The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1910-06-17
RAILROAD NEWS.
w. c. Brown Opposes Gloomy
Hill-Ripley Outlook.
Head of New York Central Does
Not Feel Disappointed.
HE is NOT AFRAID.
Brown Does Not Approve FEEDER
al Bill-NOr Fear 1t.
Other Items of General Interest
in Railroad World.

IN hallrOaO world.
Chicago June NV. G. Brown, big
railroad man, came to town today and
yielded a number of ideas at direct
variance with those of James ]. Hill
also big railroad man. Views of the
regulation of railways by the United
states government opposite to those
held by the transportation magnate of
the northwest We're expressed by Mr.
Brown, who is president of the New
York Central lines. He arrived at the
Congress hotel at 9 a. m. from New
York. Many railroad critics maintain
that Mr.. Brown and Mr.. Hill are rep
resentative of the east and the west
respectively. and that the difference in
their attitude reflects much of the SEN
ttment in the two sections of the coun-
try toward questions of the day.
Mr.. Hill, in statements made June 6
while he was passing through Chicago
showed himself a pessinlist in regard to
conditions in the railway world, especi-
ally in relation to the attempts of the
rational government to regulate freight
tariffs by a bill now in congress to
amend the present Interstate commerce
law and by an injunction granted to
prevent the raising of rates between
Chicago and the Missouri river.
Brown Disagrees With Hill.
President Brown, on the other hand,
although he laments the existence of
the bill and the probability of it's pas
sage, is not fearful of the effects it
may have on either the eastern or the
western lines. He asserts his faith in
the honesty of the interstate commerce
commission and his belief that the
maintenance of low tariffs by govern
mental rulings would not result in the
practical confiscation of roads that Mr..
Hill intimated might occur in case of
continued aggression by the commits
sion.
Mr.. Brown is sanyuine, also, in con-
sidering the possibility of another per-
iOd of congestion that Mr.. Hill prophe-
sled the traffic of the country may meet
with this winter. He announced the
tc take care of all the traffic that may
be given to it this winter, no matter
how large a crop of grain may be NOV
ing from the west.
East Not Affected Badly.
There will be no unfaVorable effect
on the eastern roads from the issuance
of the recent injunctions" said Mr..
Brown, speaking of the order of cour9
by which rates between Chicago and
the Missouri river have been held tenn |
porarily at points lower than those to |
which the railways had desired to fix
them.
Il have understood he continued, |
That the purpose of the Injunction is |
to prevent the western roads from an |
ticipating or forestalling the ef1ect of |
s. ate commerce law.
These amendments give the COM |
mission the right to postpone the date |
of the taking effect of the proposed in
crease in rates.
This condition does not exist in the
east Mere than a month before any |
rates were filed by the eastern lines
announc 5ment was given wide publ1cI- !
ty that the eastern roads would, on re-
quest of the interstate commerce COM
mission, accept the conditions of the
proposed amendment to the law,
whether it had become effective or not.
They practically agreed that the com
mission, after investigation, might de-
termine the date when the new tariffs
should become effective.
The Willingness of the roads to sub
nit the whole matter to the commits
sion was confirmed in a conference
with the president and Attorney General
Wickersham III Washington June g"
Railroad Bill Called Drastic.
Exceedingly drastic is the char
acterization given by Mr.. Brown to the
hill now in congress for the purpose of
granting further power to the inter
state commerce commission
This amendment" he said, ''goes
further in the way of federal regula-
ton of railroads than any one would
have dreamed possible f1ve years ago.
railroad rates is almost unlimited and
unwisely exercised might work great
injury to the roads and to the business
of the country generally
Doesn't Fear Great Power.
However. L feel no apprehension on
this score believe that the inter-
state commerce commission will exc
cute the law wisely and conservatively,
and will deal justly with every ques-
ton that may come before it. So fei
as the interests 1 represent are con-
cerned, l am satisfied TO accept the
decision of the commission on any
question on which the road and its
patrons fail to reach a satisfactory
settlement
Il do not admit that there is any in
fuence now in the country that will
cause traffic congestion this winter. We
shall be able to handle as much bust
ness as is given to us at Chicago no
matter how large the western crops
may be. We were able to do this last
winter, although the SHOWS were so
heavy that we were forced to use snow
plows The congestion about Chicago
was due TO the weather and not to
inefficient equipment of the railroads.
FNIPORIA KEEPS THE ORIENT.
Suit to Dust Them From City Has
Been Dismissed.
Enporia, Kan, June 1.-THE whole
history of the Orient railroad from
the driving of the first stake until the
present time has been laid bare before
the CITY council. A motion was made
that the CITY commissioners be in
structed to withdraw the suit against
nd eli or a contract with