The Portland daily press., 1871-01-30

y onauScu III iOIu, III VIII Ue tuc Sdlue Ill
fact, and doubly oppressive aud tyrannical.-
The rapid and terrible change in the condition
OF France suggests many questions; among
them an inquiry into the cause of the ill-suc-
cess OF the French arms; why this decadence
as power since the time of the first Napole-
on, and that Prussia has been growing and
developing as military nation and partcu-
lariy In that most important element of
strength, universal education.
The Bo.ton nnd Maine Extension.
The Legislative Committee upon Railroads,
Ways and Bridges give hearing to the petit
toness for a charter to extend the Boston and
Maine railroad from South Berwick to Port
land tomorrow, and railroad men and others
interested in that corporation are on the
ground for the purpose of impressing their
views upon tie committee and members OF
the Legislature.
The preponderance of outside influence at
Augusta favorable to extension, over that op-
posed, has somehow given the impression that
the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth railroad
has but little interest In the matter, and that
she opposition to granting the charter will not
be very vigorous.
Our dispatches few days ago gave par
tial explanation of this by stating that the
usual legal notice had not been given prior to
the meeting of the Legislature, but we appre-
hend that another reason will be found in the
conviction of the gentlemen controlling the
Portland, SacO and Portsmouth railroad that
the Legislature would not grant charter for
parallel road which, if built would mater tally
Impair the value OF the franchise already grant
Cd to them, and upon the faith of which they
have invested a million and half of dollars,
unless it can be conclusively shown that the
requirements of travel and trade demand it,
Much less would the Legislature grant
charter to wealthy Massachusetts corpora
tion to be used by them, not for building.
railroad, but for the purpose of Frightening
the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth road into
making another contract, and of extorting
better terms under cover of threat to build
an opposition road that should ruin them
We have never heard it seriously suggested
that the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth road
lacked facilities9or meeting every requirement
made upon 1t, and while the Boston and
Maine road in part controlled it, there was no
complaint upon its part of any insuficiency
IN this respect. 1t Is singular,to say the least,
that that road should never have appreciated
the demand for another outlet from Maine
until toe Portland, Saco and Portsmouth had
terminated the contract whereby the former
road shared the profits arising from its opera.
tion. We hear that it is urged With great
warmth by those interested in the extension
that since the termination of the lease of the
Portland, Saco and Portsmouth road to the
Boston and Maine and Eastern roads, the
Boston and Maine road is cut off from con-
neetion with Portland, but as matter of fact
that road has precisely the same facilities for
the transportation of passengers and freight
into Portland that they have heretofore had,
and that no discrimination whatever is made
by the Portland, Saco and Portsmouth be-
tween that road and the Eastern road. A
passenger purchasing ticket at Portland or
any intermediate station goes by either the
Eastern or Boston and Maine route upon
equal terms without any limitation upon his
N~
choice, the same as heretofore.
We are aware that there is something ex-
eeedingy captivating in the idea of competi-
hon, whereby larger facilities at cheaper rates
can be offered to the people at large, but we
submit to the people of Maine whether in
view of the situation and condition OF rail-
roads now leading from Massachusetts into
Maine, another road, if built, would result in
competition or lead to consolidation, and if
the latter, whether it would at all conduce to
the accommodation or advantage of our peo.
pie. Should the Boston and Maine road Sc
cure charter, and actually extend their road
to Portland, it would of course drive the Port
land, Saco and Portsmouth railroad into max
Ing some sort of business connection with
the Eastern railroad. Then we should have
two through routes from Portland TO Boston.
But is it probable that these wealthy corpora
lions would long continue to consult the in
terests of the public by keeping up lively
competition to the depreciation of their own
dividends? Is it not more probable that, af.
ter short but vigorous war, they would come
together and arrange terms practically if not
actually consolidating all three roads, consult
ing the interests of the great public, and es-
pecially that OF the business interests of Maine
no further than would be absolutely necessa-
fy to promote their own ends?
The Boston and Maine, the Eastern, and, in
less degree, the Portland, Saco and Ports
mouth roads are largely under the control of
capitalists living in another State. The pro.
posed extension will give the Massachusetts
stockholders still more formidable influence
In the railroad system of Maine and will make
hem, it Is to be feared, practically dominant.
(; is not TO be supposed that, with the control
Our great thoroughfares in their hands,
icy will sacrifice the interests of their own
State to those of our own, especially when the
two by any chance antagonize. 1t is not well
to base our opinions or action on jealousy
VI Massachusetts, but in so important mat
ter as this We think it is only reasonable that
an effort should be made to prevent too great
predominance of foreign influence. The
commercial interests of Maine are safe only
when in the hands of its own citizens.
fooR DEBTORS ORGAN.-It appears that
AN order has been passed in the House in Au.
gusta' directing the Committee on Judiciary
10 inquire II any legislation is necessary to de-
nne the rights Of poor debtors. This lust |
meets the case. Gross imposition Is often
practised upon honest debtors simply becanse
their rights are not defined with snfio;o,t
precision. This usually happens in the nre-
limnary proceedings before an examination
Into the merits is reached. To have the rights
of debtors defined would not, we believe
place the poor creditor in a worse condition
than now, though "Lex" and his profession |
generally would make less out of both.
Longwy, which has just surrendered to the |
Germans after lor g bombardment, is from
tier town ou the confines of Belgium. 1t is |
strongly fortified and has citadel on pre-
H. IL x1~o4