New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1907-03-07
HARTMAN OPTIMISTIC.
NOT OPPOSING
CANAL.
He Refuses to Discuss Report of
Purchase of Reading.
rFrom The Tribune Bureau. J

MED the report that he had bought the contrOll-
ing interest in the Reading Railroad. although |
he declared he had not bought sold any stock |
whatever stree he came to Washington last Fri |
day: gave It his opinion that the currency
and the tariff should have received attention be-
fore The railroad rate question was taken up; |
6enied that the transcontinental roads were
interfering with the construction Of the Panama
Canal: said complimentary things about the
President, and expressed optimistic and pa
trioic views OF conditions generally.
The newspaper men. We're received in his
apartments in the Willard by appointment. just
after ne had finished dinner He greeted them
afably shaking hands with each one and in
0uiring what papers they represented. He
asked them all TO sit down. himself taking a
seat al a writing desk but most of the inter
viewers preferred 10 stand about him. When
the interview, which lasted three-quarters Of an
hour marked by running fire of questions and
answers. over, he again shook hands. say
ing that he had enjoyed the talk and, indeed.
mad not had such a pleasant time during his
stay in Washington. Now that his children
had gone he continued, he rather lonely.
The first question asked Mr.. Hartman was
about the report from New York THAI he had
Just acquired control Of the Reading
4 viii neither deny nor afir@, stock reports.
said he i viii say have not bought or sold
& share Of stock since l came 10 Washington"
HIS attention was called TO the fact that this
might be taken as an evasive answer.
We'll. don't want to deny it positively. be-
cause it is against my rules he explained
"Some time you might ask me something that
would not want 10 deny o. affirm.
4 notice that the afternoon papers say that
the New York Central holdings and those of the
old Wasserman pool in the Reading Railway
were taken over last night. This is not true"
Mr Hartman added.
He turned the interview a discussion Of his
views regarding the necessity for rebuilding the
railroads of the country with a wider gauge. or
Of substituting electric engines for locomotives.
which, he thinks, have reached the limit Of size
This change viii come in your lifetime. cas-
ily." ne said. I think it must come within the
next ten years. We forget how much has been
done in the last ten years in changing the mode
Of transportation Give US a six-foot gauge
with the wider and broader frebox that would
be possible then. and the steam locomotive can
be made to serve the purpose Of moving the
greater loads that the expanding business re-
Quires. Even now the irebox must be made so
long that the fireman cannot properly scatter
the coal over the fire"
FAVoRs RAILROAD REGULATION.
In reply to questions he said he thought there
should be more cooperation between the govern
nent ana the railroads. that the transportation
fare Of the country as the newspaper men, the
politicians the farmers. The railroad rate
law wiz not hamper the railroads. he went on
10 say if they are properly administered There
Should be some way TO legalize cooperation of
railroads that the business could be carried
on more Cheaplv.
"Oh, il viii all como out in the wash" said
he. I believe in American character. little
bloodettng may be productive of good some-
lines I am rf,,sc4
who has the good Of his country at heart"
His attention was again directed TO his sug-
gestion about legaliz.ng some combinations.
That is hardly fa.r question 10 answer in
ten minutes" he repli=s. But there should be
some method devised whereby traffic be
handled at lesser cost"
The remark was made that he and the Presi-
dent stood on about the same ground. then.
i have been surprised at the way the Presi-
dent has come round Mr.. Hartman said. 1T
has been bold and courageous after the position
M had previously taken / think right
along this line will be recognized. We may have
tc give up something to get il. For instance,
believe that every railroad ought TO be subject
some regulation, regulation by some properly
constituted body"
TZe vas asked about the currency laws and
;heir effect on business interests. He expressed
tle opinion that before the regulation Of the
railroads Nas' taken up attention should have
hcen paid the currency and the tariff As 10
whether the tariff should be reduced or in
creased. he would say.
We'll, works Of art ought TO be eliminated
from the tariff" ne said, when asked for his
views as to what changes should be made in the
tariff
aF5ow about stcei rails?" some one inquired.
Il never knew that steel rails classea
ss works Of art: wish they We're" he replied.
Hard times viii come again, he predicted, and
then the currency question viii be taken up.
lie hoped they would come in the lifetime Of
his inte-vic-vcrs. but added that they were sure
70 come.
As TO the reports that the transcontnental
railroads are fighting the construction of the
Panama Canal he said there was no foundation
for such statements. He said he was not sure
thar The canal would hurt them. and that when
;he time came and the right Of way pro-
vded Ids Interests would have something 10
shir through the canal. He accounted for the
frequency Of reports Of this nature by sayias
that -.-here,er any one wanted anything of the
government ;hey used the transcontnental rail-
Foe3 s-are
CAUSE or TIGHT MONEY.
Mr Hartman returned 10 money matters TO
sav something about the rate Of interest THE
HIS - money for the big enterprises is just as
important said he "as the hire OF labor of
the cost Of material There has been an IN
crease Of from - per cent to 33 ID per cent
eor the ni-e Of money. This is due 10 the iaeI
that The sentiment which has been created mas
made money lenders fearful Of what might
become - ther money II they loaned II TO rail-
r9ad enterprises. But Why co not railroads DO
something "a counteract this sentiment are
you suHe.~fhey DO not appreciate II:
Wei, I know one thing" intercepted Ne"
n n