Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1870-02-12
CONSOLIDAIION.
Remarks of Hon. A. p. morrill, on
Thursday.

|
The gentleman from Embden who
| comes here as the representative of the
Somerset Railroad Company, may be
| very sincere in what he asserts will be
the effort of consolidation upon the Som
erset Road and the community generally
/ He is ardent in his temperament ana has
Il highly imaginative mind. why, ne
drew so largely upon his Imagination IN
his opening speech last Tuesday, that ne
fancied he saw "Goliahs all around HIM
in this chamber wickedly devising plans
for the destruction of the best interests OF
! this State through the influence and power
of the consolidation of railroads; and
that he was sent here by some high power
as the little DAVID who should defeat
Mr.. A. Gov Morrill,, that is bosh."
Mr. Nj. am repeating as nearly as
can the words the gentleman used in his
speech He says sit is bosh" | admit
it sounded so to me when he spoke those
words, and AS he has the good taste to
call it '.bosh," we are agreed, and pass
it by as flight of rhetoric that may well
be termed bosh. Mr.. A. says he appears
here to oppose the consolidation of these
roads, by vote of the Directors of the
Somerset Railroad Company; and he tells
us that Mr.. Joel Gray who has subscribed
fifty thousand dollars to the stock of that
road. SAYS he would sooner loose his
whole subscription than permit consolida-
ton to be consummated. AT first glance
this may appear patriotic, but knowing as
| do the relations of that road to the
Maine Central Railroad Company, l can
not see it in that light to the extent, Mr..
A. would have it seem. What are the
facts. and why should the Directors of the
Maine Central be arraigned as the enemy
of the Somerset road? We have lease
of that Road for fifty years, when it shall
be built, urged upon us by the Directors
by which we are to have the entire con-
troll and management of it, even to fixing
at all points the rates of freights and fares
on it, Mr. a. as one of the Directors,
saw no monopoly in the power thus given
us, and would be glad to-day to have us
complete and run that road, and run it as
our own. Why then this violent opposi-
ton to the consolidation of the Maine
Central and p Il X. Roads? They have
our contract to run the Somerset Road,
when completed as l have said, for fifty
wears. If we consolidate with the p l.
X. r., the consolidated company assume
that contract, and surely that assumption
cannot weaken, but add strength to that
contract and carry with it no more monop-
DIV and complete control of the Somerset
Road than its directors have voluntarily
given to the Maine Central, and which we
would to-day if they desire it resign. We
hostile to the interest of the Somerset
Road? The Maine Central has subscribed
to that stock fifty thousand dollars, and
paid in every dollar in cash, besides aid
ing that Company in various other
ways largely and untiringly.
Gentlemen, only for the aid of the Nj.
c. Railroad not mile of the Somerset
Road would now be advancing to compile
ton Mr.. Joel Gray, the gentleman tells
us, who has subscribed fifty thousand dol
lars, authorizes him to say that he would
sooner lose his subscription than to have
these roads united Now have not an
unkind feeling toward Mr.. Gray, nor would
| utter an unkind word, but since he has
seen fit to let Mr.. Atkinson use his name
and his fifty thousand dollars subscription,
to strengthen the opposition here, may
be permitted to say that thus far that $780,
600 subscription has awaited but little to
aid the building of that road. But very
few thousand dollars have yet been paid.
When the Somerset road has applied
to the Maine Central for aid they have not
been turned away without it and our assess
ments have been paid think, largely in
advance. 1t is not kind then nor fair to
bring in Mr.. Gray and his Wanted $50
900 while gentlemen labor to impugn the
motives and the action of the Directors of
the Maine Central Railroad. did not in
tend, gentlemen, to trespass upon your
time but for moment. | did feel
called upon to explain thus briefly our re-
lations with that road, as their Directors
have seen fit to send Mr.. A., to speak for
them as he to-day has told your, against
consolidation, when constantly heretofore
they have given us to understand they
were not opposed.
The hearing before the Committee on Rail-
roads, on the subject of consolidation, was
continued yesterday in the Senate chamber.
Mr.. Stinchfeld of Hallowell, finished his re-
marks in opposition to the bill. His main
argument was that the measure would ujure
stockholders of small railroad corporations
already in existence and doing business under
their respective charters. He took general
view of the bill, and said it authorized all the
railroads of the State to unite in one gigantic
combination, which would be detrimental to
the interests of the public. Thought that
such law would never be imposed upon the
people of Maine. The railroads under their
present charters are doing well enough, and
we should be willing to let them alone. Rail-
roads are not built for spectators, but for
the benefit of the public and it becomes the
Legislature to see to it that these ends are
carried out.
Hon. John L. Stevens of Augusta, next
asked the attention of the committee for a
few minutes. He said he came before them
without the solicitation of any railroad inter-
ests or any set of men, and would confins his
remarks to two points. So far as he under
stood it, the objections to the bill concentrate
upon two points. LIST, The danger of Great
ing a great political or legislative monopoly.
I'd, That consolidation by putting an end to
war and competition would jeopardize the
building of other roads. But the danger of
creating n political and legislative monopoly