New-York tribune., 1909-04-02
HE WANTS 81 500, 400 FROM
THE GOVERNMENT.
To Reimburse Southern Pacific for
Dam-LGOks for Conservatism
an Politics and Business.

i
latter is making for diverting the water back
of the Laguna dam. in Southern California
This is the dam built by the Southern Pacific
TO prevent the waters of the Colorado River
| from wiping out the Imperial Valley.
Mr.. Hartman seemed TO feel aggrfeve0 be-
cause, he said, the government had not re-
paid to the railroad some s1.sOO.OoO as its share
| in building the dam Furthermore" he added.
| they planning build ditch from
this dam down into Mexico and back into Cali
fornia. which will interfere with our irrigation
| project. They say they going TO spend
S4000.00O $5.OOOOO0 in doing this. but they
might we'll save their money. II may be
somewhat incOnvenient for to do il. but II
they carry out their plans we will build high
| ditch line back of theirs and get the water for
| irrigating land. in spite Of them
Evidently Mr. Hartman thinks that the
Southern Pacific did great work in saving the
Imperial Valley and that the government is act
ing shabbiy in trying take advantage of the
dam to use the water in irrigatfng other lands
at the expense of those through which the
Southern Pacific runs
EXPECTS CONSERVATISM
AS for the conflicts over regulation between
the railroads and the national and the state
governments Mr. Hartman seemed to think
that more conservative policy would be adopt
ed in the future
1T is up TO the federal government" he said.
TO begin a retreat. or. I should say a read
justment of relations. 1 think the federal zcv-
eminent will adopt policy. which will be an
example to state governments. Of letting the
more conservative forces lead"
Then you think there will be notifications
in the Sherman law and in some Of the state
laws regulating railroads." was asked
Il certainly do" replied Mr. Hartman T
ink hat rsrYhIi
Under the Sherman act we cannot even meet 20
consider strong companies giving aid TO weaker
railroads Some lines, through lack OF fortune
or Of foresight. have been becoming weaker. I
want to see these weak lines become more ef-
dcient for their delays and shortcomings affect
the stronger lines There should be no reason
why long term contracts should not be made
with parallel competing lines without chang
ing the ownership for the mutual benefit OF the
railroads and the public
The Sherman act is at the bottom of all
these purchases of railroads by stronger in
terests. because the people interested could not
control the weaker lines in any other way than
by purchase"
Mr. Hartman said he had no fault to find
with the principle Of government inquiry. but
he objected 10 the methods that had been used
1t was the infiction of a big fine by sub
servient court" he said which brought on the
panic of 1907.
Don't You think the Standard Oil Company
should have been investigated" was asked.
"Oh. yes he replied with a smile They
probably needed some inquiry. But all the IN
iuiries of the government seemed to be turned
in certain directions They might have been
turned in other directions well. and with
much profit
NOT GOING To RETIRE
the Southwest. Mr.. Hartman declared he was
feeling fine. and those who saw him before he
left said the improvement was marked
What about the date of your retirernent?"
he was asked.
Why. I am not thinking about that" he re-
piled with a smile. There are some people
managing properties out West who want to i'm
prove their lines. and they want some help
Does that foreshadow some more financing
in the near future?" he was asked
We have been financing all the time" he
said
Mr.. Hartman reached New York at $50
o'clock last night. his special running from Buff
falo as the second section of the Lake Shore
Limited From Chicago his train of four cars
had been sent over the Michigan Central. be-
cause. he put it, some OF the women wanted
to Niagara Falls But I assure YOU" ha
said Il did not get up at O'Clock to admire
the beauties of the scenery"
Usually Mr.. Hartman in returning from his
Western trips has come in by the Erie. in which
he is interested But he is director in the
New York Central and other Vanderbilt lines
and this was his first trip them since he
entered the management
is it true he was asked. sthat YOU are To
take active part in the management Of the
New York Central Iines?"
We'll, 1 can't say about that" was the reply
Il haven't been asked yet"
JOKE on NEWSPAPER MEN.
When the newspaper men who had been asked
TO join Mr. Hartman YOnkers walked 70 the
end of his special train of four cars. which
stopped for them at 5:14 o'clock they were con-
fronted by a battery OF cameras in the hands OF
members of the Hartman party. 1t was April
Fools Day. and the joke was on the newspaper
men, OF the party expressed it, Mr.
Hartman acted as master OF ceremonies and
commanded the newspaper men to stand in the
sun and look pleasant while their pictures
were taken. Not until this was done would
Mr. Hartman pose while the newspaper pho
tographers took shot him and the members
of his party.
Bubbling with good humor Mr. Har-i-
man invited the newspaper men into his car.
and so interested did he become in answering
the questions put to him that the train had been
in the Grand Central Station ten minutes before
he realized 4.
Last night he spent in his Fifth avenue home.
instead of going to Arden As TO whether hs
would be at his Office to-day. Mr. Hartman saif
he did not know Il am still drifting" he said.
with a laugh.
Other members OF the party we're Miss Mary