Omaha daily bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 187?-1922, 1907-03-17
Head Of New York, New Haven & Hartford
Asks for an Interview.
PRESIDENT WILL NOT ISSUE STATEMENT
Report that he Will Further Define His
Views Proves Groundless
GOVERNOR OF ILLINOIS REFUSES TO TALK
with His Attorney General He spends
Two Hours with Mr.. Roosevelt,
but No Information f.
Given out.

WASHINGTON. March ls-Questions af-
fecting the railroad situation occupied
more or less of the attention of President
Roosevelt today. During the morning
there were informal talks with some of
his callers on the subject. dispatch came
from President Mellen OF the New York,
New Haven g Hartford railroad asking for
an appointment. In the afternoon there
was a visit from Governor Deneen and
Attorney General Stead OF Illinois. A
semi-official denial was made that the gov
ernor and the attorney general talked
on either finance or railroads.
From statements, however, which have
come from authoritative quarters preced-
ing the visit, the inference is drawn that
there was some reference to the Chicago
& Alton deal which figured prominently
in the recent Hartman investigation by
the Interstate Commerce commission. The
president is known to be availing himself
Of every opportunity to become acquainted
with the railroad situation, and the i'm
preston is general that this question was
discussed to some extent at least In the
conference with Governor Deneen. The
latter would make no statement.
A rumor gained currency during tho
morning that the president intended to
Issue a statement defining his attitude on
the relations OF the government to the
railroads. An impression to this effect ap-
parently got abroad from the fact that
the president had read to some Of his
callers extracts from his speeches and
letters bearing on some features of the rail-
road question. These reports, however
proved groundless and later II was ascer-
tained that the president would not Issue
such statement today nor has he such
an idea in contemplation,
Short Coll from speyer.
One Of the presidents early callers was
James speyer of New York. head Of speyer
& Co. To many his call looked significant
as It closely followed that of Wednesday.
1t was impossible to ascertain either from
the White House or from Mr.. Speyer the
purpose Of the visit.
Governor Deneen and Attorney General
Stead were with the president for fully an
hour. The governor was at the White
House at the presidents request to discuss
| certain questions" the nature OF which
he declined to disclose After the confer
ence the governor called on Senator Cullom
and later took a train for Chicago. Neither
the governor nor Mr.. Stead would make
any statement regarding their interview
with the president, the governor only ad-
mitting that nothing had been agreed upon
that would require immediate action.
Governor Deneen gave the newspaper men
to understand that he expected the presi-
dent to make statement about the inter
view, but none was given out at the White
House. It was explained there that the
arrangements with the governor for his
visit TO Washington had been made before
the recent furry in Wall street.
meIIen Comes Tuesday.
Tuesday the president is to have a confer
ence with President Mellen of the New
York. New Haven & Hartford railroad, at
Mr.. Mellen's initiative. Mr. Mellen is one
of the railroad presidents with whom ].
Pierpont Morgan asked Mr. Roosevelt TO
confer as to what steps might be taken to
allay the public anxiety as to the relations
between the railroads and the govern
ment" So far as ascertained at the White
House, Mr.. Mellen is the only one OF the
| presidents who has asked for an interview,
and 1t is not known there whether he
represents himself alone or all four Of the
presidents named by Mr.. Morgan.
! Mr.. Mellen is well known to the president
| and usually when he comes to Washington
he makes a social call on Mr.. Roosevelt
| II was said at the White House that
! nothing had been heard from z. H. Harri-
man as to a proposed second call on the
president.