The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-11-29
HILLS PESSIMISM FOR INCREASED
 FREIGHT RATES
Special from United Press)

Washington. Nov. 29-A possible campaign of pessimism" to support the contention that the railroads ought to be allowed to increase freight rates is the way many officials here. today, sized up the doleful prophecies of James J. Hill and other railroad mag mates. k
 Commerce Commission now has before 1t the problem of deciding whether the general increase in freight rates an- nounced, last summer. by practically all railroads, is justified by business conditions.
 Added to this is general feeling of apprehension by Republican politi- clans as to what may happen when the new Democratic House gets to working. That is year off. now. but it is nevertheless a bogy to the old line Republicans
 The possibility that the tariff ques- ton may be re-opened during the com ing short session is annoying certain business interests, although it is known that if re-opened. it will only be for a scientific revision. based on facts secured by the tariff board.
 Although no statement regarding James J. Hills recent visit was forth coming from the White House. today, it is understood he came to Washing ton to breathe his apprehensfens. into tue FIeSlOcAllal ear. DuJ HleSLfuS cIleSI- full optimism, from the executive. went forth to declare his pessimism public 1y.
 It is believed this pessimism looked so strong in print that certain of the magnates feared too sudden a reac- tion of stocks and so slightly amended Hills statements, while intimating their. partial acquiescence. This. it is suggested. might account for Hilps partial retraction.
 New York, Nov. 29.-That "busi- ness conditions" are being manipu- lated with an eye entirely on the ef- feet they will have in manufacturing sentiment in favor of railway rate in- creases, was the view taken by busi- nessmen, generally, who are not Wall street insiders" today. They laugh at the .pessismisms being scattered abroad by all who are connected with the stock market in any capacity and smilingly insist that the country is all right.
 The Street, however, believes the statement attributed James J. Hi1], from satisfactory" Outside business men ask why this is so. They say that economic conditions were never better and that money rates were never more liberal than at present, when, under ordinary circumstances, W1Ln QOllQdy DuylUS dnQ cTOp IuONS- ments in progress, money should De tight.
 According to the New York News organ of the Street, the req son for the unrest being voiced by big financfers '1s cause the railroads and other large corporations have de- cided to proceed cautiously until the rate question and perhaps one or two other important matters are settled.
 The executive committee of the Railway Business Association, in its report, recently, said that unless the rate increases are granted, orders for new equipment will be cancelled and their plants forced to shut down. For that reason, they appealed to the public to agitate in favor Of rate Attorneys for the shippers, who are protesting the rates, how ton. They say that if the commis- sion rules against the railroads, the latter will save money now being spent, but will also have to go out for new business which will necas- sitate increased equipment.
 The rumors that all is not satis- factory in the iron and steel trade, is said by iron and steel men, who are on the inside, to be due to the fact that there is underselling of a big combine by other dealers. They have all the business they can handle and the demand for steel, 1t is claimed, continued to exceed the supply.
 The big Street leaders insisted, to- day, however, that the attempt to make the Hill interview responsible Ing the point. The larger houses, it