The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1907-05-19
HARTMAN REPORT
BEING "GINGEREO"
President and Lane Trans
lating Kellogg Into
Anglo-SaXon.
"Sizzler" Looked for After
Indianapolis Speech,
May 80.

President Roosevelt Is at work at Pine
Knot. Va, and Interstate Commerce
Commissioner Lane is at work in Wash
ington, both on the draft of the commits
sion's report IN the Hartman railroad
investigation
The Presidents plans for his Indian
apois speech, on May 30. were greatly
confused by the publication last week
OF the attorneys text Of the report.
1t was not expected that this matter
would be made public until after the
indianapolis speech, in which the Presi-
dent is to discuss railroad questions. and
outline the course which he expects TO
give to legislative effort next winter.
II is known that the draft of a report
which Attorney kellogg prepared was
not entirely satisfactory TO the com
mission. and therefore, il is inferred.
was likewise not quite what the Presi-
dent wanted. Its conclusions as TO de-
sirable legislation and as to the viola
lions Of law by the different Hartman
combinations are said to have met the
approval OF these authorities; but the
document did not contain as much gin
ger" as was desired.
Putting in the Ginger"
What is wanted is a document with
teeth A few epigrams and pen pic
lures are considered necessary to give
IT the proper fetching quality with the
public. And to this general task OF re-
Nising it into the form of good. popular
antitrust propaganda literature. the
President and Commissioner Lane, 1t is
said, are sgiving their attention.
Commissioner Lane enjoys in a pecu-
liar measure the confidence and esteem
OF the President. He is moreover the
possessor of a fine talent for vigorous
Anglo-SaXon, and has some strong ideas
on the subject of overcapitalization.
as was proved when last winter he
made report on his investigation of
the car shortage in certain sections of
the country, and in Il expressed the
opinion that less stock manipulation and
more railrOading would give better
transportation service. In that docu-
ment he suggested also that the neces-
sity of earning returns on high capitaH-
cation was one of the obstacles to Civ
ing the service needed. The report was
known at the time to have greatly
pleased the President.
Kellogg Too Calm.
After the conclusion of the last hear
ings in the Hartman inquiry Attorney
kellogg was in Washington 70. some
time, and oscillated day after day be-
tween the headquarters OF the Inter |
state Commerce Commission and the /
White House This is pointed TO as
evidence that the general conclusions !
which Mr.. Kellogg outlined and which /
have been published met the approval |
OF the President
But there is further reason for reyi-
sion Of the document that Is ultimately
10 become the cOmmissions report on /
this famous investigation. When Mr.. (
Kellogg prepared his document he de-
voted much attention 10 the Chicago and |
Alton recapitalization, pointing out that 1
the roads capitalization was increa sed
from $50, 900 to $114,OOO, 600 without the /
addition of mere than slS.0OO.OOO OF new
investment. While Mr.. Kellogg's dis
cussion OF this AFFAIR was lucid and /
straightforward. it was not picturesque |
or sensational in any fashion.
Preparing a "Sizzler."
Since the Kellogg report was written
the Union Pacific management has an
nounced the new financial plan under
which Sill, 1900 of new stocks or con- I
veruble bonds Of the Union and South 4
ern Pacific are to be issued. 10 raise /
money 70 pay the debts incurred in DUR i
chases that have heretofore been made
OF vast quantities Of securities in other
railroads. This big issue. for such a |
purpose, is calculated most emphatic
ally TO point the moral and adorn the
argument in favor of legal restrictions
on capitalization. and the report will be
brought down 20 date in this regard
with the insertion Of a vigorous discus
sion Of this newest aspect Of the Union
Pacific stock manipulation policy.
Nobody is now prepared to venture
q guess as 20 when the revised report
will finally be made public. It has even
been intimated in some quarters that it
may never be made public. but simply |
be privately transmitted along with the
testimony to the Department Of Justice.
But the impression is strong in we'll
informed quarters that the revised doc
ument will be given to the public some
time after the Indianapolis speech Of
May 80, and that il will be ''sizzler."