Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1874-02-26

deeds LOT Cumberland county; an act relating |
to trustee process; an act to prevent the de- |
struction of smells in the PiscataQuis river
an act to incorporate the Piscataquis Central
Slate Co.. an act to amend chap. 23l, Sec l
of the private and special laws of 1872, re-
!ating to the use of narrow trimmed wheels in
Dennysville and Elmunds an act to author
ize Geo. Dyer Of North Haven to establish
ferry; an act amendatory of and addition
al to chap. 1870 of the revised statutes, relat-
ing to poor debtors; an act to incorporate the
Oakland Ice CO.; an act additional to the
statute concerning proceedings in court; an
| act relating to judicial courts; an act to
| amend sec. 8, chap. So of the revised stat
utes, concerning wrts issued by trial justices
and police courts.
| On motion of Mr.. GIDDs, bill an act to in
| corporate the Penobscot Central Agricutu-
raj society was taken from the table, and put
upon its passage to be engrossed
| Bill an act relating to railroad connections
| came up on its passage to be engrosed.
| MIR. WILLIAMS wished for an explanation
why the bill should be passed.
| Mr.. PREssEY read the bill, and advocated
its passage. 1t requires, he said that railroads
of the same guagc, which cross or intersect
| each other at grade, shall be deemed connect
| ing roads within the meaning of sections %,
| I6 and - of chap. 5 of the Revised Statutes
words IN his judgment of more Importance
| to the business interests and future prosper
ity of the people of Maine, that were ever
written IN one sentence to be passed upon by
the legislature of this State. The bill was
called by its opponents, the "force BILL" but
he (Mr. Pressey) preferred to call it the
equity bill" equity between the business
interests fthe farmer, the mechanic and the
manufacturer on the other hand and the rail-
roads on the Others the bill also meant equity
between all railroad interests, -those rail-
| roads in eXistance, and those to be built in
the future. lie hoped that gentlemen in ex-
aiming the subject would divest themselves
Of all prejudice or Partially, in favor of, or
| against any railroad interest, and calmly con-
slider what Is for the interest OF the State, and
all parties concerned. The speaker then read
| from the statute in regard to the arrange
ments for tie transportation of passengers and
freight after connection shall have take place,
and proceeded to show that no harm could
possibly accrue to any railroad interest by the
passage OF this BILL but that on the other hand
their rights would be fully protected by the
statutes which he had read, and increased
prosperity would come 10 the people of the
whole State, whose interests it is the duty Of
their representatives to guard and protect.
MIR. kELLoeH opposed the passage OF the
bill in vigorous speech. fIe took the
ground that the passage of the bill would
/
Maine and Eastern Railroads, which would be
detrimental to the best interests of the State.
| Remarks hereafter.
Mr.. CORNISH favored the, passage of the
bill. He was not here in the interest of any
railroad corporation, but lie was here to legis-
late as he believed to be for the best interest
OF the people of the State. He believed the
measure under discussion was for tho inter-
ests OF the people. These railroad corpora
1 k,r,.x VI = -.
the consideration of granting them charters,
is the benefit which the public is to derive
from their use. Was the condition of these
railroads to-day, such, that the people are
deriving that benefit from them which they
have right to expect and demand? He con-
tended not. 1t is well known that the Boston
4 Maine and the Eastern Railroad companies
are wrangling and quarrelng, and it seemed
to MIN that it must be patent to every one
that the people and the business interests of
the State, east of Portland, at least, are suf-
tering On account of this contest going on
| between these two roads. He questioned
whether il was well TO allow this fight to go
on, when the interests of the people call
for relief. He knew not whether the passage
Of the bill would be detrimental to the inter-
ests Of one railroad, or another, nor did he
care. He did not speak in the interests of
any railroad, but in the interests of the peo-
pie at large. 1t had been said that consol-
dation would follow the passage of the bill.
1t might and might not He thought the
condition of things could be no worse, in the
event of consolidation. At all events, he was
in favor of passing the bill. and see whether
the threat would be carried out. The speaker
continued briefly, showing the Disadvantages
which his section labored under, in the trans
portaton OF freight to points on the line of
the Boston & Maine railroad.
Mr.. kELLoCH replied to several speakers.
Mr.. MoRRow said the question was not
whether gentlemen are in favor of the Maine
Central Railroad, Eastern Railroad, or any
other corporation, but il is, sis the principle
asked for in the bill right 1t not for the
House TO decide whether it will injure this
corporation, or that corporation, but he
claimed that the citizens of Maine, had right
to say by what route their goods should be
transported, and right to dictate the terms
upon which they should be transported rail-
roads having received their charters through
the people. 1t was not proposed by the bill
| to dictate any new terms upon which the con-
nection is made. All that was now wanted,
was connection. Remarks in full, hereafter.
Mr.. PREssEY replied to the gentlemen from
Thomaston and further advocated the passage
of the bill.
Mr.. CALDWELL moved to amend by insert
ing after the word "statute," in the 9TH. line,
of sec /, the words, provided that in no
case the passenger or freight tariff shall there
after be increased above the minimum rates
allowed by either of the existing roads prior
to their connection"
The amendment was voted down.
The question of passing the bill was taken
by yeas and nays, on motion of Mr.. SMALL of
Lisbon, resulting in the negative, as follows;
YEAs-AIessrs. Abbott, Bailey, Bradbury of Old
town, Bradbury of knglield, Brawn Carvill, Cobb,
Connor Cornish, Corthell, Croswell, Crowell. Cush-
man, Davis, Dowst, Edes, Files, Fletcher, Foster,
Fowler, Gibbs, Cove, Grant, Hawkes. Houghton,
Hunter, Judd, Keene Of Palmyra, Lamson, Lawler,
Longf1llow, Lorng McGilvcry, Meserve, Milliken,
| Mitchell, Morse, Morrow, Nickerson Pierce, Pills
bury. Porter, Presley, Pullen, Reed, Small of Lis.
bon, Smith, Stone, Sturgs, Swasey, Talbot, Treat,
Vittum, Walden, Warren, Whitemorc, Woodbury.,
| Woodman-5S.
NAYs.-Messrs. Babbidge, Bartlett, Black, Blas-
dell, Blodgett, Boardman, Bowker, Bryant, Bur.
bank, Bursley, Caldwell, Campbell, CARL, Clark,
Coffin, Deaison Eaton, Estes Femald, Fessenden,
Gile, Goodwin, Guptill, Hall, Hamilton, Harding,
| Hatch, Hathorn, Hawes, Hutchins, Hurd, johnson,
Keegan, kctne of Bremen, Keith, Kelioch, Knowl-
ton, Lane, Leavitt, Lewis, Lord, Mccartney, Nc
Carly, Mckinney, Moore, Moulton of Porter Moul-
| ton Of Sc.rboro', Mullin, North Ouilette Parker,
| Pnkham, Richards, Robbins, Rogers, Rowell,
| Sanborn of Etna, Scammon, Scribner sherman,
| silsby, Small of Temple, Snow, Stuart, Tabbutt