The Oskaloosa herald. (Oskaloosa, Mahaska County, Iowa) 1885-1919, 1907-08-22
HARTMAN WANTS
| EVERY RAILROAD
BAYS He WOULD LIKE TO CON.
TRoL ALL LINES IN COUNTRY.
DIVIDENDS" HIS POLICY
Owners Desire Returns on Their
Enormous Notwithstanding
to Tell Now About the
ksss Alton Deal.

Reno. New. Aug. 17.--"All Of the
railroads In the country would be mine
II could get control of them" said
Edward H. Hartman on his arrival at
Sparks, New, the division terminal In
an interview in which he discussed his
work and his ambitions.
II have been quoted seriously as to
an expression made jocularly to the
effect that / would manage the rail-
roads for the federal government
that would turn my holdings over to
the United States for fair compensa-
tion and act as commissioner" Mr..
hartman continued. "But am mis-
understood. The time has not come
for federal ownership. Personally,
with all the lines In my possession !
would be better suited" 'R
Policy is to Pay Dividends. .s
/ After remarking that. as Mr.. Harri;
man does not own all the railroads
of the country. statement of his pol.
icy In the light of the agitation FOR
drastic regulation by the federal gov.
eminent with respect to those he does
own would be Of interest. the reporter
askedi Z 4, sea. ,s5..,.- 4. u, ,..,. .s.. .s,..
What is your policy concerning the
management Of the railroads that we
are told you own?" o.
7 1T is to pay dividends" came the
decisive answer. Since 1898 we have
spent $500, 100000 for improvements
We want some returns. Don't you
think we are entitled to returns on
such an expenditure? Mine. then, is
a financial policy. / watch that end
of the game. Other matters are left
to the officials concerned with them
There Is not much to that policy ex'
cepting to make a good Investment bet
ter. Results-they bring success.
! Agitation Hampers Improvement.
agitation OF the abuses on the rail.
roads makes harder the accomplish
ment OF local improvements. Facts
that In themselves are Insignificant
are magnified and distorted In the pub
I lie mind until they become harmful to
the interests of the public and to us
1t Is the spirit Of the age-and the
newspapers--so what can we do?"
Why did you not answer the ques
tons put to you by the Interstate com
merce commission, and will you an
lswer them when the proceedings
brought by the department Of justice
compel you to appear for the second
timer" was asked.
( Il refused to tell what knew about
khe Chicago & Alton purchase because
the questions put to me dealt with mat
tiers of policy" Mr.. Hartman replied
Some of them would not answer any
more than you would If asked from
whom you bought your suspenders OIL
how much you paid for your shirt.
could not, to be specific, answer ali
the questions in justice to my asso
ieiates in the purchase.
VIII Not Refuse to Answer Now.
Now that the proceedings have
been begun to get these replies, will
probably not refuse again. Inquiries
directed at me in connection with the
Chicago & Alton case perhaps will re
suit In the answers desired by the In
terBtate commerce commission. 1t was
business principle involved that pre-
vented me from answering questions
! may answer when the matter comes
up again" .o- s.,..E
In closing the interview Mr.. Harri
nfan declared that In the future the
policy of his roads in the matters Of
rates, extensions. ETC.. would be to de
yelop the state of Nevada and the en-
tire western territory. Mr.. Hartman
positively declined to discuss politics
He said that San Francisco was the
natural tidewater terminal on the Pa
cific coast and that nothing could dis
lodge 1t from that position.
''The railroads and capital center
there" he,said, "and despite efforts to
ward that end. neither Seattle, moi
Oakland, nor any other city ever will
Ibe able to, destroy San Franchises pre-
eminence."