The Washington herald., 1919-01-20
Uncle Sam S New Railroad
Boss Writes His Life Story
Walker D. Hines Became
General Counsel of Atchi-
son in 1906, Rising Rap
idly as One of Leading
Executives Of Country.
BY WALKER ID. HINES.
New United stntes Director General
of Railroads.

Nc" uiteu Stntch Direct0f General
- of Railroads.
was born at Russellviile. KY, Feb
ruary 2, 1870. My father was James
NJ. Hines, a son of Warren Walker
Hines, OF Bowling Green, Ky. Ny
mother was a daughter of Walker
Downer, a member of the family OF
Downers living in Christian and TODD
counties.
While l was born at Russellville
practically all the first eighteen years
of my life were spent at Bowling
Green. Ky. I was educated at Ogden
College, at that place. After being at
that college for two years, when IA
years old, went to work as a stenog-
rapher in the law office of James A.
Mitchell and John E. Du Bose.
When I was 16. Judge William L.
Dulaney appointed me official stenog-
rapher of the Circuit Court for War
rem County. Shortly thereafter I re-
turned to Ogden College and two years
later graduated with the degree of
bachelor of science.
Lived In Trinidad.
After a few more months of steno-
graphic work at Bowling Green, 1
went to Trinidad, Colo. where l
spent the year 1889, living with my
cousin. Judge Walter G. Hines, who
was the county judge for Las Animas-
County. There | devoted myself to
stenographic work in law offices and
in court.
l then returned to Kentucky, and
in March. 1890, became secretary to
ItIHpa
torney OF the Louisville and Nashville
Railroad at Louisville. After a little
over two years in that position, I went
to the University Of Virginia and stud
led law, taking the degree of bachelor
of laws in June, 1898. then re-
turned to the law department of the
Louisville and Nashville as an assis-
tant attorney. but on account of over
work at the university. my eyes failed
and I had to take six months leave
of absence.
Judge Bruce having become chief at
torBey of the Louisville and Nashville, I
was appointed in 1897 assistant chief
attorney Of that company, and in 1901
| became first vice president In July,
1904, l resigned to enter the practice of
law in Louisville with Judge A. P.
Humphrey and E. P. Humphrey, the
firm name being Humphrey, Hines &
Humphrey.
In 1906, while pursuing my work as
member OF that firm, l met Victor
MOrawetz of New York. and Coop
Grated with him in some important
matters OF interest to my railroad cli-
ents. Mr.. Morawetz was chairman of
the executive committee of the Atchi-
son, Topeka and Santa Fe Railway, and
its general counsel He wished to re-
tire from active railroad work and
suggested that | come to New York
and succeed him as general counsel.
with a view also to succeeding him as
chairman Of the executive committee.
Atchison's General Counsel
I took advantage of this oppor-
tunity and went to New York in
May, 1906, becoming general counsel
of the Atchison, and also engaging
in the general prae3ce OF the law.
arranged to have my offices with
the firm of Cravath, Henderson &
de Gersdorff, and in 1907 became a
member of that firm.
In 1908 1 succeeded Mr. MorawetZ
as chairman of the executive COM
mittee of the Atchison. In 1913 1
Crayath & Henderson, but retained
mS offices with that firm until 1916,
when I retired altogether from the
general practice and was elected
chairman of the board of directors
of the Atchison. retaining also my
position as general counsel
In January, 1918, I was appointed
Assistant Director General Of Rail-
rnnHG nv TlirHrtnr Ennnra1 Tr
was married in 1900 to Alice
Clymer Macfarlane, a daughter Of
Mr.. Graham Macfarlane. originally
Of Pennsylvania, but living many
years in Louisville. Ky. 'and now
have only one child, a daughter Is
years old, Helen Macfarlane Hines.
Studied Kentucky Laws.
While 1 was with Judge Bruce in
the law department of the Louisville
and Nashville, I gave special atten-
ton to the Kentucky laws regulating
railroad rates, and was active in the
original Kentucky long and short
haul cases and other rate cases which
in some respects were pioneer cases
in that sort of law. I was active in
the prolonged and unsuccessful con-
test as to the validityGof the so-called
McChord law, which was the first
law giving the Kentucky railroad
commission the power to fix rates.
After going to New York l was
fortunate enough to participate in a
number of interesting cases. I made
one of the arguments in the Supreme
Court of the United States in the case
in which the Interstate Commerce
Commission attempted to make f. H.
Hartman and certain New York
bankers answer questions not connect
ed with railroad management.
was active in the litigation in 1907,
which was widely discussed at the
time, between the railway companies
and the State of North Carolina rela-
tive to reduced passenger rates. When
Congress passed the act prohibiting
railroad companies from transporting
coal or other commodities mined or