The Montgomery advertiser., 1907-03-08
RAIL PRINCE WANTS PEACE Hartman Asserts Need of Harmony. WILLING TO TAKE LEAD Offers Services to Coordinate Rail and Public Interests. Corporations are Coming to See what Government Expects-Declares Ad~ ministrssion Policy Has
 Been over-RadicaL
 

 make the advancement of scheme of cooperation between the Government and the railways my chief interest" declared E. H. Hartman. on returning today from Washington.
 we men at the head of the great corporations are coming to a better understanding of what the Government expects of us." he continued. We are getting the point of view of the admin istration. l am of the opinion that the administration is beginning to realize that 1t has been little too radical in its attitude toward the railroads. and l look to zee its opposition take on more of the spirit of co-operation.'
 Mir. Hartman declined to talk about the report that he had obtained con- trol of the Reading Railroad. Speak, ing of agitation against corporate wealth, he said.
 "rhey--we-alI of us, ought to have considered the possible effects of this agitation before 1t was begun or before conditions that made its growth poasi- ble were allowed to continue. If wa had all met on common ground and cos operated for our mutual benefit. nos body would be worrying over the sitn- ation as 1t is today.
 
 We all made a mistake in this. am of the opinion that the administra- ton Is beginning to realize that 1t ha3, been a little too radical in It's attitude toward the railroads. Henceforth look to see it's opposition take on more of the spirit of cooperation. l be- lieve the railways can expect to re- ceive more even-handed justice.
 ''we men at the head of the greMt corporations on our part, are coming to q better understanding of what the Government expects of us. We are be~ ginning to get the point of view of tho administration. We feel that we are now. all of us--the public. the Govern~ ment and the railwaFs-~on comn n ground. where we can deal with each other in the right spirit.
 I'm more than willing 10 give my support to such a case of enlighten- ment I'm ready 10 make the advanco- ment of such a scheme of .so-operntioIl my chief interest. Surely, khefe could Do. few conditions that would Do of m0re wide benefit than to eliminate hostile friction.
 HArmony Ia Necessary.
 Railroad managers have. am will ing to admit, in the past neglected to build up a strong, harmonious rela- tionship between themselves and the Government and the public. This mat
  and tn result has been that such rela- tions have been completely neglected. Now we must take the matter In our own hands in order to bring about @ better understanding and co-operation.
 Our policy in the past has been q mistaken 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 thia nation, we cannot believe that the rail- roads have been anything but benef- cial to the nation. The marvellous de- velopment of the country has been duo to a large degree to the enterprise of It's railroads.
 since the time we took hold of the system of railroads of which am the head the sum of s250, ,000. .0O0 has been expended in rebuilding the roads. Thiz has all been done since 1900. As an- other instance of what the railroads are doing to add to the general prose perity of the nation, I'll tell you that the roads of which I am the head, pur- chase about 100000 tons of steel rails yearly and during that period we pur chased about 4.000.000 ties.
 Development oveK-rapld.
 All this adds to the welfare of the nation, and the development work which the railroads has done has in some cases as now shown. resulted in the building up of so large a traffic that they are unable to handle it.
 Combination really benefits the pub- lie. The public may think otherwise. but 1t will learn the real truth in time. That time will come sooner or if combinations are legaIized. be- lleve in controlled regulation. as yield ! ea before the Interstate Commerce Commission. but I think within tha limit of such control corporations ought to be allowed to combine as they Ind 1t necessary or pencil sial. ]"
 MT Hartman said that the rail- roads had frequently been al fault in the past by their failure to live up to traffic agreements. In this way there had come a lack of confidence among the railroad men and the country nat urally grew to lose confidence in the railroad. Restrictive legialation, MT. Hartman thought, must tend to re- [ duce dividends unless met in somo other way. The fact is plain, he said. that there is lack of confidence by capital. He cited the price paid by the New York. New Haven and Hart ford Railroad Company for its recent
 outlook is Dark.
 As to the money outlook Mir. Har- riman said that the present tension is bound to react on industrial co-opera- tion.
 T know fin a general way or an ali- around movement to reduce supplies. That's common sense" he said, "as for our own roads, we are making our business more compact and trying to conduct traffic at less cost. W6 my have to come to higher freight rates
 MT. Hartman then took up the Chicago and Alton reorga aization. He said that In considering the condi- aWKa nf that road had not been over-capltalised.
 Do you expect to go to Washing ton to see the President again soon?'' he was asked.
 The President knows where l am.e he returned. If he wants to see me