The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-17
Visit of rierpcnt Morgan and Railroad Presidents to President Roosevelt sets the Fipaneial Tongues to wagging--Harriman's Plain speech Brought on Troubie---cossIp of the Metropolis.

Brought on Treuble---Gessip of the
 Metropolis.
 New York, March 1e--If the opinion of a majority of the close observers of wall street and the money inter. ests of the country is correct. the raii- roads are panic-stricken. Proof thai this conclusion is correct is to be found in the visit of J. Pierpont Morgan to President Roosevelt q few days ago
 The situation must have been very acute to take Mir. Morgan to the White House and move him to beg of Mr. Roosevelt the privilege of sending the Presidents of four of the big railroads to him for discussion of the auestiohs at issue the first time that Mir. Morgan, the art critic, censor of opera and repre- sentative of vast financial interests mas journeyed to the White House. But IL was a very different MT Morgan that called on the President the other day from the one that called on him when the Northern Securities suit was insti- tuted. If was a proud. naughty ana domineering Morgan wEo went to Washington at that time and stormed and threatened. He intimated that i've" should have been informed m advance of the intentions of the ad- ministration. This Morgan was also full of naive suggestions
 Cant your attorney and my attor- neyn said he to the President, "get to- gether and fix this thing up some way7"
 Strange to say the President did no. fall fin with this suggestion. Just what he did say was not soothing to MT. Morgan. The financier came away mad through and through. No one dreamed that he would ever again go to the White House asking a favor as long as its present occupant was there:
 But a chastened Morgan aiighted from his private car at the Pennsyl- vauia station in Washington last Hon day night. In all humility he rode to the White House in an ordinary can and If was with subdued manner and melancholy tones that he approached the man with the big stick. With great show of humility he ventured 70 ask if four railroad presidents woaio be welcomed at the Whttes House U they came to talk IL over Yes, IL would be agreeable to the President So away went Mir. Morgan and gave to the press a statement that the rail- road presidents were going to confer with the President "as to what steps might be taken to allay the public anx- l jety as to the relations between the government and the railroads" Un- | feeling persons have made the coni- ment that the public" is not half as anxious as the railroad men
 uhRt the Railroads Fear. The railroad men are fearful that I the President contemplates further | stems for a more complete government 1 control of railroads. Just what these l steps are the railroad men want to i know They have tried in every way | to learn without success. They have | made inquifies themselves and they have sent their attorneys out scouting 1 around. They would pay thousands of dollars for the information. 4@ l move that has sent terror to their hearts Is the Presidents intention to 1 secure an appraisal of true valuation 1 of the railroads by a Federal commits I sion. It is known also that the Pres ident has in mind plan to strengthen the government regulation of railroads l so as to prevent such manipulation as l disclosed by E II. Hartman in his testimony before the Interstate Com merce Commission. The President was 1 already in possession of the story told by MT, Hartman, but coming from the 1 railroad manipulator himself, 1t was much more impressive than if 1t had reached the public from the President in the form of a message. That 1t has strengthened MT. Rooseyelt's hand In anything he undertakes to do when Congress meets again Is beyond a 1 doubt.
 Though 1t Is known that Mir. Roose- welt has determined on railroad campaign next winter he has not made | 4o ot believed that the four railroad presi- dents will be any the wiser after their
 w wal streets frequent protests against railroad Legislation fail hai here and MT Harriman's assertion that if this sort of thing Is to continue 'there is no incentive for a man 10 be successful is called rot"
 Rich Opera singers.
 The grand opera season closes with this week and the singers will go abroad to spend the dollars they have picked up in America. The stars like to sing here--we are So liberal-but they prefer to spend their vacations
 While all the singers do not get the salaries that their press agents say they do they have no trouble In keep ing the wolf from the door. One very 1 well known soprano at the Metropolt- tan opera house is generally supposed to get $1 300 every time she appears The fact is that she receives S1,500 ev- cry second time she sings. This is a very good arrangement for all con cerned. The diva can show the checks to her friends abroad who will marvel at her earnings and the opera house fmanagement can point to it's check l book stubs as proof that it costs fabu- lous sums to give New York the best in the musical line. But one must not get the idea that the grand opera sing CTS are poorly paid. Many of them are wealthy and they have earned the l money with their voices
 A story Is told that the combined wealth of twelve of the stars who ap- peared in New York this season amounts to S12.000.00o. This is prob ably exaggerated. but 1t is true that several of them are millionaires The press agent values Madame Melba's es- tate at S5,0OO. 900. She is probably worth about half that much. Melba has a handsome home in London, but much of her wealth is In jewels. Somt other well-to-do singers and the amounts that the press agent says they are worth follow
 Mario Sammarco. baritone. $f,0O0,O00
 Emedeo Bassi. tenor S2,O00,00O.
 Mario Ancona, baritone, $1,000.0O0. Madame Bressler Gianoll. soprano S5O0.OOo
 Madame Giannina Russ. soprano $450.000.