The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1907-04-03

CAPITAL
Continued from Page one.)


There has been another disquietini
feature for the railroads. This ma
been the agitation in the States. Leg
islatures have been progressive TIM
winter against railroads. The spirI
of the national administration IN WASH
ington has pervaded these minor iegis
latiye bodies. They have been driving
for cents a mile tariffs and passing
other restrictive laws. The ra1iroa'
owners have been crying out agalns
these activities of the State legisla
lures as much as they ever cried ou
against the government rate law
Some have claimed that it threatened
ruin to railroad property.
And for this President Roosevelt
has been blamed, although, strange te
saw the railroads, in view of these
activities in the States, are anxious
for the government to broaden It's con
troll over railroads and the President
is very willing to accommodate them
But it is unlikely that the very States,
who have been following the President
in giving the railroads some exceeding
" stiff doses, will sanction the effort
to strip them of power. They apparent
" enjoy the privilege of giving the
railroad officials little medicine oc-
casionaIiy.
The struggle is coming, however, for
the President has announced within d
few DAYS that he is determined to have
a law from the next Congress, requir-
ing railroads to operate under federal
licenses. There is undoubtedly con-
nah idVp
could be enacted as an interstate Com
merce power or as power TO establish
postroads. Practically every railroad
in the United States is a postroad. LII
federal franchises are granted the
governments business with railroads.
already of enormous volume, would be
tremendously increased.
The railroads might welcome that
change. because they would have but
one central power to deal with. That
would be in Washington. Congress
might be far away for most of the
railroad magnates but they can get to
Washington more easily at less sacrifice
than the aggrieved shipper or other
citizen with a complaint. AS a rule,
although it may not be altogether true
at the present time, public sentiment
is much infiamed and when there is an
aggressive President in the White
House, it is easier for corporations
to influence Congress than to influence
a dozen legislatures in as many differ
ent State capitals.
Thus it seems that the larger rail
road systems and the President may
be working in accord when he is ready
to put his plans for federal franchises
before Congress the coming winter. 1t
will be interesting to note how stout
the opposition to this is. William Jen-
nings Bryan, whose railroad reform
views che President is accused of hay
ing appropriated, is already out In OPP
position to the plan of crushing the
State legislatures. He says it would
De step favorable to the railroads. The
South, of course, is strong for State
lights, but there is a powerful State
lights sentiment in the North although
t is not often around. There are In
iuential Republicans who are very APP
orehensive of the new propaganda, and
ire hoping that it may be sldetracked
between now and next December. big
are saying that the pres
mt law must first be thoroughly test
d, that there is no occasion for fur
her railroad legislation for some time.
They decry the federal franchise plan
nd alike the federal appraisement of
ailroads, which the President wants.
Out of this condition of affairs, the
President and Secretary Cortelyou have
lad a decidedly strenuous week. The
rouble seemed to grow with the com
ng of railroad and financial magnates
o Washington. The visit of Z. III. |
hartman, the railroad colossus, was
turing the last week of the session of
congress. He saw the President but
of to discuss railroad topics and hast |
ned away to New York, after having |
iven his young son Roland and other |
lembers of his family pleasant vaca |
ion here. 1t was arranged that Mr.. |
hartman should come over and have |
railroad talk with the President but |
e says now he is not coming.
The squirt in railroad discussion be- |
an earnestly with the visit of ]. Pier |
ont Morgan. Some days ago
ecretary of War Taft was over in |
lew York attending a meeting of the |
hip Prison Martyrs Association. He |
sao dShCd DS MI 4hOI gan h1ICtl1CI lAlC
resident would see him (Morgan) |
bout the railroad situation. The Sec |
etary replied that he could ascertain |
irectly. He put in long distance |
telephone call, was in conversation |
18th the President at the White House |
1 a few moments and forthwith was |
bic to tell Mr.. Morgan that the Pres
lent would see him at the White |
louise Monday evening, March II.
Accordingly Mr.. Morgan went down
, Washington in his private car, had /
two hours interview with the Pres
lent and departing told, in a formal
tatement, how he had come to Wash
lgton 'tat the request of many bust
ess men, and how he had suggested I
, the President that it would be
realty to the public interest if he
-ould see Mr.. McCrea, Mr.. Newman,
II. Mellen and Mr.. Hughitt and con-
ar with them as to what steps might
e taken to allay the public anxiety
ow threatening to obstruct railroad
and construction so much
eeded and especially to allay the pub
C anxiety as to the relations between
ne railroads and the government"
This naturally put Washington and
1e country on the qui vive. The men
Ir. Morgan mentioned are powerful !