Evening star., 1914-03-12
Apprehension Felt in Business
and Financial Circles Over
Situation.
NEW ENGLAND AROUSED
BY NEW HAVEN TROUBLE
General Distrust Regarding Cond-
tions Expressed Daily in Letters
to Congressman.

Senators and representatives are re-
ceiving in their mail many communica-
tons from railroad, business and
financial circles expressing anxiety
over the railroad outlook. One states
man quotes James ]. Hill as having
said: "If things don't improve for the
railroads by April look out for trou-
ble''
1t is said that unquestionably the
railroad situation is exceedingly sens1-
tive. Outside of the pending question
of an advance in freight rates, which is
of vast Importance to all roads. there
are other things to trouble.
All New England is the tenter-
hooks over the outcome of the govern
ments wrestling match with the New
York. New Haven and Hartford what
is feared is that the road may be put
into the hands of a receiver, which
would be regarded as a, calamity to
New England. Thousands of families
in that region have suffered loss of
their principal income through suspen-
sion Of dividends and view with horror
the possibility of complete wreckage
OF the road
Utmost Anxiety Prevails.
The government and the railroad seem
TO be deadlocked for the moment over
terms of dissolution and settlement of
the governments suit, and the utmost
anxiety prevails among New England
men in Washington.
The interstate commerce commission
is keeping the financial world on the
ragged edge too. There are continued
rumors Of further unfavorable reports
on railroad management coming OUT.
The commissions report on the Mil
waukee road last week was body blow
to securities of all kinds.
The commission has been criticised
for the way it made the report pubic.
Milwaukee shrunk s9,000.000 in the
slump which followed the sudden pub
licaton of the report. toward the close
of the market day, when only the un-
the public was not allowed to analyze
the full text. j.
Large Sums We're Made.
Usually. reports of that Importance
are given out under release from gov
ernment departments. go that their ex-
act character can be set forth and
weighed. IT !; said that large sums
were made by persons fortunate enough
to get first inkling of the, report, when
the telegraph wires were crippled. and
who used the ng-distance phone wires
to sell the market.
he state OF Cle HnaNClaI Tninu toward
the railroads was reflected In the hard
bargain which the Chesapeake and
Ohio was obliged to drive last week in
floating several millions of new notes,
the terms being sucn as TO menace the
revenues to a point that drove the
stock down with rush.
On ali sides there seem to be dis
trust and apprehension. based mainly,
it is said. upon Washington's attitude
toward the railroads generally, and
this fact is believed to have lain at the
bottom Of Mr.. Hills alleged comment
upon the situation.
Roads Would Share Profits.
The railroads, too. have a grievance
against the Post Office Department in
its handling of railway mail pay and
the parcel post. The department ex-
poets to get $4,000. 900 increased
revenue next year from parcel post,
and the railroads claim they should
share. they will have to carry the
parcels.
The railroads claim they are being
underpaid about $6,OOO,OOO a year, and
charge that the department is giving
! the voters the benefits Of the parcel
+, post at the expense of the railroads.