Hard Times Are Over, but Striking Railroad Men Need Not Apply

A distinguished party of Northern Pacific railroad officials arrived in the city yesterday at noon and left for Portland last night at 10:30 o'clock. In the party were Receiver Thomas F. Oakes, General Manager J. W. Kendrick, Assistant General Superintendent George W. Dickinson, Division Superintendent Joseph McCabe and Attorney J. M. Ashton. Mr. Oakes and Mr. Kendrick left St. Paul a week ago Friday, and at Helena Mr. Dickinson joined the party. They arrived at Tacoma Saturday night, and Mr. McCabe and Mr. Ashton came over with them to this city.

The receiver and Mr. Kendrick are making a tour of general inspection and are traveling in the private car Glacier.

Upon their arrival in the city yesterday they were met by C. J. Smith, general manager of the Oregon Improvement Company; Andrew F. Burleigh, general counsel of the same company and attorney of the Northern Pacific; I. A. Nadeau, general agent of the Northern Pacific Company, and Gen. John H. Bryant, receiver of the Lake Shore road.

During the afternoon Mr. Kendrick and Mr. Oakes talked with Mr. Burleigh concerning the railroad company's position in the ram's horn right-of-way muddle, and other matters pertaining to the local policy of the company were discussed with several business men. In the evening the visitors were entertained at the Rainier Club.

Receiver Oakes did not care to be quoted on any subject, but General Manager Kendrick consented to a short interview. He thinks the hard times are about over, and takes an optimistic view of the situation, saying that the turning point for the better has not only been reached but passed.

"Do you think that the present tariff bill as passed by the house, if signed by the president, will have a beneficial effect on the country?" he was asked, and replied:

"Yes, I do. It will settle the question, and anything, no matter what, that will settle the discussion will have a beneficial effect. With the tariff bill out of the way people will know what to do and can act with foresight and intelligence."

Concerning the reorganization of the road, Mr. Kendrick said that a reorganization committee was now at work arranging affairs, looking after bonds, etc., but he would not venture an opinion as to how soon reorganization would be carried out, simply saying:

"The committee will complete its labors just as soon as the earnings of the road are nominal."

"Are the earnings not nominal now?"

"No; they're below nominal. At present the committee has no basis on which to work. Though the earnings are very small now, traffic generally is picking up, and the outlook for the future is promising."

Referring to the reinstatement of the striking employees, Mr. Kendrick said that all the places are at present filled and the company is not employing new men, and added:

"These men quit our employ of their own volition, and we don't feel obliged to give them any preference or even any consideration over a complete outsider. We have a new force of men and propose to keep them. They stood by us when we needed them and now they're entitled to our support and protection."

"What do you propose doing concerning terminal grounds?"

"We have talked over the matter, and I think that the ram's horn matter is in a fair way to a satisfactory adjustment. It will come out all right."

"Will the receivers attempt to do anything in the near future with reference to affording better and increased terminal facilities here?"

"Well, the road is poor just at present, and will get along as best it can with as few expenditures as possible. The receivers may do something in that direction after a while, but that is not for me to say."