Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1907-10-14
RAILROADS FOR
FEDERAL CONTROL
Executives Generally Approve
Plan Outlined by RObt. Mather
OF the Rock Island.
WHAT THEY ARE OPPOSED TO
H. Varied Assortment of Rules, Rcgu-
lations and Laws Under Which
Must Now Operate, says Ripley.

Chicago. oct. 1i.-That railroad cxccu-
uycs generally approve Of the plan for
government control and regulation of
transportation lines of the nation as
advocated by Robert Mather president
OF the Rock Island company 100 his
speech To- the Chicago Association OF
Commerce today was strongly udi-
Gated when various officials went on
record Co that effect.
Nh Mdther's address was called adj
mirablo in every way. and none of the
railroad officials interviewed disagreed
with him as to the desirabillty of cen-
tralt2ed authority in preference Zoo what
they called the varied and Inconsistent
system OF laws passed by state legisla-
lures.
II was granted. too. that Mr. Nather
had CON, well 10 talk openly of rec
batting. After cOmUlimentiug Mr. Ma
thcr ON his speech. D.. a. Ripley ptesl-
dent OF Che santa Fr. said he Thought
the principal points urged by the Rock
Island official well taken.
What the railroads are opposed to-
Doc said. "ig the varied assortment of
rules. regulations and laws under which
at the present they must operate.
For instance. the Santa Ee runs
through IA states and territories. and
what is legal i'm one state. may Doe uu-
lawful BOB another and vice versa. Iu
other words. We have too many Minister'S.
Would 10 not be- much better for ua VI
we had "a single. central source off reg-
ulatiou than so mauyn ] believe that
is the position taken Dy Mr. Mather
and most railroad officials.
THE cutlery against The railroads BIAS
caused them much damage said Air
Ripley This antaEuuism is by mo-
means "a thing OF the past as DO exists
today. and is doep-scatcd. The ccusuIe
and attacks OF tho press ana the unjust
structures from other sources have Kept
% alive. The result is that thc railroads
have been nearly ruined. They are now
worrying along ass best they can. They
cannot DO anything but serve the pub
DE. even % the public is attacking
them 90
Nh. Ripley denied that the railroads
would propose amy program before the
next Congress
"A great address. 4 very sensible
and convincing speech said j. IT
Harahan. president of the Illinois ten-
trail railroad. Taken as a whole and
NOT enalyzng each and every section
Mr. Mathers statement ln my opinion
pretty we'll expresses the feeling ot
railroad presidents and managers The
trouble Is. ana has been, that the states
have various laws which conflict with
the interstate laws. This leads TO em-
barrassment and needs correction. lt
is true that several states have statutes
which do not Ggree This leads Co trout
BILE"
w. II. McDoel, president OF the Mo-
non. approved Of MI Mather's sanu-
ments.
s. NJ FELTON,. president Of the Alton
road said Mr.. Mather's presentation OF
the case was admirable.
"Do YOU think that nearly an railroad
executives agree with MI Mather that
federal control rs desirablcf'
II feel that they DO replied Mr.
FELTON,.
Il believe that MI. Mather's opinions
are very largely shared
"WM the railroads agre upon con-
gressioual program
81 have not heard that any such
movement is contemplated, and 1 would
hazard the statement that the roads
will do nothing OF the sort, but viii
merely continue 90 try 90 do business
as best they can.