New-York tribune., 1910-06-08
R|PLEY'S THE ONE
sf-S
D|SC0RDANT VOICE
AtChison's President Takes
PessimistiC View of Rail-
road Situation.
HOLDS DELAY MAY BE LONG
St. Paurs Chairman Applauds
Compromise Reached at
Washington-Expect
Higher Rates.

gard to the present status OF the rate
controversy between the railroads and
the government and what the situation
may mean to the railroads was ex-
pressed yesterday by some of the best
known railroad officials
While the feeling seemed to prevail
in railroad circles that the compromise
agreed upon at Washington was the
only sensible way out of difficult situa-
ton. and that all parties concerned
would receive fair treatment when the
matter reached a final adjustment by
the Interstate Commerce Commission, an
opposite and decidedly pessimistic view
was taken by E. P. Ripley, president Of
the Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Rail-
way Company, who was one Of the three
Western railroad presidents who took
part in the White House conference
Monday over the proposed advance in
freight rates.
In the opinion of Mr. Ripley so long
as the general attitude Of politicians
toward the railroads continues as it is,
and in view of the legislation with re-
spect to the railroads now pending in
Congress. no encouragement is offered
to investors to put their money in rail-
road securities.
Ripley on Increased Rates.
Mr. Ripley said that as the situation
now stands the government has virtual
control of the railroads without a cent
of money invested and without any re-
sponsibility whatsoever. He declared
also that the advances involved in this
controversy did not amount to enough
to make any material increase in the
total income of the railroads. He init
mated. however, that further increases
were in contemplation before the in
junction proceedings were started.
While admitting that it was generally
understood by those who participated in
the White House conference that the
matter of investigating the proposed ad-
vances in rates by the Interstate Com
merce Commission would be expedited
as much as possible, he declared no one
could tell how long a time would be re-
quired to get the new rates into effect.
He said that undoubtedly the shippers
would make further protest to the COM
mission, but incidentally explained that
the shippers are not directly represented
in these rate discussions inasmuch as
their associations are represented by
men hired for the purpose who sustain
precisely the same relation to the ship
pers as labor leaders do to the members
of their various unions
AS a matter of fact. he said, there was
which was instrumental in securing the
| injunction against the increases in rates
now under consideration.
Evil Effects of Politics"
Mr.. Ripley said he received letter
written by a very prominent man which
indicated what persons in other parts of
the country thought of the situation.
The letter was as follows:
l appreciate very much your letter of
| May 16 and share your sentiments most
heartily as to. the evil effects of politics
upon our national credit and morals
but we are really going through no more
in this country than they are suffering
in England and France. the two other
countries where politicians can fool
nearly all the people nearly all the time.
Germany presents an interesting con-
trast- There the forces that are for
anarchy and chaos are all collected in
an impotent minority.
The regretfu thing about the stua-
ton, tc my mind. is that apparently the
only cure for our present difficulties is
a long period of hard times, during
which we must witness the distress and
suffering of those who are blindly led
by the most contemplate class of rulers
known to men, namely. OfficeSeeking
demagogues.
You will remember that in the early
90's there were few Republicans and
hardly any Democrats who dared to
defend corporations or 10 admit that
they were -"stalWartS," and you will re-
call, too, that after the hard times were
over it was only necessary in the West
to charge a man with having been a
Populist in order to defeat him for any
public position.
Probably the people will be just as
sick of insurgents in four or five years
as they were of PopuliStS in 1S96-'91.
I came back here last fall believing
| that conditions were favorable for in
teresting and profitable work in con-
nection with those affairs which are es-
sential to the cOuntry'S growth how
ever offensive they may be to the rulers
| of our country. and l still think that
| every condition at that time was most
| favorable for a prosperous period of in
definite length. There seemed TO me at
that time to be but one cloud in the
financial Sky-Our imperfect banking
system. But now l feel utterly at sea and
| incapable Of acting for myself and ad-
vising others, so I have concluded to
| take the steamer this week and seek
the enjoyments of the idle. 1t is certain
! that useful citizen over here will not
I be permitted any enjoyment and. I. am
| afraid. will not be allowed TO make much
| profit.
Frederick D. Underwood, president Of
the Erie. spoke optimistically OF the
situation in its relation to the railroads
He said yesterday that he did not be-
lieve the administration was ever op-
| posed to an advance in rates except by
the methods employed
| Il know personally that the members
| of the commission are in favor Of sub
stantial advance in rates" he said, and
the railroads have nothing to fear"
Truce Better than Fight.
| Roswell Miller. chairman Of the execu-
tive committee OF the Chicago, Milwau-
kee & St Paul, said that the decision
of the administration to put the ques-
ton of rates UP TO the Interstate Com
merce Commission was a much better
temporary solution Of the situation than
for the railroads 10 have to fight the
injunction suit.
Il am satisfied that the railroad bill
will be passed by the present Congress, -
he said Probably the ultimate result
of all this disturbance will be that the