New-York tribune., 1907-03-31
Constant Reader Tells What He
Missed IN Last Weeks Papers.

~rhis warm spring weather is getting into
tEe blood remarked the Busy Nan IS he sank
down into = chair by Constant Readers side
ana lighted h!5 cigar.
YES replied Constant Reader. following
suit He took a pull and continued: In ONO II
has set the political bees buzzing- Senator fo'-
aker surprised the friends Of Secretary tart pF
saying that lie would ask 20 have the prefer
ences Of Republicans Of the state as 20 canui-
dates for United States Senator and for Presi-
dent registered at the state convention when
candidates for the state Offices are nominated
The Taft Republicans are likely TO accept For
ekers challenge. relying on the strong anti
machine feeling throughout the state TO defeat
fss forces Secretary Taft knows little about
this. for ne is on his way 10 Panama. Secretary
Cortelyou and Chairman Woodruff OF the Re
r,biican State Committee os New York have
been discussing plans for the Presidential cam
paign of 1905 with the President
Ny friends are still grusnbing about the
antics OF Wall Street" said the Busy Man.
The pendulum swung both ways last week,
answered Constant Reader. ION Monday stocks
turnbled especially metals and the day was de-
clared 10 be the worst since The panic Of March
ia on Tuesday the pendulum swung back and
It has kept swinging up ever since secretary
C-ortelvou gave it a push by depositing $l"'VVU'-
OO0 Of customs receipts in New York banks
''lHave the railroad presidents snoothed OUT
their troubles yet?"
..Thev are not following E. H. Hartman in
HIS course OF loquacity as closely as they dld'
hut some OF them are talking with President
Roosevelt privately. They are also taking Iesal
action in Alabama TO prevent the enforcement
Of anti-railroad laws passed by the last Legs
lature of the state. The President held an i'm
,,o-tan. conference with several members Of the
aaPra Is
sion on Wednesday 20 outline scheme TO be
,rsse,tes n the next Congress for the federal
regulation of railroads. The Illinois Manufact-
,,rers' Association has invited the President TO
evnress the keynote of his policy as soon as pos
sible at A speech TO be given I'm Springfield, Ill
The members who presented the invitation told
hin, that banking and business credit WAS
threatened owing 10 feeling of timidity ana
anprehenson. An antidOte for the blues was the
news that the Pennsylvania Railroad was so
overwhelmed with business that il had been
obliged 10 create new division in order TO re-
1ieze the pressure on some Of its overworked
oficiais The Western railroads have another
kind Of trouble on their hands. though
What IS that?" inquired Busy Nan.
Fifty thousand trainmen and conductors are
on the verge of striking for a y per cent in
crease in wages and nine-hour day. They re-
fused pointblank TO accept the offer of the rail-
roads Of an increase Of = per cent TO passea-
ger conductors and 10 per cent TO brakemeG,
fremen. baggagemen and allied workers The
railroads then appealed TO the national govern
Enent under the terms of the Erdunan act This
act. passed in 1898, provides for the arbitration
Of labor difficulties. where interstate commerce
is involved. by the chairman of the Interstate
Commerce Commission and the Commissioner
Of Corporations. President Roosevelt took hold
OF the situation, and, supported by Seth Low.
who also appealed 10 the leaders Of the train
men in behalf Of the National Civic Federation,
the labor men have accepted the suggestion to
consider arbitration. The officials named in the
Erdmaa act, under the direction of the Presl-
dent, went 10 Chicago The situation is Of
pecial interest not only because of the sensitive
railroad conditions but because railroad officials
have asked for arbitration, and for the first
time the national government is officially coa-
ducting the negotiations"
ANY mere railroad wrecks" asked Busy Man.
shifting his cigar.
Yes" replied Constant Reader wearily, bur
only two notable ones last week. On Friday
the Sunset Limited. on the Southern Pacific. ran
into ODen switch near Cotton CAL was de-
rallied, twenty-five persons killed, and more
than fifty injured. Earlier in the week the Key
stone Express, on the Pennsylvania Railroad,
was thrown from the track fourteen miles east
Of Pittsburg, but, fortunately no one was hurt.
The indications were that an attempt had been
made 10 wreck the train The PENNSYLVANIA
Railroad has offered reward OF $500 for the
apprehension and conviction Of those who caused
the derailment Of this train and Of the Chicago
limited the week previous. A. H. Smith, vice.
president and general manager. and Ira A. Nc
cormacl. general superintendent Of the New