Bluefield evening leader. [volume] (Bluefield, W. Va.) 1906-1911, 1907-03-21
NEW INTEREST IN DEEP
WATER GROWING KEEN.
MELLEN "CON-
FAB" BRIEF
PRESIDENT STUDYING THE EN.
TIRE RAILROAD
QUESTION.

Washington, March President
Chas. $. Mellin. OF the New York
New Haven and Hartford Railroad
rad his much-herBlded conference
With President Roosevelt yesterday.
the conference lasted only 35 min
vtes, and at its conclusion no state
ment was made concerning its char
fcter or purport
Mr.. Mellen arrived at the White
House promptly at 23O o'clock. MT.
Mellen declined to indulge in any
sort OF interviews with representa-
tives of the press He also refused
to discuss certain phases OF the rail
way situation not related TO the mat.
ters which took him to the White
House, on the ground that undue
significance might be attached nd
anything, even OF n general nature.
chat he might say and that it might
be associated unjustly with the visit
which he made TO the President.
Mr.. Mellen said he understood Il
70 be the "unwritten law" of White
House etiquitte for the Presidents
callers not to discuss their visits un-
less authorized to do so by the Presi-
dent. He said he did not know
whether any of the other railway
presidents would soon call nj the
White House for conferences. and
that so far as he knew he would not
himself return unless his presence
was desired by the President.
TO DEMAND MORE LEGISLA-
TION.
After the departure of Mr.. Mellen
there were some important develop
ments from an authoritative source
respecting the attitude of the Pre-
ident toward the railroad situation
This problem is a tremendous one
and will undoubtedly be thoroughly
discussed I'm President Roosevelt's
next annual message to Congress
The President does not believe
that with the passage OF the Rail
road Rate law it will be possible to
stop progress along the line of I'm
creasing the power of the national
Government over interstate com
merce. For example, ne believes that
there will ultimately be need for en-
l7rging the powers OF the Interstate
Commerce Commission along several
different lines so as to give # a larg-
or and more efficient control over the
railroads. Just what the President
viii finally recommend has not been
determined. He has told his callers
within the past few weeks that he
has no fully made up his mind up
on certain important phases of the
question; but that he is feeling his
way alone certain important lines.
Several Of the larger phases of 'he
question which are now engaging the
serious consideration OF the Presi-
dent are apuraiscment of values.
decentralization, physical valuation
of railway properties the relation
ship between Federal and state con
troll Of railroads and the effect OF
State legislation respecting inter
state traffic in interstate commerce.
WHERE PRESIDENT STANDS
Briefly. the Presidents attitude to-
ward these phases of the railroad sit
uatiou may be summarized as fol-
lows.
His mind has not been made mp on
the questions Of appraisement His
mind seems to be- made mp I'm certain
directions, but not fin others. on the
question Of granting q Federal fran
chise 90 railroads He has not yet
zone into the question of the de.
marcatiou between state control and
Federal control. but is studying that
subject in its various aspects. I'm
This connection be has asked nom
bcr OF me Interstate Commerce Com
mission to- furnish him with p-cce-
dont and legal citations respecting
certain phases of Federal control
over interstate features of interstate
commerce
The Presidents mind is pretty
strongly made mp ON the question Of
overcapitalizatiou Tie has not final
lv worked ont the details. but ne
seems TO Dc strongly in favor Of "a
national license or q Federal wise OF
the stock and bond issues of railroad