The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-11-21
HARTMAN AND ROOT
CLASH AT BANQUET
Head of the Pacific Lines Criti-
ciSeS Governments Plans
for Regulation.
SECRETARY COMES BACH
WITH READY ANSWERS
Most Interesting Incident at
Dinner of the Kansas City
Commercial Club.

KANSAS CITY, Mo, Nov. 2o.-The
most interesting feature OF 1he Com,
mercial club banquet last night had
not been announced beforehand, ii being
Edward Fl. Hartman S criticism OF
Government regulation of railroads and
Secretary OF State Root S vigorous re-
ply
Mr. Hartman in his address said:
81 saw in the papers that President
Hill of the Great Northern, IN an adj.
dress before the commercial bodies of
Chicago. said that the country needs
100000 miles of railway. / feel sure
Mr. Hill WIS misduoted. Two men
nov here, who heard his speech, con
hrm me in that belief. As they under
railroads need sidipgs, terminals and
double tracks equal to 100000 miles of
mex railway.
"In his speech in Harrisburg re
Gently. President Roosevelt said that
the executive and legislative depart
lnents of the Government should bs
given additional power to deal with
public organizations.
''If we are going ia continue TO
prosper the power which President
Roosevelt desires added TO the Govern
ment, I hope, Will be added TO the
other organizations I hope that some
cf 1t will come our way.
Dsprecates Criticism.
'tIt is impossible for a railway com
pany or other large organization to
carry on its business properly if the
people are constantly criticising and
suspccting. In the Union Pacific com
pany no one man says what the com
pany viii or Will not do. ] am untir.
iue only because ] must be on hand to
hear conferences and Try 10 bring a
body Of men 10 one conclusion, -
.'lt is not easy if you always nave
t. turn TO The legal department. and
find whether YOU may or may not
Here Mr.. Hartman paused and
turned 10 Secretary Root, who sat two
seats rearward.
''It is often important to city or
country whether we do certain
things, whether we develop terri
tory Mr.. Hartman continued, cor
leave II dormant.
"Often we cannot give development
8 start because of the action of certain
people for political prestige, | believe
there is to be change Of attitude
which soon is to be felt. The people
are coming 10 believe in Americanism
and that means fair play.
Secretary Root accepted Mr. Harri-
nan S challenge promptly. and pre-
faced his prepared speech by saying:
'SElu idIh pD tue Slh-
iect which has been assigned to me, ]
desire TO make a few remarks in an
s~er to Mr. Hartman.
Mr. Hartman, 7 believe, in his |
speech tonight, would have us give |
more power to the railroads.
Speaks From Experience.
The experience ] gained from a |
knowledge of the railroad business in |
the Jtate OF Missouri at time when |
the railroads were competing FOR bust |
ness led me to believe that the lust |
means of regulating traffic and railway |
affairs is through the railways them
solves. ] believe that it Is inst to say !
that wise law would be one that |
would force the railroads 30 combine in !
keeping the law.
81 repeat that The best regulation |
ian be brought about by the railroads |
if they will only do IT,
Their power, Mr.. Hartman, would |
be supplemented by Government con-
troll, such that would prevent them
from dong wrong.
1T is doubtless the case that a rail-.
road, by special compensation or special
rates: can help to build up n bigger
and better business Nevertheless. the /
science of government always gives
chance. The privilege of The railroads
In discriminating in the matter of !