Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-04-02
oUTLININe TIE RAILRoAD PLANS.

Most of the state legislatures having
either adjourned or being on the eve Of
adjournment the railroad managers
have turned their attention from the
state capitals to the White House and
are concentrating their efforts in an at
tempt to induce the president to do
something to quiet or attempt to quiet
the anti-railroad sentiment aroused by
the adoption or discussion of railway
bills in the different state legislatures.
AS a result of the conferences between
the president and railway managers and
the publication of interviews with prom
inent financiers, the railroad managers
have practically united upon three
things they will urge President Roose-
welt to do as a means of restoring con-
fldence in securities and opening the
public purse to railroad investments.
These are: ~ A public statement
from the White House that the presi-
dent win not favor making a valuation
of the railroads that will interfere with
the present market valuation Of rail-
road securities; 81 Urge legislation
that will permit pooling and co-opera-
ton among railroads; (3) Urge federal
control Of railroads and exclude the
states from the department of govern
mental activity.
This is a complete reversal Of the at
titude on the part Of the railway mag
mates who were so bitter in their at
tacks upon the president, charging him
with responsibility for all of the agita-
ton against existing railway methods
of operation. The change has been rap
idly affected. Mr.. Jacob Schin, the
New York banker led the way with a
suggestion that the railways appoint a
commission to represent their interests
before the Interstate Commerce COM
mission, and to suggest a line Of rail-
way legislation which should secure
the sanction of the president and adop-
ton by congress leaving the state legis-
latures to follow the lines thus laid
down. Mr.. Ripley OF the Santa Fe, Mr..
Yoakum of the Rock Island, Mr.. Nc
Crea Of the Pennsylvania, Mr.. Bacon OF
the Baltimore & Ohio and other railroad
magnates have argued along similar
lines and have been supported, in a
measure, by Chairman Knapp OF the In
terstate Commerce commission, who
suggests a system OF federal licenses for
railroads. Different methods have been
suggested by these experts, but they
are now all enthusiastically anxious to
accept this program or one similar to 1t
If the president viii accept it and work
for its adoption by congress.
There has been no change in Presi-
dent Roosevelt's attitude toward the
railways. He declared in his message
to the last congress that he was op-
posed to government ownership of rail-
roads. but was In favor Of 'the govern
ment exercising such supervision as viii
insure its being conducted In the inter
ests Of the nation" Every utterance
he has since made on the subject has
bctAA III haAAioAg Win Andt tApItselOn
Of the message. The change has taken
place among the railroad managers.
who now realize that they can not go on
indefinitely on bad terms with the
travelling and shipping public There
has been no agitation either by the pres
ident or by the legislatures against rail
roads, only an agitation in favor Of leg
islation to correct abuses which the rail-
road managers frankly admit have be-
come aggravated under recent railroad
management. Nor Is the railroad claim
correct that the scarcity OF capital Il
due to hostile legislation" Capital
IL scarce for all purposes owing 10 the
unusual demand for IT, Railroads feel
this scarcity the more because their re-
quirements are greatest due to the ne
cessity Of increased equipment to meet
the growing business Of the country
President VooaaveIf r,-Ie-fr- - r,afrofn