The Washington times., 1907-03-20
Relations Between Roads
and Public Gone
Into.
Preference Seems to Be
for Federal, Not State,
Control.
Approve of Restraint,
But Want 1t
Tempered.

Is the present legislative tendency to-
ward restraint OF railroads along GER
tain lines fair and proper, and is the
extraordinary attempt OF railroad men,
by conferences with the President ard
otherwise, to temper this restraint the
best method to better the railroads?
These are two great questions.
As the best means Of securing light
on the matter, the following direct
questions were put TO nine Of the great
railroad men Of the country:
What are your views on the present
attitude Of the public?
What do you think will be the effect
of the new laws, Federal and State, on
the railroad industry?
What is your idea of the possibility of
cooperation with the Government in the
light Of the conferences that are pro-
posed between PRESIDENT Roosevelt and
certain of the railroad leaders?
What IS your opinion of the financial
situation that may be created unless
some common ground is reached?
The replies were in part as follows:
Politicians Sought Revenge.
L. c. Fritch, assistant to the presl-
dent of the Illinois Central Railroad
Federal laws are. as a rule, fair be-
cause made after due deiberation and
prepared with more care than State
laws With few exceptions. Federal
legislation will not be detrimental to.
railroads. The Hepburn bill is not in
furious 10 railroad interests. II enabled
the railroads to get from under a lot
of conditions they could not otherwise
control. OF the State laws, many were
rushed through without proper inves-
tGation and in many instances to sat
isfv the III feeling OF some local politi-
clan. The 2-cent law in Nebraska is
a fair example OF detrimental State
legislation.
no Right to Limit Eearnings.
Z. p. Ripley. president OF the Santa Fe
system-The national laws are moder-
ate and fair compared with those pro-
posed by the States which seem to be
competing with each other for the honor
of StTanEling the railroads They have
already made it impossible 10 raise money
for improvements and have done in
finite damage TO their own interests.
There will be no new railroads no
extensions. and no improvements until
there is radical change in sentiment
Neither the National nor the State gov
ernments have any moral right 10 limit
earnings or require Increased expendi-
lures uSless or until they are prepared
10 guarantee fair returns on the value
of railroad properties and the essential
and fundamental wrong that is being
done is the refusal to recognize this self
evident proposition.
Inhamed Public Sentiment.
F. a. Delano. president Of the Wa
bash railroad-HistOry is full of cases
-
get certain legislation nave sought to
inhame public sentiment, and after that
sentiment was aroused It has swept
everything before II, even its oriEina-
tors.
Is there not a real danger tnat the
bitterness born, as l believe, Of inn
perfect knowledge of all the data NAV
who promulgated the movement ever in
tended?
Earnest Thought Required.
W. H. Canniff president Of the New
York. Chicago and st. Louis railroad
Whatever may have been tine mistakes
in the past, or the natural results. it
is imperative now that sober, earnest
thought and judgment prevail.
The proposed conference ought to re-
suit In better understanding Of the
COmplicate problem which now con-
fronts the American people.
Railroads Partly Responsible.
b. L. WincheH. president of the Rock
Island raiIroad-Unfortunat the pres
ent attitude of the public toward trans
portation companies is hostile, due
partly To the action OF some OF the rail-
roads and partly to the action OF some
political demagogues. who have found
abuse OF the railroads an easy stairway
TO office.
The effect OF the Hepburn bill so long
Bs IL is wisely administered by rational
men is not and will not be injurious.
The effect OF some of the State laws
Will be disastrous. particularly the re-
duction OF % l-S per cent in passenger
the West. and a great many companies
will be- forced TO fight the matter out
in the courts.
Wants Federal Supervision.
A. 5. Sdckney. president of the Chi
cago Great Western railroad-I think /
the time has come when. il the whole /
regulation OF railways can be done by |
the General Government and The dis
cordant regulations by state govern !
ment can be eliminated a svsten, of /
Government regulation could gradually
be evolved which would insure to ail 4
shippers fair and equal treatment and /
which would give 10 railway invest |
ments that stability Of values which Is |
so desirable.
Public Sentiment Invites Disaster.
F. j.. Underwood. president of the |
Erie railroad-The present condition of /
public sentiment toward corporal tJons
and combinations OF all sorts I believe /
invites disaster
When il Is remembered that the agri-
cultural industry is the leading one of
the United States, and transportation
ranks next 70 IL IN Importance. it should
not, to my mind, he hard to perceive the
enectS which would result from dealing
the transportation interests OF the couno
Try the severe blow Of impairing their
w. II TruesdalA, president of the Del
aware, Lackawanda and Western rail /
road-The most serious aspect of the
present SITUATION as seen from the rail-
road standpoint is the universal and /
pronounced feeling OF hostility which /
exists toward the railroads and those
tr,,N Inc