The Washington herald., 1907-03-15

According to advices received here last
night, Messrs. McCrea, Newman. Mellen.
and Hughitt. the four railroad presidents
whom J. Pierpont Morgan asked Presi-
dent Roosevelt to see, will arrive in
Washington for conference at the
White House to-day or tomorrow.
Il was said az the White House late
yesterday afternoon that no definite ar
rangement for their reception had been
made. and that they had not asked for
an audience Under the understanding
reached as result of Mr.. Morgan's
visit. however. they will be received by
the President as soon as they reach the
Capital and inform hio that they are
ready 20 talk 90 him. sseruons that
President McCrea, of the 7ennsylv9aia,
viii not come unless the President spe-
ciaHy invites him arc said here TO be not
well founded The President viii not
scad any special invitations.
II the railroad presidents expect 10
bring about any material change in MI
Ro0sevelrs attitude on the subject Of
railroad regulation. they viii be disap-
pointed. The President realizes the seri-
BUSINESS of the railroad situation, TO which
the Generalization in the stock market
is ascrihed. but. however undecided he
mag be or some phases OF existing prob
lens, he is making one positive state
men, 10 those who are In his confidence.
That is, that me is determined 10 do
what he can TO bring about Federal ap-
praisement Of railroads. and also Federal
franchises. He does not believe that the
laws already enacted are adequate to
bring about proper regulation, in other
words. He wants further legislation
which viii provide for the two matters
referred to and, perhaps, some other
things.
Plan VIII He Opposed.
Good friends OF the administration hope
that AR Roosevelt will not bring this
feature Of The situation too prominently
TO the front at this particular juncture.
The four railroad presidents doubtless
VIII bring many arguments to bear
against the plan, and while. apparently
there is no reason TO believe that they
will be able TO induce him TO change
his opinions. # is hoped by influential
men who are friendly 10 both the Presi-
dent and the railroads that the forth
coming conference will result in a better
understanding than now exists and in the
RELOCATION OF discussions of Federal ap-
praisement and Fedoral franchises 10 the
background, al least temporarily.
It is the belief Of the President just
now that possible bad effects from rail
road legislation by the States. which is
alleged to be unjust To the transportation
interests. can best be prevented by pro-
vision for Federal franchises. II might,
in the opinion OF persons acquainted with
the general trend of the Presidents ideas.
bo justified under the constitutional clause
giving the general government authority
TO establish post-Officcs and post roads
At the Interstate Commerce Commission
il is said that such q law probably would
enable the government to fix intrastate
rates and so far beyond its present au-
therity.
The iutimatiou from sources very close
to the President that he intends to ask
the next Congress TO enact such a law
suggests most interesting possibilities.
While nothing definite is known here as
to what the attitude of the States would
many, and perhaps all. of them viii let
it be clearly understood that they viii
not accept the proposed innovation with
out decided protests. Naturally, they viii
not care to surrender a very large share
of their rights 10 regulate passenger and
freight rates within their own bounda-
les.
HarIan's Idea Commended.
Interstate Commerce Commissioner
Harlan has suggested that the body of
which he is d member already has the
authority to stay the operation Of State
laws which interfere with interstate rates,
and several railroad presidents. among
them Mr.. Suckney, Of the Chicago Great
Western. have let it be understood that
they think the suggestion is excellent.
That the various State governments
would resist any attempt to apply the
idea is scarcely to be doubted.
Just now some Of the railroad magnates
seem 10 favor law providing for the
operations of rail lines under Federal
franchises. When the President first
suggested such legislation months ago,
practically all of the more prominent
officials frowned upon it, and some OF
them went further than frowning. In
the meantime however, they seem to
have swung around to the idea that it
will be better and easier for them to deal
with one central government than with
many State governments. The situa tiOn
in that respect is analogous to that
which resulted in the attempt OF esome
of the big insurance companies 10 bring
about the enactment Of a Federal insuT-
ance law which would place the regula-
ton Of the insurance business in the
hands of one commission or commissioner
I'm Washington and bring about the abo-
liuon Of the various State commissioners
or commissions.
Any positive and authoritative assur-
ance that the President will insist on
recommending that the next Congress
enact a law providing for Federal fran
chises would be certain to precipitate i
vigorous campaign. While many Repub-
licans may sanction a law providing for
the appraisemeut of the railroads by the
government, in order to establish a proper
basis for the making of rates, it is ex-
tremely doubtful if the President would
be able to get anything like the undivided
support of his party in Congress in an
endeavor to provide for Federal fran
chises. The result of such endeavors still
would be doubtful even if the railroads
themselves seconded Mr.. Roosevelt. The
view Of the average Republican is that
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