The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1885-12-11
RAILWAY MATTERS.
DETAILS OF THE BREEzH IN THE EAsTEl

MEEIlNGs
The following details of the discussion at the
afternoon session of the Eastern railroads annu-
nual meeting in Boston, Wednesday, may be OF
interest:
Shortly before p. M the meeting Of certihate
holders was called to order, and the president an
nounced the result of the ballot as follows WhOle
number of vCtes, 14,600; necessary for choice,
1901 Jacob C. Rogers 7406 Charles J. Morrill,
1885, Edward w. Hooper, 1895; G. l.. b. Jack
SON 7557; John Cummings; 74o6; Richard oIlney'
1884; Nathaniel j. Bradlee, 7194; Samuel G.
Lawrence, 7194; Frank Jones, 1857. The six
gentlemen first named were declared elected.
Only two OF the retiring directors, Messrs. Rog-
erS and Olney were reelected. Mr.. Richard Oh
ney asked if any ballots had been thrown out.
The president replied that there had, for irregu-
larities. but not enough tOiatfect the general re
suit. The whole amount thrown out was $685.
GOO, and 1t was for nOn-registratiOn. Mr.. Olney
said he understood that all those votes were east
for persons not elected. The president replied
nnnn ra1 tbs ticket thrown bv III Steyens attor
ney. In reply to further questions by Mr.. 0lney
the president stated that the certificates belong
of the president and Fellows of Harvard College
and the votes were thrown by Mr.. William p
Blake, the proxy being signed by President Eliot
planned his last questions by saying that he had
been informed by Mr.. Edward W. Hooper, treas
urer of the college, and one of the defeated can
didates, that his proxy had been mailed to John
Quincy Adams at Washington. Mr.. Adams had
left the city and the letter is in his office unopen
u bSaAsaAAt.NNAo
thrown out was read by the president.
Mr.. Oryille D. Baker of Augusta, Maine, then
offered the following protest. saying at the same
time that he wished to cast no imputatiOn on the
fairness Of the trustees in counting the votes:
TO the Trustees OF the Certificate Holders Of the
Eastern Railroad COntpdItg
The undersigned, a holder OF certificates of in
debtedness OF said corporation, hereby protests
against the declaration of the vote of said certih
cate holders for directors of said company for the
ensuing year, for the following reasons:
1st Because sufficient votes have been thrown
out in the count of said votes to change the result
of said election.
2d. Because votes have been improperly ad-
mtted in said counting.
3d.-BecauSe said count OF votes is Illegal, un-
authorized and invalid.
WILLIAM B. LAWRENCE.
The president said the votes were thrown out
for non-regstration; if not registered the votes
could not be cast. Would Mr.. Lawrence give a
specific instance of votes being improperly ad
mtted?
Mr.. Lawrence replied that in the nature of
things 1t would be impossible for anybody to OBJ
tain the most thorough evidence on such short
notice. 1t IS matter OF evidence and Of, per-
haps, the construction of the court. He had
heard that there was some question about the
vote of Harvard College,
Mr.. w. b. Lawrence moved that a recount of
the votes be made.
Considerable confusion followed the point under
discussion being whether or not any action by the
meeting was necessary to bring the committees
report up for discussion again.
Mr.. Olney said that he was informed that the
certificates held in trust by the trustees of the
road had been used in voting for the ticket which
was declared elected He moved that the report
of the counting committee be not accepted.
The president stated that the proceedings had
been the same as they had been for the last" ten
years.
Mr.. Baker moved that the votes thrown by the
trustees be rejected on the principle that no off,
Ger of corporation who holds votes in trust for
the members of corporation has right to cast
them in opposition to the wishes of even part Of
the members of the corporation.
The president replied that he was not aware of
any decision which conforms to the statement OF
Mr.. Baker; on the contrary he was advised by
counsel that no such decision had been made, and
that the trustees had perfect right to vote.
Mr.. Baker cited case where the treasurer of a
corporation sought to vote on several hundred
shares in favor of certain ticket,and the election
was declared Illegal by the Supreme Court.
The president replied that that decision was
under consideration by the counsel whom the
trustees consulted in the matter. and the trustees
were advised that it had no bearing upon the mat
ter.
Mr. Baker was of the opinion that they were
not bound by the private advice given to one
party by his private counsel He moved that the
certificates standing in the names of the trustees
of the Eastern Railroad Company be rejected
from the whole number of votes declared east for
the ticket declared elected on the ground that
such certificates being held by the trustees in
trust for all the certificate holders cannot be legal
ly cast against the wishes of part of the holders,
and on the further ground that all such certif-
Gates as soon as bought by the trustees must be
Cancelled and are held as Cancelled under the law
Mr.. Lawrence moved an adjournment of the
meeting until January Sth pending the decision
OF the point raised.
The president ruled that, the meeting being
called for the sole purpose of eleetng directors,
and with no other powers, and that purpose hay-
ing been accomplished and the result declared,
no motion could come before the meeting, He
therefore ruled the motions out of order.
Amid some excitement Mr.. Baker appealed
from the decision of the chair.
Mr.. Henry ID. Hyde said that if motion to ad
1ourn indefinitely could be entertained, there was
no reason why motion to adjourn to a fixed time
could not be entertained. Therefore the motion
to adjourn to January Sth must be in order A
motion for a recount would also be in order.
The president after consulting Hon Nv n, Rua-
SELL the counsel for the trustees of the road said
that he had considered the subject, he had already
declared the result Of the vote, and by that vote
the whole object OF the meeting was accomplish
ed. He therefore declared the meeting dissolved
Confusion reigned supreme for few moments,
Mr.. Baker claiming the right to appeal from the
decision of the chair in regard to the motion to
adjourn to Jan. Sth, and the president reiterating
that the meeting was dissolved
Mr.. Hyde then called upon some of the certin-
cate holders present to take the chair, and after
some delay Mr. Baker called the certificate
asking if the president of the trustees was in the
room and would assume the chair Mr.. Baker ask
secretary, and was himself elected chairman, and
Mr.sW. E. l.. D1laway secretary Mr.. Lawrence
motion was carried and the meeting dispersed.
THE BANGOR & PIsCATAQUIs LEASE.
There is one reason why the Maine Central de-
sires to lease the Bangor s. Piscataquis railroad
about which nothing appears to have been said.
When the road from Bangor to Bar Harbor was
built considerable was said about the terminus at
Frenchmans Bay ultimately becoming port of
entry for ocean steamers, and q line of steamers
was run for a season between Bar Harbor Ferry
and Nova Scotia. Had the Bangor & Pscataquis
railroad been secured, as it was hoped to do when
the offer to lease it was made then the Maine
Central would have greater inducements to make
advantageous propositions to a line Of ocean
steamers TO make Bar Harbor Ferry their ter
minus. With such an arrangement the Maine
Central would get pro rata of 1872 miles, from
Greenville to Bar Harbor Ferry on all through
freight that might be delivered to them by the
International railroad for transportation to the
latter place. Under present arrangements the
Maine Central Will obtain the transportation OF
through freight from the International road when
built, from Mattawamkeag to Vanceboro' dis
tanee Of 50 miles, which will be more advan-
tageous to the road so far as mileage is concerned
than to attempt to revive its scheme of making
Bar Harbor Ferry port Of entry.
Since Bangor rejected the offer OF the Maine
Central for the Bangor & Piscataquis railroad the
friends of the railroad from Skowhegan to MonsOn
and Greenville are very confident that the same
VIII be built at an early day. The survey from
Monson to Greenyille was completed last week,
and it is announced that very favorable route
was found. This week the party will begin their
survey from MOnson junction to Skowhegan.
Mr.. Matthews, the manager of the MOnsOn rail-
road, proposes to- spend this winter selling the
stock and bonds of the road and the only ques-
tion that apparently now remains as to whether
or not the extension Of the road will be made will
be settled when the stock and bonds for the same
are placed upon the market The friends of the
road are confident that it viii be built
SANDY RIVER RAILROAD.
The gross earnings for the year was S23 24O.3o,
an increase of S2675.62 over last year The net
earnings was s6,726.79 There were 1886 pas
sengers carried during the year and S,593 tons
freight. The road has three locomotives, four
passenger, one excursion, one baggage mail and
express car, one saloon, eight box freight cars
nineteen platform cars and snow plough The
road is in fine condition. The directors have
bought nearly all the six per cent. bonds due in
1900, and by vote have mOrtgaged the road for
100000.
The Ice Business.
The Kennebec ice men are putting the houses
and machinery in order for filing The past sea-
sons shipments from the Kennebec show the lar
gest ever made. being 10000 tons. There are
now in the houses to carry over for another sea-
sons1 900 tons. The houses net empty. all being
in order for filling the coming winter make a total
capacity of 100000 tons. Thus it will be seen
1iNFa1Fr rfVAfa Vfu u.tsgrI aa IN.Fa. ~.