The Portland daily press., 1883-08-31

At Concord the House passed the Colby bill
after an all days fight Wednesday. Mr..
Briggs amendment to refer all contracts to the
Supreme Court was recolsidered and lost. His
second amendment was also lost.
Gen. Marston of Exeter, withdrew amend
ments No. and with the consent OF the
House. His amendment CNo. 81 providing for
a right Of trial by jury in case persons, whose
land is taken for railroads, desired his damages
assessed in that manner was adopted. His
amendment (No. 81 to prevent the watering Of
stock @as adopted. His amendment providing
for making the penalty for allowing railroad
train to remain upon any highway over swo
minutes $500 was adopted.
The amendment of Gen. Stevens that the
fares and freights existing upon all the roads
August /, 1888, shall remain the same In case
OF their union into new corporation, and that
q reduction in the rates shall be made commen-
surate with the decreased expense in their
management by reason of such union was
adopted.
Mr.. Bartlett of Lee withdrew several amend
ments offered by him.
The amendment of Mr.. Busiel of Laconia,
providing for the reduction of local freights
and fares fifteen per cent after the consolida-
tion or union of the roads was then in order.
Mr.. Busiel said the object in offering it was 70
make it apply to the line in the Merrimack
valley. III nau Deen Claimed tnat the cOnsOli-
dation of these roads would save about $780,
900 year in the expense of operating them.
He desired to have the patrons OF the line re-
celve the benefit of about one-third Of this saw
ing.
Mr.. Quint of Dover said he found no limita-
tion in the application OF the amendments to
any particular railroads. He did no believe it
right to make so sweeping a reduction against
al railroads. Some were poor and had hard
work to pay running expenses.
fha% h;S
not aimed at the poorer trailroads; because IL
they were consolidated all would divide the
earnings.
Gen. Stevens, of Nashua, said he believed
this was the first time an attempt had been
made to regulate fares and freights by the Leg
islature. Apply the amendment to the Wor-
cester & Nashua Railroad, which couldn't DOS
slbly earn over three per cent, and it would
ruin the corporation. Mr.. Stone, of Laconis,
was in sympathy with the amendment of his
colleague. No evidence other than the state
ments of counsel had been presented to the
railroad committee when the bill was under
discussion. One of these gentlemen said $780,
600 would be saved annually in the operating
expenses OF the lines in the central sections OF
the State II they were consolidated. and, TAX
ing his statement to be true, he knew Of no
reason why the public should not receive in
part the benefit of that reduction. Mr.. Busiel,
of Laconis, said his amendment was broad
enough to cover all railroads in the Merrimack
valley. If it was thought advisable it could be
amended so that it would apply to those rail-
roads only.
Mr.. Campbell, of Nashua, said no one want
ed reduction in fares and freights more than
he did, but he could not see how that could bo
accomplished by this amendment.
Mr. Mitchell of Hinsdale offered an amend
ment to the amendment providing that Its pro-
visions shall not apply to railroad earning less
than per cent. The House then adjourned
till 730.
The House met at 7.30 this evening. On n
roll call the amendment Of Mr.. Mitchell was
rejected, 81 voting in the atfr native and ia
in the negative. The amendment Of Mr.
Busiel was then lost on roll-call, "a voting in
the Affirmative and 100 in the negative. An
amendment allowing railroads the time speci-
fed in their charters to complete their lines
was adopted. Mr. Busiel withdrew his
amendment, submitting the Colby bill to tho
voters at the next election for approval before
its provisions could become operatives
Mr.. Quint of Dover could not understand
what an amendment offered by Mr.. Riddle OF
Bedford meant, and he called upon him to ex-
plain it. Mr.. Riddle said the object of the
amendment was to fix price at which rail-
roads to be consolidated would carry freights.
He wanted the same rates charged for freighss'
in this State as were charged by connecting
railroads outside the State to the State line.
MIR. Quint said the explanation given showed
him that the amendment ought to pass. To
guard against any increase in the charge for
transportation OF passengers and freights IL
was fixed in the bill that the rates should be
what is was at the time Of the union or
leasing of the railroads. He did not believe
the amendment. The amendment was rejected.
Several other amendments were rejected
and withrawn till the thirty printed ones were
disposed of. An amendment offered by Mr..
Briggs of Manchester providing that corpora
tions shall have four years to begsn the con-
struction and six years in which to completa
their lines adopted The bill was then ordered
to a third reading. A motion to suspend the
rules and put the bill upon its passage pre-
vailed on division, 12S to SO. The bill was
then passed on a roll-call, IA voting in the
affirmative and 105 in the negative. The re-
suit of the ballot was greeted with applause,
and the large number of spectators having
seen the hardest fouget battle in the Legisla-
ture of New Hampshire brought to a close so
far as the lower branch is concerned, with
drew.
Gen. Stevens, of Nashua, called up the bill
providing for a board of railroad commission
ers, after which the House, ON his motion, adj
iourned.
The Colby bill will go to the Senate to-mor-
row, when lively discussion is anticipated.
Those best informed predict that il will finally
pass the upper branch with possibly some un-
important amendment, in which the House
will at nee concur. The friends OF the Colby
bill are much elated tonight at It's passage
without any embarrassing amendments. ana
thev confidently expect the measure Will Do
disposed of by the Senate and become law
within few days.
Concord. N. H., Aug. 9O.-The Colby rail-
road bill, which passed the House last night,
was referred to the raircad committee and or
dered printed.