New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-02-05
FAILED TO MAKE GOOD"
FIASCO
Gould Not Shoe That Rates Might
Be Reduced 10 Per Cent

Hartman failed to substantiate their cbaroa
that grave errors appeared in the Statistical
work Of the Interstate Commerce Commission
and failed to show. in accordance with their
assertion, that the freight and passenger rates
OF the country could be reduced an average of
10 per cent without reducing wages or dividends
are in substance the conclusions Of the Inter
state Commerce Commission In its report TODAY
n the Senate in response 10 resolution Of
that body concerning the employment of Messrs
Charles 8. Hanks and George w r Harrin,a,,
These men made an investigation OF the Inter
state Commerce Commission after several con-
ferences with the President and the members
Of the commission. at which. IL is said thew
assured the President that grave errors and
shortcomings existed in the work of the COM
mission and that they could revolutionize the
work of that body The commissions report
says that every facility was given to Messrs
Hanks and Hartman in their investigation. and
that they continued in that service until
the commission was convinced that their criti-
cisrns were without merit and that they had no
suggestions to make which had not already
been anticipated"
The commission goes into detail concerning
the work Of the investigators. and the results
Of their examination, the time they were en-
poyed and the compensation they received
Accompanying the commissions report is the
report Of Charles P. Neil. Commissioner OF
Labor: James r Garfield, Commissioner Of
Corporations, and Mr.. Starek, bank examiner
who at the direction of the President. made a
thorough investigation OF the charges against
the statistical work of the commission. The
special committee made an examination OF these
charges and their findings. in brief are that
Hanks and Hartman. were unable to pre-
sent anything TO the committee which success
fully attacked the integrity of the statistical
work Of the commission. or vitiated its general
results"
Also appended TO the commissions report is a
sharp letter from President Roosevelt to Mr.
Hanks dated January 81 in which It is said that
the charges are completely disproved, and the
President adds that 1t would simply be folly for
him to pay any further head to any Of the allie
cations in regard to the work Of the Interstate
Commerce Commission made by Hank and Har-
rinlan
THE COMMISSIONS REPORT.
In lis report the Interstate Commerce Com
mission says that Charles S Hanks was en-
ployed from June "a 1905 to January 10, 1907,
for which he received s.. 535. and that Mr.. Har-
riman was employed from June "a 1906 TO Jan
uary 10. for which he received So 100 The COM
mission says that prior to their employment
Hanks and Hartman spent some time at the
commissions Offices for the purpose It was
understood. OF examining the original reports Of
the railroads on file This opportunity was
given to them. it is said. at the request of the
President and because of their assertion that
such examination would show or enable them
show, that railroad freight and passenger
rates could be reduced average Of 10 per
cent without reducing wages or dividends "A
claim of such great public importance seemed to
merit attention" says the report. land the per-
sons making it were afforded every facility to
examine the statistical data and work of the
commission"
The special committee appointed to examine
the charges made by Hanks and Hartman
against the work of the commission, IN its report
10 the President. says in part:
II was charged that the statistician of the com
mission had improperly altered the sworn returns
as made by railroad companies. and there cited
superior Terminal Company changed from $3.50
We find that this charge was wholly unwar-
Tauted.
The report itself shows that this was a cor
iTcuoE Of figures based upon notation signed by
report. and the correction was indicated on the
lace o. the report as made by an employe Of the
."IiiiESSlon- - accordance with well established
At the conference OF January "A Nj Adams. sta
LlstIc.an OF me COMMISSION claimed that had the
report OF ne terminal COMPANY as received; been
expenses without an offset in duplication Of
We find that Nj Adams's statement Is correct
and Mr. Harriman's Incorrect.
ny the commission for the year 1874 does not give
Inc real capitalization OF the SeabOard Air Line
We find that this charge is not true. The capt
talizaton Of S62 500 oCO as published is the real
capitalization in the correct and accepted use Of
Tnrd-It was charged that in many instances one
road the tracks Of another. and that each
road is credited by the statiscian with owning the
track used in common.
Mr.. Hanks and Mr. Hartman failed to present
any instance sustain this charge
The statements by Mr.. Hartman before the
Tittee and his utter failure to make good any OF
the above charge convinced us that we would
not Be justified in pursuing the inquiry further
SHARP LETTER FROM PRESIDENT.
The Presidents letter TO Mr.. Hanks is as fol-
lows:
The White House. Washington. January p. lsr-.
Ny Dear Mr.. Hanks:
I In receipt of your letter Of the 18th. l send
you herewith the report Of Messrs NeilI and Gar
field on the only specific charges / able to get
NJ. Hartman to make after repeated efforts on
ny part Mr.. starek joins in the report The
charges are completely disproved.
sions. sometimes with ana sometimes without Nj
Hartman. assuring that very gr-~e and
shortcomings existed in the work of Interstate
Commerce Commission, these being due primarily
70 the work Of its statistician. Mr.. Adams. The
YOU meet certain members of the commission on
which occasion you stated that you would be able
which would practically revolutionize much Of the
"oTk they we're doing II you were given the chance
10 have access 10 their books The commission,
my request, gave you such access. You were
turned 10 Washington last fall heard from both
Mr.. Hartman and you on different occasions thai
character IN the work OF the statistican-errors
which completely nullihed and rendered vaueless
had made and then making OF
grave q character mat I did not feel justified In
late them; for. Of course. there nothing more
MAY BE COFFEE
Tat Causes ali tine Tronhlc.