The Manitowoc pilot. [volume] (Manitowoc, Wis.) 1859-1932, 1910-01-06
RAILROAD HEADS
ENTER PROTESTS
WITH PRESIDENT
MESSAGE TO CONGRESS WILL BE
READY WEDNESDAY DESPITE
ALL CIRCUMSTANCES.
WICKERSHAM IN ATTENDANCE.
Carriers Maintain That Further Legis-
lation Would Upset Conditions in
Business World

W ASHlNGION, ID. G., Jan. 3.-I'feSI-
dent Tafts conference with the six rail
road presidents who came to see him to-
day ended at II 80 o'clock.
None of the railroad officials would
discuss their mission other than to say
that they entered Il general protest
against all of the proposed amendments
to the interstate commerce law.
1t Is understood that they sought to
convince the President that further leg
islation at this time would upset cUndl-
tons in the railway and industrial world
which generally had been righting them
selves in the iast two years. The rail
way men seemed rather detected when
they left the white house and 1t was in
ferred that their mission SO far as hold
ing up the Presidents special message
was concerned was Il failure.
Message Ready Wednesday,
President TAFT said after his confer
ence that lie sill expected to have his
Congress on Wednesday noon.
President Iatt listened attentNely TO
all that the railroad presidents had 10
say during The two hours or more that
the conference was i'll progress. The dis
cusSiOu on the part OF the railroad men
was general, The President did not
commit himself IN any way. In fact, 1t
was said that he made very few remarks
during the interview. At the conclusion
of the conference, the President told his
visitors that he would give their state
mentS due consideration in anything he
might do affecting the railroad interests.
Attorney General Wickersham was the
first to leave the conference. lie started
out of the executive Offices with the
speed Of Il sky rocket declaring that he
could say nothing. absolutely nothing.
The railroad presidents were almost
equally uncOmmunlcatlye. President
Brown OF the New York Central said:
we came to offer Il protest against
the proposed amendments to the inter
state commerce law, ana we received
respectful hearing
President Finley Of the Southern rail-
way added that the protest was Il gen
cral one against proposed railroad leglS-
lltiOn at this time. Further than this
the railroad men would say nothing.
They declared that they had asked for
the interview, and that under the clrcum-
stances any statements concerning II must
necessarily come from the white house.
1t was announced at l2:2O o'clock by
Secretary Carpenter that no statement
would tie given out by the President as
to the conference. II was said that the
President and the attorney general had
heard the objections offered by the rail-
road presidents and would give consld-
Grafton TO ththl' ufiher thah ms mere ,,
was nothing 10 say except lha' MI Lal'
was sun WORKING Oh MS MESSAGE 10 On
Sress, anu that ne eApec'eu 70 SEM 'ht
message III 10 the House ana senate Oh
Wednesday noon.
The meeting was held in the executive
offices of the white house, and began
promptly ut . a. IN. The conference was
Interrupted Tor a time al lo:5o a. m:
when the ireSi4ent saw hulnoer Oh
congressional callers. After twenty MN
utes, he returne" to the conference with
the railroad presidents nose attend
ing the conference were PRESIDENT Mel
len of the New York New Haven ~
Hartford railway; president Nc re4 OF
the PennsElvanla raIlroad; lreSldeht
allied liarrlmaH mes treSiHen' in9er ..
pro.iJent Finley If the SnutEeru rail