave Of popular sentiment
In favor OF the leg .sli;ion has been gro"
ing stronger and stronger. t.vs.y Repre-
sentative and Senator who mas come ~
Washington admits that some bill must he
enacted. bu; they cannot stard "a the way
OF the sentiment now existing. and tAa:
tie railroad "!.I have 70 take pretty
strong drink On this occasion. Il may bs
that when IN" railroad nIasnstas and ;heII
political supporters measure The strength
u this popular ClIRIv! 10 their own salts
faction they Will admit surrender and
Permit a rAdira. bill 70 go through with
pected But 40 signs o, sUck tsmen.ss. a,
all general in their significance. are Yet
noticeable.
A leading Senator Of the Republican
side. taking o: the railroad situation. SAID
to night:
In over twenty years experience / have
never known the railroads of ~" county
To- be united on an important question a.!
legislation. Back IN isS. when the first
ir sTsta;- comnerC. Law Was passed. s',rny
cf the railroads set Gp a howl thar such :,
Law would spell ruin. while others passive
iy accepted II. | believe u - a si.niilI
condition that ws are facing now
MEI.i.EN SUPPORTS PRESIDENT
Charles :. M.!I-n. president Of tn. Ne~
York. New Haven and Hartford. II per
hap. III. sol" railroad president OF pr0rai-
Roosevelt from the start lie called al the
White House yesterday and took occasion
20 repeat mis- former declaration. when
asked about hi. opinion h. srn.l.i and
been down here 1" .r1,s-tT The only ac-
lion l am xo!nE 10 take IL to support IN"
PreAaeGt."
Win men like Cassau and Baar lined
VI With N~lt"n n practiCa al sETe- !nent
With the President u means that III. task
-; vypgsitiCr = infinitely hari.r In point
~ dollars A. G.s lack and inisTence and
votes AZ his ComUaai. Ca~s,;- IS second
- hone % n. great railroad rpIsEates ..
the country. Hos.NcT. the representative
- III" shipper " aB started the :E.:a IL y
for rate legislation. do not consider AZ
i-sStsSe til. provision of the gsssat- som
p.ur14s. calling r1r a commission % rail
TrEi cNpy::s They ctus der that this
rnea-s railroad trs:'aC men. neu ~nps"
live. have b.yr spent Ia railroad employ 4.
arf NNo might .. Inclined - takn II.
r1igr0si viewpoint g. s1y contested Ii.ss
tlou - rates NrNtrt -.lsss rhs general
o-iaiu- ~ Washington Is that At This TIM
the matter 81 the failure makeup o: the