Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1914-01-19
President Believed to Regard
Higher Railroad Freight
Rates as Necessary.
DECLINES TO GIVE VIEWS
PENDING |. C. C. DECISION
Voices Belief That Industrial Out.
look Can Be Faced With Conf
dence-Redfeld Optimistic.

Inquiries directed to President Wilson
today as to reports that he favored an in
crease In railroad freight rates drew from
him statement that 1t would be highly
improper. no matter what his personal
views, to say anything on this subject
while the appeal for an increase in rates
Is before the interstate commerce commits
sion
He is understood to regard this COM
mission the same as he would the SUI
preme Court and would be no more in
cfined to make public his views regard
ing case pending before the commits
SION than he would in cases before the
Supreme Court.
Probably significant, however. as bear
ing upon the rate problem. was a remark
OF the President in answer to questions
regarding industrial and business condi-
ions through the country
The President declared that h., believed
the outlook could be faced with conf
dence-at first he said hopefulness, but
later made 1t stronger. He would not
assent to the view that the tariff was in
any matter responsible for present con
oltlons, at least adversely responsible
and. on the contrary. he believed that it
was having beneficial influence He be-
leves the present tariff will exert a help
Iul influence right along from now on.
mere We're bad places, he indicated in
..
were in spots. and he admitted that the
worst spots seemed to be the railroads.
Believed Indication of Views.
The fact that the President was willing
to admit that conditions in the railroad
world are probably worse than In any
other was regarded by those who heard
him as showing beyond question his view
| that the railroads must be given an in
crease in rates II they are to survive the
lncessant additions to their expense ac-
counts.
Tine understanding is that close per-
sonaL friends OF the President, men in
whom he has immense coincidence be-
cause of the fairness and purity Of
thelr motives, have been writing HIM
that 1t Is lmperative.y necessary that
sonoi ions regarding eastern RAILROADS
De pettered. The letters he mas toge.h
| Win personal reports made to him
cover the Whole business and industrial
deld. He has given this Information
| .noughtful and serious STUDY
Inc unofncial conclusions, drawn from
| indirect remarks, are that if the railroad
situation can be improved the country
Will walk right along into permanent pros.
perity and stay there for long time te
come Under no circumstances, though
will the President express an opinion t.
any one that could be interpreted as
|
the interstate commerce commission.
Redfield Is Optimistic.
! The belief prevails that If the admins
! tration had the decision of increased
rates to make there would be practically
no doubt as to what that decision would
be. ,.-
| Secretary Redfeld, who has been fol-
L h,,cf
the new tariff law started, and who OBJ
tains reports right along, contends that
al facts point to an improving outlook.
He holds that whatever depression
the London Statist and other leading
commercial and trade papers the world
over declarations that in Germany
England, France, Russia, everywhere
there Is more or less pessimism Mr.
Redfield feels that this country is In
| far better condition than any other
Regardless of the business reaction
abroad. American Industries are hold
ing their own in foreign markets and
| increasing their sales right along.
The Balkan war in Europe and the
Mexican troubles on this hemisphere have
not helped business anywhere, according
| to the administration view.
Opposed to Suits in Courts.
The President intimated to callers tina,
lin the trust legislation to be undertaken
at this Congress he wanted to see the
spirit Of accommodation shown to the
large business concerns in an adjustment
of their affairs to the proposed laws. He
preferred this rather than suits in the
courts.
President Wilson today reiterated to
callers his opposition to the rider" in
| the post office appropriation bill which
would exempt more than 1000 post
| masters from civil service. The Presi-
! dent did not indicate any plan for
| having the provision eliminated, but
was emphatic in his opposition to it.