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Show BIG SCHEME NOW ON HAND. Pasadena, Cal., March 15. Notwithstanding Notwith-standing all the efforts made to prevent pre-vent pooling of railroad Interests and combinations among those who control stocks of railroads, there is evidence today that E. H. Harriman has in mind a scheme to bring about a mutual undemanding un-demanding in regard to traffic ar-tangements ar-tangements among all the railroads or the country that will be greatly to the benefit of the stockholders and that the conference which is to bo held at Pasadena, while Mr. Harriman is here, will be concerned more or less with the plan. Not all of the railroad men who are to take part in the conference which Mr. Harriman still denies ho Is the head, havo yet arrived, and nothing has yet been attempted. C. O. Butter-worth, Butter-worth, of the New York Central road, will arrive some time tomorrow, it is expected. Mr. Harriman evidently expects confidently con-fidently that congress at the special session will make amendment to the laws covering the interstate commerce com-merce commission's work which will permit of the merger he now has in mind. He seemed surprised today over tho fact that mention of the meeting meet-ing had not been made in the call for , the special session. Mr. Harriman was asked: "How soon do you expect the railroad rail-road to be able to resume work on Improvements that were contemplated contemplat-ed before the panic?" "You may say," he answered, "that af- soon as an amendment is passed giving the Interstate commerce commission com-mission power to allow the railroads to enter into a mutual agreement that io, permitting tho strong roads of tho country to extend their credit and protection pro-tection over tho weaker roads Just so soon will long contemplated improvements im-provements be taken up and rushed through to completion. "This means, of course, the expenditure expendi-ture of an immense amount of money and eventually I believe it will result h reduction in the cost and operation opera-tion and In charges. "At the present time, you know, there Is a clause in the law which prohibits pro-hibits one road having any control over a parallel or competing line. This Is what we want changed. It is a question of the weaker and the stron-er. stron-er. If the stronger aro allowed to ceme to tho aid of tho weaker roads there will be a great betterment ot conditions all along the line and the employment of thousands of men and the opening of many new lines." Asked as to whether this would mean a marked reduction in rates, Mr. Harriman said he preferred not to talk of rate reduction. He also preferred not to lalk about tho changes which it has been said arc to be made in the personnel of the officers or the Southern Pacific and other roads over which he has control. Inasmuch as he would not admit that there was to be any conference, or give any reason for the presence of so many of his lieutenants lieu-tenants in this part of the country at this time, the matter of changes could not be discussed with him. |