The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1907-08-17
HARTMAN READY TO ANSWER
SAYS NE WOULD NOT NOW REFUSE
no TELL or ALTON DEALS.
He Would Control All the Railroads II
the Country n He Could. and Declares
His Transportation Policy Gan Ne Ex.
pressed In the One word, Dividends"
For Sale at
All Booksellers

re WOuIu &VUtrOtf All aS tN&htV@NS w.
the Country n He Could. and Declares
His TRANSPORTATION Policy Can Ne En-.
pressed In the One WOrdi Dividends"
RENO. New. Aug. l6.-If Wishes were
railroads Edward H. Hartman would
control every line in the country. accord
ing to his statement made yesterday at
Sparks. New.
IAN of the railroads in the country would
be mine il I could get control Of them
MIR. Hartman is reported to hsve said.
Il have been quoted seriously for an ex-
preston made jocularly to the effect that l
would manage the railroads for the Federal
Government. that I would turn my holdings
over to the United States after a fair COM
pensation and act then az a commissioner.
But I was misunderstood, The time
has not come for Federal ownership. Per-
sonally, with all the lines in my possession
l would be better suited
What ia your policy concerning the
railroads you controlf" Mr.. Hartman was
asked.
TO pay dividends was d prompt
reply. since 1898 We have spent $500 ,OOO,-
900 for improvements. We want some re-
turns. Don't you think we are entitled to
returns from such an expenditure? Mine,
then. is a financial policy; l watch that end
Of the game. Other matters are left to
the officers concerned with them. There
10 not much to that policy except to make
a good inv estment better. Results, they
bring success.
Agitation Of abuse of the railroads
makes harder the accomplishment Of local
improvements. Facts that in themselves
are insignificant are magnified and dis
torted by the public mind until they become
harmful TO the interests of the public and
to us. IL is the spirit OF the age and the
newspaper. 80 what can We do?
Il refused TO tell what l knew about the
Chicago and Alton purchase he continued,
when asked o the recent Interstate
Commerce hearing, because the questions
put to me dealt with mattersof policy. Some
Of them l would not answer any more han
you would if asked from whom you bought
your suspenders or how much you paid for
your shirt,
Il could not, to be specific. answer all
questions in justice to my associates in
the purchases. But now that the proceed
ings nave been started to get these replies
I probably will not refuse again. Inquiries
directed to me in connection with the Chi
cage and Alton case will probably result in
the W desired by the Interstate Com
merce Commission 1t was a business
principle involved that prevented me from
answering questions. l may answer when
the matter comes up again
In conclusion Mr.. Hartman said that
IN the future he policy of his roads in the
matter of rates and extensions would be
tn develop the State Of Nevada n the
artire Western territory through both the
north and south lines. Referring to a
Francisco, he said:
"The railroads and the capital centre
there, and despite the efforts towar that end
neither Seattle. Oakland. nor any other
city will ever be able to destroy San Fran
cisco's ~paramountcy."
He would say nothing about politics.