The Salt Lake herald. [volume] (Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1870-1909, 1907-03-20
NELLEN'S VISIT
TO WASHINGTON
Railway Magnate Had PreSi-
dents Ear for a Total of
Thirty-fiVe Minutes.
THEN BACK TO NEW YORK
NUMEROUS WHITE HOUSE CON-
FERENcES.

Us aSnlngtOn. March 19-Fhe interview
between President Roosevelt and Charles
5 Melien. president Of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford railroad. recently
arranged for the purpose Of discussing the
railroad situation. took place at the White
House today. 1t lasted not more than
1hirty-fiye minutes No statement Of the
questions discussed was made at the
White House. and Mr.. Mellen declined to
talk
Alr. MelIen said he did not expect to
again visit the White House for a confer
eHce with the president unless he was
sent for
Outcome of Morgsn's Visit.
M MeUeus visit was the outcome OF A
call made to the White House last week
by J. IIerpout Morgan. the New York
fnan"irr. who came To Washington at
The request of many business men to dis
CUss the present business situation. par
tiCulaT-v as affecting the railroads
The visit OF MI Melien followed the con-
ference hr had several days ago with
President McCrca, Newman and Hughitt
Of the Pennsylvania. New York Central
and Chicago x Northwestern railways. re-
sVectvoIy. These four were the names
suggested to- Mr.. Roosevelt by Mr. Nor
gan. III is not known at the White House
whether MeSSrS. MCCrca. Newman and
Hughitt will visit Mr.. Roosevelt The
president will see them if they come.
Has Had Many Callers.
During the past three weeks President
Roosevelt has had visits from half doz-
En- well known financiers and railroad
men. with whom he has discussed Vari-
Gus phases Of the railroad situation.
these include j. Plerpont Morgan. James
5. Speyer of New York. President Stick
ney of the Chicago Great Western rail-
road h. p. foakum, chairman of the
hoard Of directors of the Chicago Rock
A Of
Union Pacific and Charles s. Mellen of
The New York. New Haven & Hartford
railroad All OF these persons have mtie
specific recommendations inCorDOra ting
their IDEAS on the question whether the
president should recommend additional
railway legislation, and most of them
have urged him to make a statement de
filming his attitude in explicit terms with
view to aIlaying public apprehension
Generally there has been but little ap-
lrodch To unanimity in these TacOmmen-
dauons- He has referred his callers who
want information as TO his attitude TO his
public declarations on this general sub
jet, and has told them that he means to
he consistent with What he has already
said.
President Seeks Information.
The president says frankly that he is
learning an he can regarding the rail-
road situation. and that he intends to con-
tinue to consult with railroad people and
others on the subject 1t is understood
he Is making inquiries on some points
pertaining To federal supervision and con-
troll Of the railroads; TO the question of
an appraisement Of the physical valua-
ton Of such properties and to the matter
Of the issue of various forms of indebt-
edneSs. As to the last named, he regards
il as perfectly proper, and he sees no OBJ
JectiOn to a proper issue of obligations
for equipment. terminals and bettermentS
but thinks there should be a careful
s1rutiny to see that stocks or bonds are
ks1ed for such purposes.
The president has not reached any final
termination as TO whether ne will make
fy recommendations TO congress for leg
Station on any Of these matters The
PRESIDENT has made i plain to his callers
hat be cannot be expected to outline his
policy in informal talks with them, and
that differences as to his attitude must
no; be drawn from what he says in these
casual talks.
Material for a Message.
When he has made I'D his mind and is
ready to tell the public just what his at
ulude Is on particular questions and Spe-
dilcally on the railroad issue, he will do
80 n speech OF in n message to con-
sress Some expressions from him are
expected on the railroad question during
the next few months. The president is
scheduled 20 make four speeches between
now and the middle Of June. and it Is eN-
pected thar he will have something to say
on the railroad question in one Of these
Speeches
President Melien left for New England
al o'clock this evening