Omaha daily bee., 1907-10-15
ROADS FOR FEDERAL CONTROL
Presidents of Many Lines Go on
Record FavOring Policy.
ROCK ISLANDS EXECUTIVE TALKS
Admission Made that Rebates Have
Been Given I'm Past-Rea-
sons for Uniform LeEis-
lation.

CHICAGO. oct. 14.-That railroad ex-
ecutives generally approve Of the plan for
government control and regulation Of trans
portation lines OF the nation, as advocated
by Robert Mather. president of the Rock
Island company, in his speech to the Chi
cago Association of Commerce today. was
/ strongly indicated when various officials
went on record TO that effect.
Mr. Mather's address was called admra-
BILE in every way, and none of the railroad
officials interviewed disagreed with him as
to the desirabillty of centralized authority
in preference to what they called the varied
and inconsistent system of laws passed by
state legislatures.
! 1t was granted, too. that Mather had done
well to talk openly of rebating.
Ripley Likes the idea.
! After complimenting Mr.. Mather on his
speech, T. p. Ripley, president Of the Santa
Fe said he thought the principal points
urged by the Rock Island official well
taken
What the railroads are opposed to-" he
said, lis this varied assortment of ruics,
regulations and laws under which at pres
ent they must operate For instance, the
Santa Fe runs through fourteen states and
: territories, and what is legal in one state
may be unlawful in another, and vice versa.
In other words, we have too many masters.
Would not it be much better for us IL we
mad single. central source of regulation
than so many. l believe that is the posi-
tion being taken by Mr.. Mather and most
railroad officials"
1.-THE outcry against the railroads has
done them much damage" continued Mr..
Ripley. This antagonism is by no means
thing of the past, as it exists today and
is deep-seated. The attacks of the press
and the structures from other sources have
kept it alive. The result is that the rail-
roads have been nearly ruined. They are
now worrying along as best they can.
They cannot do anything but serve the
public, even II the public is attacking
them"
Mr.. Ripley denied that the roads would
back any program before the next con-
gress
Too Many Conflicting Laws.
"A great address, a very sensible and
convincing speech said ]. T. Harahan,
president OF the illinois Central railroad.
Taken as a whole and not analyzing each
and every section. Mr.. Mathers position.
IN my opinion, pretty well expressed the
feeling of railroad presidents and managers.
The trouble is and has been that the states
have various laws which conflict with the
Interstate laws This leads TO embarrass-
ment and needs correction. It also is true
that the several states have statutes which
do not agree. This leads to trouble.
II do not know what the railroads intend
to do If they have agreed upon any
program Of legislation have not heard Of
It,"
What do you think of his reference to
robates?" Mr. Harahan was asked.
"Oh, It was all right. guess It was true
every word ot II. They used to give and
take rebates, I suppose, but they do not
any more. No one wants to-"
w. II. Mcdowell. president Of the Monon,
approved Of Mr. Mather's sentiments.
Other Presidents in Line.
S. M. FELTON,, president of the Alton rail-
road said Mr.. Mathers presentation of the
case was admirable.
Il cannot speak too highly OF Mr.. Math-
er's address," said Mr.. FELTON,. 1T was
clean cut Intelligent, frank and fair"
do you think that nearly all railroads
executives agree with Mr.. Mather that fed
eral control is desirable2"
II feel that they do" replied Mr.. FELTON,.
IT believe that Mr.. Mather's opinions are
very largely shared"
was his address inspired by the railroads
I'm general?"
NO not at ALL" rejolned the reilroad
president. 1T was Mr. Mathers address,
his individual opinion"
"Will the railroads agree upon a congress
sional program?"
II have not heard that any such move
ment Is contemplated, and / would hazard
the statement that the roads will do moth
ing OF the sort, but will merely continue to
} try to do business as best they can"