Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-08-12

development we have made in the shops
you remember what they were when we
TOOK charge OF the Union Pacific. and Won
All known what they are today. Yes. this
motor car manufacture is going right
ahead"
Relations with the People.
Mr.. Hartman has been charged with
being difficult man for the people or
the press to get TO and a sphinx after they
got to him. Bue he denies the allegation
Whatever did believe on that subject
my views now are different" said he And
then he repeated his famous utterance;
| There has got to be cooperation on
the part OF the railroads on the one hand
and the public and government on the
other. 1t is the only way in which mat
ters can be worked out. We have tried
| the other method; we have left II to our
lawyers to take care Of legislation by
whatever means might be the most ef
fective and to our shbordinates to explain
things to the general public. 1t won't do
mood of legislation has been produced.
some of 1t of doubtful purpose ana some
the result of misdirected zeal inspired bv
the national administration. and IL we are
ever to extrleate the railroads we have
got to come out in the open and tell the
people the railroads side Of the matter. I
have, therefore, been. acting on this policy
for some time and making It a rule under
reasonable circumstances to talk with
newspaper men. and 1t is because OF this
that l object TO being quoted as l have
been In the morning papers when / was
not interviewed. Newspaper reporters are
not justified in that sort OF thing
People, study the Problems.
i would have Che people study the
problems of the railroads, so they NAV
have intelligent ideas about our affairs
1t Is my desire to have the largest pos-
sible number of persons interested in the
railroads which 1 manage. MY idea of
financing these roads Is with the idea
OF increasing the stockholding body rather
than diminishing 1t. The railroad policy
which seeks to eliminate the stockholder
by making him 8 creditor of the road
meets my dsapproval and opposition. The
road needs the interest of its stock
holders, just as It needs the interest OF
It's patrons, and besides the stockholders
are entitled to fair remuneration or risk
of their money.
But this wave OF antagonism to rail-
roads that has been sweeping over our
country hurts both stockholder and the
PNDiAS' III tiie piaco IL makes the
railroads pay much higher rates on money.
and In asking me when we are going to
build the Omaha headquarters this point
might be considered. We cannot Improve
without money and we cannot pay ex-
orbitant rates for money, In this connec-
tion let me point, as have before. to the
fact that since 1900 the Union Pacific svs-
tenn has spent for improvements and ex-
tensions $3.50, 00,O00. has laid $500 miles OF
new track and replaced altogether 14ooO
or 1900 miles of track But to continue
this work OF progress we must have the
help and good will of the people and must
have square deal under all circun-
stances. We ask for nothing more than
square DEAL of which we have heard
so much of late years"
Laws, Rates and Expenses,
Mr.. Hartman had a word for the 2-cent
rate in Nebraska. He led up to II through a
channel of discussion of rates and laws in
their relation to the increased cost of run
ming a railroad.
| I'm the development and Improvement of
railroads one factor OF vital consideration is
the relative cost OF material and labor, and
the scale of rates for traff1c. Labor Is
scarce and much higher priced than ever,
material is often hard to get and costs
more, yet rates have been reduced and
4, taxes increased. This is not a condition
which holds out either to the people or the
railroads the brightest prospects Under
I the present conditions of the higher cost OF
labor and material the tendency of rates
should be to remain stationary, but is It?
! while most OF the laws recently pro-
! pounded have the question OF constitution
ality about them. do not propose to try to
l
wrestle with. But one thing is obvious, and
that is that the railroads have got to fght
these measures as they come along and
try to educate the public on the primary
questions involved
Nebraska May See.
1.-The task thus set for ouselves Is not a
small one as may have been observed. for
instance. in the attitude OF the railroads
toward the 2-cent rate law in Nebraska.
Perhaps the people here will yet appreciats =
from the roads by the time they are cut on
from some of the Dement'S gratuitously af-
forded them by the railroads.
/ "Or take the example of South Carolina
In penalizing railroads for not furnishing
shippers with all the cars they demand. II
that position Is just and right, then there
should be a law to penalize the shippers
when they fail TO use the cars furnished
them. for such failure by them means a
loss to the railroads by having cars out
that are not earning something and vet
which they cannot hand over TO another
shipper. You see. this Is a two-sided ques-
tion and should be so recognized by every
body who is engaging himself In condemn
ing the railroads"
Mr. Hartman has a theory by which he
maintains the government could render
great help IN the present crisis. II Is this:
Recognize by federal statute the making
of enforceable agreements between rail-
roads for a distribution Of trafic and have
such agreements binding for a stated period
OF years"
Purely a Vacation Trip.
Mr Hartman said this was purely a va
cation trip for him. He had a private train
| and was occupying HIS own car. Arden.
with him were. His two sons. their tutor;
Julius Kruttschnitt, director OF maintenance
and operation OF the Hartman system; J.
c. stubbs trafhc director; President Hara-
han OF the Illinois Central; Dr. Lyle. Mr.
Harriman's physician, and W. " Hill. Mr..
Harriman's secretary. The party came in
from Chicago over the Illinois Central IN