Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-02-18

Nov, sir, they say to you they have a vast
amount of money on hand, and are aching to
invest it here for your benefit, ~ 100000, to
be spent in Maine if you give them the chart
er they ask for. admit this sounds well.
At first thought, perhaps one might suppose
the State of Maine might receive great bene-
fit from such an outlay of money. But gen.
tlemen, be careful or you will be deceived.
You will find when too late to be remedied.
that the great benefits we hear talked in the
corridors of the hotels, have all accrued to
this wealthy, this mighty corporation, the b.
& M, whose Golfers are now filled to reple-
ton with the profits growing out of the lease
existing since lS47, with the =. S. & T.. X. r..
To-day they are in possession of thousands
upon thousands of dollars that should now be
in the pockets of citizens of Maine, and
would have been, if the p. S. K Z. had not
leased their road to these companies, and run
it themselves, thereby reducing the rates OF
toll as their business increased, according to
thAterms of their charter. But, sir, we very
well know the result of that contract in rela-
ton to fares and freight. The p. 5. & P.
has been controlled by, and run in the inter-
est of these two foreign corporations, and the
public has been made to pay these high rates,
not for the benefit of the 2. S. & p, bst the
b. NJ, and E. r. r., the z. S. & Z. re-
ceiving only six per cent. on their capital
stock. Now the B. & NJ. comes here and
asks for further privileges in order to keep up
these high rates for their special benefit.
That is the view l take of it, if they mean to
build a road. If they do not intend to build,
they want this charter to enable them to get
control Of the P. S. & p, and thereby keep
up these high rates, as they have in the past
Sir, you expect by granting this charter
you will create competition that will reduce
the rates of toll, you will be much mistaken
You will find wherever two parallel roads
exist when one can do the business ofthe two
the worst kind of consolidation takes place
consolidation of rates, if not of roads, SC
the roads are made to pay a profit, and the
public is made to suffer in consequence Of
high rates. Had it not been for this contract
and the p. S. & p. had managed their OWL
road as they now desire to do. the rates Of
toll might long ago have been reduced and the
citizens of Maine benefited thereby. The
Legislature reserved the right to reduce the
rates Of toll, when the profits of the road ex
coed twelve per cent. Now about this grea
monopoly they talk SO much about, THIS z. S
p. Co. The State of Maine never granted
charter to a railroad corporation, in which
the rights of the public, and the rights of con
Meeting roads are SO well guarded, as in thai
of the P. S. & P, compelling this road te
tdhc tuG pusluCSS iIOul OtUtT TOduS, OIL ldll
and equitable terms, thereby preventing the
possibility of its ever becoming monopoly
should there be an attempt made in that di
rection by its managers.
Why this mighty effort to obtain charter
for this road? Why was it necessary fol
those affable gentlemen, those jolly good fell
lows, the Directors of the Boston Maine
Railroad to come here at the commencement
| Of this session to prepare the way for thi.
bill. These pleasant gentlemen tell US thai
of all things we most need, is railroad com
petition. Are the members of this Legisla
ture so obtuse? Are the citizens of Maine
so unmindtul of their own interests that il
order to obtain charter for railroad that i,
to be of such incalculable benefit to us, tha
| there must be a corps of the most skillfu
manipulators of all New England constantly
| in attendance here during the session of the
Legislature? Is it not apparent to every gen
tleman of this House that these gentlemen
representing the & NJ. r. r. know the ne
| cessity of making mighty effort to secure
| the passage of a bill of such doubtful merits
| They appear to be afraid that their scheme
will tail, as fail it should. They come he re
without having given the notice required by
law, of intention to apply for charter, not
withstahding they received six months age
the notice of the p. S. & 2. Co., that term
mated their lease the Goth of January. They
knew the unsoundness of their claim, ant
hence the extraordinary means used to pre-
pare the way which we have seen. They
also know how to manage this business. They
keep force here to keep the cat covered W
and make demonstration. Now Mr.. Speak
er, and gentlemen of this House, let us con
slider this matter, and see if justice to the p
S. & T. Co., justice to ourselves and the cit
| nf Maine dnaa an rpnuira af md
postponement of this matter; that thes
proceedings be stayed, and give the p. S. & 7
Co. that which the law entities them to,
legal notice. Or will this Legislature say t,
the B. & M. Co. the law requires notice, bu
you are set of good fellows, and have plent,
of money, therefore we will not require it a
your hands. don't believe this Legislature
should say any such thing.
| The p. S. & P. Railroad Company, in orde
to get control of its own roads, and get fai
share of the profits, and to be enabled to &C
commodate the public, have paid the b. & NJ.
and E. r. R. Co.'S, 5000, 900, only littl
more than one month ago. Now, sir, let u
give this emancipated railroad company
chance to take breath before being agail
taken by the throat by this mighty power, tn
run their own road one year at least, and lie
the public have the benefit of a well managed
road, and see if the rates of toll will not b.
reduced to a standard which will satisfy tn
public. The old adage that corporations hav
no souls, think applies here. The B.
NJ. Co., not content with the enormous profit
already wrung from the pockets of the peopl
through its management of the P. S. & T.
under the lease, now seeks the power to eithe
compel the P. S. & Z. to come to their term
or to take its life blood BY running parable
road from South Berwick junction to Port
| land.