Evening star., 1909-05-13
J.J. HILLS OPTIMISTIC
Looks for Era of Prosperity at
an Early Day.
SAYS "SHUT OFF ORATORY''
Wants Country to Get Down to
Farming and Business.
TELLS OF CHINA AND JAPAN
President Of Methodist University at
Peking Caller at White House.
Other Visitors.

James ]. Hill. railroad man, business
man. likewise farmer. is optimistic as to
the outlook. All that is necessary to
bring on q great era Of prosperity at an
early date, he believes. is to get rid Of
the tariff agitation. cut It Off short, shut
of the oratorica1 steam, and let the coun-
try get down to farming, business and
banking.
"You know thousands of people turn
their eyes to Washington" Mr.. Hill said.
Some of them seem to think that legis-
lation will cure the toothache, set a
broken limb or make crops. Agitation
and talk here keep these people in sus-
pense, make them forget their business.
What we want is to have the tariff agita-
ton over and let these thousands Of peo-
pie turn their attention to their business
and work, aiding the great wheels of
progress to turn Then things will begin
to hum. Yes, the outlook is good in all
directions"
"The stock and bond business in New
York seems to be discounting the possi-
bilities?'
"Oh. that is all made in New York. The
millions Of people of the country are not
bothering with stocks or bonds. What
we must look to now is our crops.
Wheat Outlook Is Good.
1.-THE Great Northern road runs through a
|section that supplies one-sixth Of the wheat
of the United States. The wheat outlook
Is good. do not think there will be a
big crop. 1t promises to be fair one.
however. The trouble is that the acreage
is not large one. Heavy SHOWS late In
being too wet. After the ground was
ready to plow many farmers put in oats
and barley. The blowing should have
been done last fall"
You talk as IL you knew something
about real farming, Mr.. HILL"
"Well. I believe l do. 1 own two big
farms. one of 10000 acres and another Of
5000. / have given much Study to the
subject. 1t was necessary for me to do 30
in connection with my railroad business"
And Farmer Hill talked learnedly Of
agricultural publications and the posi-
bilities Of agriculture in the south and
west.
1.-THE west and the south are to be the
great sections Of this country in the fu-
ture" said Farmer Hill. The west Is
now. for that matter, and the south is
coming forward with leaps and bounds
The south exhausted her soil before the
war by her methods OF improvident agri-
culture and is now struggling to restore
the soil She is succeeding, too, and has
a great future"
Tells Of China and Japan.
Dr. Isaac Taylor Headland. for nineteen
years president Of the great Methodist
University at Peking. talked with Pres
ident Taft today about things in the
orient. The university is maintained by
Methodists for the education Of Chinese
boys, and has accomplished wonders In
that direction. DR.. Headland says that
Americans in the orient are delighted that
the country has President familiar with
conditions and affairs in the far east.
Our possession of the Philippines and
the worid-tOur Of our great battleship
to the world-power stage with the orient"
DR.. Headland said. He will have a
later conference with the President as to
japan. He proposes to furnish the Pres
ident with some valuable inside informa-
ton.
Amendments to Commerce Law.
A committee representing the National
Industrial League, composed Of hundreds
of business organizations throughout the
country, called on President Taft today
to urge him to recommend to Congress
next winter important changes In tne act
to regulate commerce. The committee
was headed by j. c. Lincoln or st. Louis.
AMI was introduced to the President by
Representative Townsend or Michigan.
The President listened with interest to
the representations of his callers, who
talked from the standpoint of business
men who have had experience with the
Hepburn act and believe they know what
should be done.
Three amendments are advocated by
these shipping interests. The first is to
give the interstate commerce commission
power to suspend an increased rate by
the railroads before 1t goes into effect
which according to the terms Of the law
is within thirty days after notice is
served of the proposed increase. Upon
prima facie case being made that the
proposed increased rate Is unfair the
commission should have the power to
suspend it pending later investigation
The second amendment is to give the
shipper authority to route his freight
according to the quickest and most suit
able route instead of permitting the
| roads to send in any direction they de-
sire.
The third Is to hold the roads RESPONSE
BILE for errors of rate quotation. Ii that
| can be done. The shippers state that ire
| sponsible representatives of the roads
| frequently quote a rate on a shipment
upon which a man bases his business,
and when the shipment is made il is
found at the other end that big mis-
take has been made. The right to recov-
er damages from roads for this situation
| is advocated.
The President said he would consider
| the various propositions.
Wanted at Cedar Run.
4 Every year tiltI Z IL d Sdl cA-1OHlGU-
crate gathering at Cedar Run, on the bor-
der CT Shenandoah and Frederick coun-
/ ties Va More Nirginians gather there
than al any other place in the state
Senator Daniel wants the President to go
there .this year ard called on the chief
| executive today to ask him to do So The
matter will be submitted to the President
| as to the exact date later and 1t is
| hoped by Virginians that he will make
the trip August. after crops are laid
/ by, is generally the time for these meet
ings The President will he in Massachu-
setts at that time and a date will be fixed
| TO suit him II he will agree To go.
| Secretary Nagel talked about Ellis
| Island affairs with the President today.
and II is expected that a commissioner of
/ immigration to succeed Robert Watchorn
will be named i'm few days.
1 Senator's Overman and Simmons called
on the President today with Col. A. B.
Andrews OF Raleigh vice president Of the
Southern railway. Senator Carter intro
duced friends.
Case of Maj. Darlington.
Senator Clay of Georgia took up with
the President today the noted case of