The Washington herald., 1907-03-13


In spite of the activity of the Interstate
Commerce Commission, is seems that the
railroads desire protection against the
various States as much as against the
authorities at Washington. Within the
last few months nearly every State in
the Union has enacted laws affecting the
great transportation lines in one way or
another and men ike Morgan and Har-
riman realize that this is because Of the
general belief that Congress has failed 70
enact legislation which Will correct the
transportation abuses of which the coun-
try has long complained. While they do
not like Mir. Roosevelt. the big railroad
men have a very lively appreciation OF
his personal popularity, and they think
THAT a word from him at this time would
lgo far toward preventing further inimical
( action by any of the States, and more
nearly settled condition Of affairs prevail
generally.
While the recent visit of +. II. Haui-
man to Washington indicated with con-
E siderable cIearness the present attitude
of the men who manage the railroads
nobody here was prepared for the sudden
appearance OF. J. Pierpont Morgan at the
White House. .AIr. Morgan has seen the
President on more than one previous Oc-
easion when the regulation OF the rail-
roads and corporations was TO the front
and is known TO be on much better
terms with Mr.. Roosevelt than is Mr..
Chairman. Consequently, Mr. Morgan
il anne quietly 10 the city, arranged fer an
fnterview with the President gave out
Statement and returned to New York
before it was generally known that he
Eeven entertained the idea of coming here.
No Definite Dates Arranged.
It was stated at the White House yes
terday afternoon that so far no definite
time has been set for the conference Of
the four railroad presidents mentioned by
Mr.. Morgan-Messrs. AIellen, McCre8,
Newman, and Hughitt-with the Presi-
dent However, they are expected 10
come here within the next few days.
sJr. Hartman has made no definite en-
sagement with the President as yet.
md it is not believed tat he viii
% to the White House wilh the other
1u for whom Mr. Morgan arranged
audience. tt IS possible, however. that
..r. Hartman will be Ia Washington to-
morrow. He has made a tentative en-
gagemeur with the Interstate Commerce
Commission Tor that date. ID is under
stood. and before returning to New York
.-fnay arrange for a conference with the
President
4 II is said To be the purpose of the rail
! road magnates 10 attempt 10 induce Pres
fdent Roosevelt TO issue a statement con
ceTning the railroad situation. 1t is their
desire, according 10 reliable information,
10 have the President give out a state
ment 70 the effect that the general gov
ernment has no intention Of prosecuting
the railroads, or, indeed. 10 do anything
more at this time than enforce existing
laws. Similar assurances have been given
% the country heretofore, but the railroad
presidents seem TO think that a repetition
OF them is necessary. The point they
max is that the present uncertainty is
unsettiug transportation conditions gen
orally, and is affecting the Wall street
market, not particularly 10 the detrimeut
of the wealthy men. but of persons Of
lesser means who have invested their saw
ings in railroad stocks in preference 10
IudUsUTials or others.
Small Investors Alarmed.
These people. it is asserted. are alarmed
10y the present attitude OF not only the
various States, but the Federal govern
ment- Their idea is that everybody in
official Washington, from the President
down. is preparing to crack each railroad
head that appears above the surface.
Legislation inimical to railToads-Iaws
like that limiting the hours of service Of
employees being enacted by Congress.
they say; the Department of Justice is
waiting to take advantage of every pos
sible opportunity to prosecute the rail-
roads. they assert, and the Interstate
Commerce Commission is staying awake
nights trying TO find some means Of
harassing the railroads
The view Of the general public is quite
different from this. being merely that the
Federal and the various State govern
merts are proceeding to regulate the rail-
reads according 20 methods which they
should have adopted long ago. But the
view Of the general public does not affect
the railroad magnates. The position Of
investors in railroad stocks in their posi-
tion, and in order that conditions, as
they see them. may be changed. they are
anxious to have the President say that
he is not opposed TO railroads, and that
so far as is made possible by his office
he viii not permit any injustices to be
done the railroads.
Aside from the declaration that no def
mite engagements with the railroad pres
idents had been made so far. the White
House was silent on the question yester-
& day. The President did not see any news
paper men and give them the benefit Of
his views rs ne has done frequently
when other questions were up. Conse-
Qucntlys his future course in the premises
IS uncertain.
No General Raid Planned.
Tt is known that the government does
not contemplate what is described as "a
general raid" on the railroads. Assur-
ances are given that the Interstate Com
merce Commission has no intention, GER
tainly no present intention, Of making a
searching inquiry during the Congress
recess into the financial operations of
railways.
There Is only one order for an inquiry
on the books of the commission. This
concerns the Great Northern and the
Northern Pacific. against which complaint
has been made that they are violating
the order Of the United States supreme
Court fer dissolution of the Northern
Securities Company. the concern which
embodied the merger of the Great North
ern and Northern Pacific.
NothinE whatever has been done by the
commission with reference TO the refusal
Of K. II. Hartman To answer certain
questions. When the commission return
III tlL