The Washington herald., 1907-03-17

President Charles S. MelIen, of the New
York. New Haven and Hartford Rail-
way. telegraphed the White House yes
ferday asking for an audience with the
President at any time this week after
Tomorrow. Secretary Loeb Immediately
sent a reply making an engagement for
Tuesday afternoon at 2:30 O'Clock
Ar Menen viii see Mr.. Roosevelt at
that hour unless something altogether
unexpected prevents.
So far no word has been received at
the White House from the other three
railroad presidents. Messrs. McCrea, New
man. and Hughitt, mentioned IN the
statement given out by J. P. Morgan fol-
lowing his visit TO President Roosevelt
last Monday 1t is still believed in well
informed circles here that one or TWO of
them. and, perhaps. all three of them,
viii see the President in the near future,
as proposed by Mr.. Morgan.
Mr. Morgan is due to arrive In Europe
, tonight or tomorrow, and il is assumed
that he will communicate with the three
presidents by cable. It is not considered
likely that ne will be pleased to learn
that the conference which he proposed
to the President has not taken place
as result of the alleged disinclination
of some Of the railroad magnates TO come
to the Capital unless especially invited.
and it is assumed that he may express
himself to the reereant ones in such a
way as to induce them 20 change their
minds
COnfers with Deneen.
\ series of important conferences on
matters pertaining to the regulation Of
railroads was begun at the White House
yesterday afternoon, when the President
met, at his own request. Gov. Deneen and
Attorney General Stead. of Illinois. Later
Mr. Roosevelt viii have a talk with Gov.
Hughes. OF New York, and other State
executives. the particular object being
the reconciliation Of the interests Of the
several States. and of the nation. in the
matter OF railway control
The meeting yesterday is expected TO
result in 80 immediate issue. for it was
held with The distinct object of Drepar-
ing for next winters campaign in Con-
gress. when the President will urge the
enactment of further legislation TO con-
troll the common carriers.
No statement could be obtained al the
White House or from the IHin0is officials
as TO just what transpired at the con
ference. but no secret is made of the fact
that President Roosevelt is seeking con
Astantly for information and opinions as TO
the solution Of what he regards as serious
railway problems. and il is certain that
those problems We're discussed
In pursuance of his railway policy, Mr.
Roosevelt viii not be influenced by events
in Wall street in any way. That there
was a serious disturbance in financial
circles last week he does not regard as
his concern and he will not alter his
course in regard TO the railroads in the
slightest degree. That he has been much
interested in the events of the last week
is apparent to all his visitors, and he has
talked freely with many Of them about
his policies.
Read Statement 10 Callers.
He read to two or three Of them yester-
day a statement prepared by him some
time ago stating his views clearly and
eQmprehensiveIy on the railroad question.
and it was reported early I'm the after
noon that the President would make this
statement public. Later in the day Il
was denied the matter would be given out
for publication. 1t was explained that the
statement Of the Presidents views con-
sisted of letter written to the Inter
state Commerce Commission on January
"a last, but never delivered to that body
This letter represented the Presidents
attitude SO clearly that in view Of the ex-
citing incidents OF last week and the
widely divergent statements that have
been made about what he might or might
not do, he read ii to several Of his visi-
A a &
New York, head of the well-known bank
ing firm.
The further information was vouch-
safed that the letter in question con-
tanned no new expression of President
Roosevelts views oraiRtentions. but that
II was rather a reiteration of what the
President had said in his public speeches
and messages to Congress on many oc-
casions. tt is probable that this letter
would have been read to the four rail-
road presidents had they visited Wash
ingtOn last week, for the President re-
CARDS it as a succinct and unequivocal
statement of his views touching the mat
ters under discussion.
officials Would Not Talk.
Gov. Deneen and Attorney General
Stead. of Illinois. went to the White
House at 2:S0 o'clock yesterday afternoon
by appointment and they remained with
the President about an hour They de-
clined afterward to discuss the confer
ence in any way, except to say that ii
would not result in any issue or action in
the near future. This accords with a re-
mark made on authority at the White
House, which was that the conference
was not being held with any idea of in
auguratlng Immediate action on any sub
ject. The talk between the President and
the Illinois officials pertained generally TO
the railroad question and one Of the par
ticular ends which Mr.. Roosevelt hopes 10
accomplish through this and other con-
ferences is Capitalization of railroad
control in the Federal government. The
President would have the States desist
from wholesale legislation regulating
Passenger and freight rates. at least
until the Interstate Commerce Commits
sion has had time 10 carry out a line Of
Investigations: and he would have them
leave the regulation of these matters
generally 10 the Federal government.
There was At rumOr~ several days ago
that the President expected 70 call a gem
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