The watchman and southron. [volume] (Sumter, S.C.) 1881-1930, 1907-03-27
WOULD JAIL HARTMAN.
senator CuIlum, After Talk With
Roosevelt, Calls Railroad Man a
Rascal.

Rascal.
Washington, March Ell told the
president said Senator Cu1Iom Of
Illinois, as he emerged from the
White House today, that if could
have my way and there was a law to
do it, would put Hartman in the pen
itentiary for his work III the Alton
deal, and keep him there long enough
to make hirn pay the full penalty for
footing the road and bringing about
conditions for which the bondholders
will have to suffer.
He certainly MIXED the road cry.
There is no doubt about the rascaIity
OF the deal. The people who are
swindled are Of course not the citi-
zens at large, but the folks who
bought those bonds. It there is moth
ing behind the paper it cannot of
course be worth much, and to sell it
is nothing more nor less than swim
de-
The venerable senator was asked
what reply Mr.. Roosevelt made to
these views Of his.
81 don't think he made any COM
ment said Mr.. Cullom.
81 am afraid, though" continued
the senator, that there is ne law by
which Hartman can be reached now
for that deal. It ought to be posi-
bic, however, to prevent such things
in the future, now that there has
been an exposure, and I am glad to
notice that Gov. Deneen has prepared
a bill to prevent overcapitalization
and assure investors in stocks and
railroads chartered under the State
laws Of the exact purpose for which
every dollar authorized is to be ex-
pended
ST feel the outrage in this Alton
deal most keenlv because the road
property, but it has been drained dry,
and the bondholders must suffer from
the despoiling of the road simply to
crafty the Iooting proclivities Of Mr..
Hartman. Having lined his pockets
by looting the property and disposing
Of the bonds for several millions of
dollars to innocent purchasers, I do
not suppose he cares what becomes
of this particular line or any other
which he has exploited. The whole.
business is outrageous, and I find it
hard to express adequately my feel
ings over it.
Senator Cullom called at the White
House on business not connected with
railroad problems, but as is the case
with almost all the presidents visit
ors nowadays he soon found himself
engaged in a discussion Of the ques-
ton that is uppermost in the presi-
dents mind. That led to the express
sion Of opinion about Mr.. Hartman,
and the punishment he should re-
ceiye.
The incident has served to revive
the suggestion that Mr.. Roosevelt in
his talk with Gov. Deneen and At
torney General Stead of Illinois last
week sought information as to the
opportunity for proceeding against Mr..
Hartman under the State laws.
Those who are in a position to know
the feelings Of the President in the
mater have no doubt he would be
quite well satisfied to have an exam
pie made Of Hartman that would
have lasting effect On any who
might be disposed to initiate the AL
ton exploit.
Senator Cullom was on the commit
tee which handled the La Toilette bill
for getting the physical valuation Of
railroads The committee did not do
anything with the bill. Since then,
however, the president has taken up
the subject, and when Mr.. Cullom
was asked about it today he was
70 n
was something in it than when only
the friendless La Toilette was its
sponsor.
81 believe. he said, "the govern
ment ought to make a valuation, but
there are many more obstacles IN
the way Of that programme than
most people know Of. Unless the ap-
praisement is made all at once the
appraisers will have to begin all over
again when they get through, for by
that time the values will have chang
ed 1t must be done just like the
census, az within the space OF 1ew
months If it isn't, the figures OBJ
tained won't be worth anything at
ALL
Senator Overman Of North Carolina
as he came out that he hoped the
rights Of the States would not be in
terfered with any more
"Trenching upon the rights Of
States he said, lis growing to be a
dangerous thing, and I hope to see 1t
stop. When the States are deprived
of the rights given them by the con-
stitution paternalism will follow. and
the death of the republic will be the
next thing"
The text of the interview with SEN
ator Cullom was read to Mr.. Harri-
man last night after his return from
the dinner he had given at Sherry's
to his Boys Club His only comment
was:
IF Senator Cullom said that he
bapp sober New