Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-08
HARTMAN WANTS HARMONY
Elimination Of hostile Friction viii Be
Profitable to All.
He IS WILLING TO TAKE THE FIRST STEP
Spirit of Cooperation, He Thinks,
VIII Avert Evil Efforts of Agita-
tion-Raflroad Policy
Mistaken One.

railways my chief interest" said e. H.
Hartman, president of the Union Pacific
railroad. on returning today from Wash
ington.
Mr.. Hartman declined to talk about the
report that he had obtained. control Of the
Reading railroad Speaking of agitation
against wealth, he said:
They've, all OF us-should have consid-
cred the possible effects Of this agitation
before It was begun or before conditions
that made it's growth possible were allowed
to continue. II we had all met on common
ground and co-operated for our mutual
benefit nobody would be worrying over the
situation as II Is today.
I'VE all made a mistake in this. I real
ize the mistake and believe the admins
tration at washington is beginning to
realize that II has been little too radical
in its attitude toward the railroads. Hence
forth l look to see its opposition take on
more of the spirit OF cooperation. 1 be-
leve the railways can expect to receive
more evenhanded Justice.
Magnates See a Great Light.
I'VE men at the head OF the great cor
porations on our part are coming to
| better understanding of what the govern
ment expects of us. We are beginning TO
| get the point of view of the administra-
ton. We feel that we are now. all of US,
the public. the government and the rail-
ways, on common ground where we can
deal with each other in the right spirit
I'm more than willing to give my sup
| port to such a process of enlightenment.
| I'm ready 70 make the advancement OF
| such a scheme of cooperation my chieI
! interest Surely there could be few condi-
| tions imaginable that would be OF wider
benefit thar TO eliminate hostile friction.
! "RaiIroad managers have, / am willing to
admit in the past neglected to build up
strong harmonious relationship between
themselves, with the government and with
the public This matter had been left 70
subordinate officers and the result has been
that such relations have been completely
neglected. Now we must take the matter
In our own hands in order to bring about
better understanding and cooperation
Railroad Policy a Mistaken one.
''Our policy in the past has been mis-
taken one but 1t cannot be said that we
have neglected our service to the public.
When one considers what the railroads
have done to develop this nation we can
not believe they have been anything but
beneficial. The marvellous development Of
the country has been due to very large
degree to the enterprise Of it's railroads.
\ 'since the time we, took hold Of the sys-
tenn of railroads OF which am the head
$3.50 Ooo, 900 has been expended ip rebuilding
the roads. This has all been done since
1900. AS another instance OF what the rail-
roads are doing to add TO the general
prosperity of the nation I'll tell you that
the roads OF which am the head purchase
about 10 GOO tons of steel rails yearly and
during that period we purchased about
100000 ties
"Au this adds to the welfare Of the ma
ton and the development work which the
railroads have done as is in some cases
now shown, has resulted In the building of
so large a trafic that they are unable to
handle IT,
Combination really benefits the public.
The public may think otherwise, but 1t will
learn the real truth In time. That time
will come sooner II combinations are legal
lied. believed m control and regulation.
as declared before the Interstate Com
merce commission. but l think within the
limit of such control corporations ought to
be allowed to combine as they find 1t neces-
sary or beneficial"
Mr. Hartman said that the railroads had
frequently been at fault in the past by
their failure to live UP to traffic agree
ments In this way there had come lack
of confidence among railroad men and the
public naturally grew to lose confidence IN
their acts
Capital Lacks Confidence.
Restrictive legislation, Mr. Hartman
thought must tend to reduce dividends un-
less met in some other way. The fact is
plain he said, that there is a lack OF con-
fdence by capital. He cited the price paid
by the New York New Haven & Hartford
Railroad company for its recent loans in
France.
AS to the money outlook, Mr.. Hartman
said the present tension is bound to react
on industrial operations.
1T know in a general way of an all-round
movement to reduce supplies" he said.
las for our own roads. we are making our
business more compact and trying to con-
duct trafic at less cost We may have
TO come to higher freight rates"
Mr.. Hartman then took up the Chicago
& Alton reorganization. He said that, con-
sidering the conditions which existed at
that time the road had not been overcapl-
talized.
do you expect TO go to Washington to
see the president again soon?' he was
asked.
''The president knows where I am" he
returned. IF he wants to see me I am
ready 70 60"
\ Hepburn on Hartman.
WASHINGTON, March 7.-(Special Tele-
gram.)-Representative Hepburn, who as
chairman Of the house committee on inter-
state and foreign commerce. prepared much
of the railroad rate bill that went through
congress, has some Views about e H. Har-
riman, who has been saying columns of
stun 10 Washington newspaper men in
the last few days. Colonel Hepburn called
on President Roosevelt today and when
asked about Hartman said:
II believe Hartman is a living justin
cation of all the railroad legislation we
have enacted and all We have attempted 10
enact. and that by his own admissions we
should have passed much more drastic
laws than We did pass. II understand the
testimony OF MI Hartman and his asso-
ciates. It Is possible under our present
financial system for one man to increase
the Indebtedness Of railroad corporations by
50. 100000 without adding 10 1t one cents
worth OF visible property. II II is not
high time such a condition OF afrairs should
be ended, It seems TO me no evil under the
sun should be corrected"
Mr.. Hartman announced he was sight