The Birmingham age-herald. [volume] (Birmingham, Ala.) 1902-1950, 1907-03-08
WILL COOPERATE
WITH ROOSEVELT
Harimans Scheme for Roads
and the Government
MEET ON COMMON GROUND
Railroads Frequently at Fault, Says
Magnate-Ready to Make Solution
of Problem His Chief
Interest.

New York, March Tt am ready to
make the advancement of a scheme of
cooperation between the government and
the railways my chief interest," declared
L. IL. Hartman on returning today from
Washington.
1--WE men at the head OF the great cor
porstions are coming to a better under
standing of what the government expects
of u.s. he continued, 1--WE are getting the
point of view of the administration. 1
am of the opinion that the administra-
tion is beginning to realize that it has
been little too radical in its attitude
toward the railroads, and l look to see its
opposition take on more of the spirit of
cooperation
Mr.. Hartman declined to talk about
the report that he had obtained control
of the Reading railroad Speaking of agi-
tation against corporate wealth he said:
Lack of Foresight.
''They-we--all of us. ought to have con-
sidered the possible effects OF this agita-
tion before 1t was begun or before eondi-
tons that made its growth possible were
allowed to continue If we had all met
on common ground and co-operated for
our mutual benefit nobody would be
worrying over the situation as it is
today.
1--WE all made mistake In this. l am
at Washington is beginning to realize
that 1t has been little too radical in it's
attitude toward the railroads. Hence
forth | look to see its opposition take on
moro of the spirit of cooperation. I be-.
1ieve the railways can expect to receive
more even handed justice.
1--WE men at the head OF the great corr
porations on our part are coming to n
better understanding of what the govern
ment expects Of us. We are beginning
to get the point of view OF the admin
istration. We feel tina. we are nowI-all
of us-ti.e plls4c. the governmeilt tfnd
the railways, on common ground, wheee
we can deal with each other in the right
spirit.
I'm more than willing to give my sup
port to such a case of enlightenment.
I'm ready to make the advancement of
such a scheme of cooperation my chief
interest. Surely there could be few con-
ditons that would be of more wide bene-
fit than to eliminate hostile friction.
Railroad managers have, I am willing
to admit, in the past neglected to build
up a strong, harmonious relationship be-
tween themselves and with the govern
ment and the public. This matter has
been left to subordinate officers and the
result has been that such relations have
been completely neglected. Now. We
must take the matter in our own hands
in order to bring about better under
standing and cooperation.
Mistaken Policy.
"Our policy in the past has been a
mistaken one, but 1t cannot be said that
we have neglected our service to the pub
lie. When one considers what the rail-
roads have done to develop this nation
we cannot believe that the railroads have
been anything but beneficial to the nation.
The marvellous development of the coun-
try has been due to a large degree to
the enterprise of its railroads.
"Since the time we took hold of the
system of railroads. of which ! am the
head, the sum of $3.50. 100000 has been ex
pended in rebuilding the roads This has
all been done since 1900. AS another in
stance of what the railroads are doing
to add to the general prosperity of the
nation I'll tell you that the roads of
which | am the head purchase about l.
OOO. 900 tons of steel rails yearly, and dur
ing that period we purchase about A.
00N ON0 ties
"All this adds to the welfare of the
nation. and the development work which
the railroads have done has in some cases
as now shown. resulted in the building up
of so large a traffic that they are un-
able to handle it.
Controlled Regulation.
Combination really benefits the pub
lie The public may think otherwise but
,.,iII Iaar ba yna1 truth N fipnp That
time will come sooner If combinations are
legalized / believe In controlled regula-
ton. as | declared before the interstate
commerce commission, but / think with
in the limit of such control corpora
tions ought to be allowed to combine
as they find 1t necessary or beneficial
Mr.. Hartman said that the railroads
had frequently been at fault in the past
by their failure to live up to traffic
agreements. In this way there had come
a lack of confidence among railroad men
and the country grew to lose confidence
in the railroad. Restrictive legislation.
Mr. Hartman thought. must tend to re-
duce dividends unless met in some other
way The fact is plain. he said, that
there is a lack of confidence by capital.
lie cited the price paid by the New York.
New Haven and Hartford Railroad COM
pany for its recent loans in France
AS to the money outlook Mr.. Harri-
man said that the present tension is bound
to react on industrial cooperation.
"I know in a general way of an all
around movement to reduce supplies.
That's common sense" he said. "as for
our own roads we are making our bus
mess more compact and trying to con-
duct traffic at less cost. We may have
to come to higher freight rates.
Mr.. Hartman then took up the Chi
cago and Alton reorganization. He said
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