Waterbury evening Democrat., 1908-08-04
ROADS IN NEED,
 SAYS HARTMAN
Declares They Must Have
 More Revenue.
PEOPLE OUGHT TO PAY.

1 Money Wanted For Extension and lm-
 provement of Lines and Provision of New Equipment-Magnate Answers
 Queries About Prevalence of Re-
 eeiverships, Advance In Prices of &c.,
 eurities and others-He Is Not Sup
 porting Any Candidate For the Presi- dency.
 Chicago, Aug. 4.-Edward H. Harri- man before his departure from Chica- go for the west gave short discus sion of the possibility of general in crease of freight rates in the. United | States
 ''The American people ought to be willing to pay the railroads proper compensation for a proper transporta- l ton service" he said. Such service we are now performing, but we are not receiving an adequate return. | If the railroads are to go on ex- tending their lines. improving those which are now operated and providing new equipment to take care of the country's business, they must have more revenue.
 1 T am not in favor of cold, calcu- lating, cruel and horizontal increase ! in the rates. I am not traffic man, and do not know much about such ! things, but I know that there is a proper way to go about thing and that there is a bungling way to do the same thing" Favors Adjustment of Rates. I Mir. Hartman seemed to favor a general readjustment of freight tariffs rather than a general increase. He believed that many rates were too low and should be increased. but he was i opposed to a straight 10 per cent in crease in the carrying charges for all commodities. +...
 'Is there to be an increase in freight ratesT' he was asked.
 How can I tell?' was the reply, ac- companied by despairing wave of ] the hands.
 Well, if there is to be no increase in freight rates will there be decline in wages?" was the next question. "I don't care to talk about wages" said Mir. Hartman. But the railroad laborer is in the same position that the railroad should be in. He is entitled to all he can get for his services, pro vided he gives the very best service that lies in him." ..
 Questions Asked and Answered. 1 MT. Hartman was asked this ques- 1 ton:
 "why is 1t, NIT. Hartman, that after five years of great prosperity the rail- | roads are in bad straits. many of them in the hands of receivers and others near receivership proceedings?"
 Simply because they are after them" was the reply.
 | MT. Hartman did not explain whom he meant by they"
 "Politics?" he said in answer to a question concerning Mfr. Bryan. "Well, leave me out of politics. I am not SUD- porting any candidate"
 How about the plan of the Demo crats to secure physical valuation of the railroads?"
 That can't answer; haven't even read the Democratic platform. I'll ! look it up."
 i Mir. Hartman refused to talk about the reversal of the Standard oil fine by the United States court of appeals. i Mir. Hartman wrote answers to writ ten questions as follows:
 'Is the advance in securities justi. fed by the actual or prospective con- dition; Yes.
 Do you think that advance will continue and how long? As long as 1 conditions continue natural and as long as the people are normal.
 Do you think the advance has dis counted any improvement in condi tions? The decline was because of abnormal and unnatural conditions and ought not have occurred. at least not to so great an extent. A reaction was due. but 1t would have been reached by natural stages and not harmed