The Portland daily press., 1889-07-08
PORTLAND'S SIDE HEARD.
Her representatives Appear Before
the Senate Committee.
Senator Cullom Hears Some New
Suggestions.
Vested Rights OF Portland and
Needs of Maine.
Especial to the Press.l


BosToN, July 6.-The committee of the
Putnam, Hon. George p. Wescott, Sidney
W. Thaxter, ESQ.,, Hon. Nathan Cleaves,
John NJ. Adams. Esq, and Woodbury. S.
Dana, ESD, appeared before the Senate
committee on Interstate commerce this
afternoon. The hearing was in the rooms of
the railroad commissioners at 20 Beacon
street, In the Claflin building. The MEM
bers of the committee present were Senators
Cullom of Illinois, Hiscock of New York.
Blair of New Hampshire, Reagan of Texas,
Harris of Tennessee and German Of Mary
land The case of Portland was presented
clearly and in very strong light, and the
Senators seemed to get some new light on
the railroad problem as it exists in Northern
New England. Mr.. Putnam's long experience
in railroad matters enabled him to speak
with an authority which no one of the COM
mittee ventured to question Mr.. Wescott
was able to tell the committee that he had
had thirty years experience in railroad
traffic in New England. Mr.. Thaxter spoke
with thorough knowledge of the participa-
tion of Maine in western traffic, and his
clear and forcible presentation of facts and
conditions interested and instructed the
committee.
In opening the hearing Senator Cullom
said be thought it due to the citizens of Port
land to say that the committee very much
wished to visit their city, but found the
funds at their disposal insufficient to allow
the additional trip.
Mr.. Putnam, who is well known to the
members of the committee, then opened the
case for Portland, saying that what ne had TO
say referred TO the closing paragraphs OF the
resolution under which the committee was
acting, those paragraphs which referred to
the bonding system.
Mr.. Putnam said he wished to make it
thoroughly understood that Portland was
opposed in every way to any interference di-
rect or indirect, with the bonding system
under which the Canadian roads operated in
Maine territory. Not without serious injury
could this bonding system be interfered
with.
Senator Cullom wished him to state just
what the bonding system was
Mr.. Putnam said it would be difficult to do
so as it was partly connected with the Gus. US.
passed in 1854 and subsequent acts.
Senator Harris asked him TO Drleily state
the practices under the bonding system.
Mr.. Putnam did so, saying that in 1S4O the
city of Portland, with population then OF
10000. undertook to open through railroad
line to Montreal. She succeeded, at great
COST The Grand Trunk fortunately took the
road under lease, and has faithfully kept
its agreements ever SINCE In 1858 COM
menced the system of through billing TO
Liverpool from Canadian and western
points The system, originally, under the
old warehouse system. was proDaDiy eXpen-
sive, but it grew and is continually growing
That business has become very important poata1d
Sna Mster tdflng frOns 1t 'afss has become in '
measure prescriptiye right to us. To
retain this business Portland is contestiDg
the whole political power of Canada. The
Canadian government is trying to divert this
traffic to Halifax and ST. John. But Port
land is the natural outlet, and II Congress
will refrain from taking action to AID the
Canadian government, Portland will prob
ably be able to hold her own. Portland has
become billing point, and receives western
products at the same rate they. are received
In Boston, Other cities in Maine are also
billing points. AS long as the Grand Trunk
is kept open we can retain Portland as q Dll-
ling point. To show how. important 1t is
that this should be done, it is only necessary
to say that the grain, beef and other products
of the.West used in Maine in year equal
to the value of two and a quarter million
barrels of -four. We know that the minute
Canadian roads are interfered with there
| and it will cost the people of Maine $685.
| year more than it does now, besides break
| ing up our billing points and disorganizing
| business
tion with reference to western
freights, Portland opened construction on a
new road over the White Noun
tains through northern Vermont, to con-
nection with those roads which have since
crystalized into the Canadian Pacific system
| We have now realized the advantage whlcf
we aimed at, and strenuously object to hay
| ing it broken up. The city of Portland II
| its municipal capacity invested over $1,000,
| 600 in this, and has lost interest and all
| enough to make three millions, that 1t ha'
| cost Portland. We have reached the Cana
| dian Pacific and fee, that we have earned
| the right to object to interference with thos,
| lines. We have invested a large sum OF
| money in these lines ana should be consld
| cred as well es the investors in other Ameri
| can railroads. =,
| farther from the West than is Boston, reck
| oned in the Southern trunk lines. But by
| the Northern or Canadian lines, we are a
near the West as New York is. Maine Is
large State, five hundred miles being the dis
tance between some of its shipping points.
| We oppose any interference: therefore
with these roads, for such interference
| would disorganize business in our State, ant
increase the cost of the necessities of life t.
| every person in Maine. Besides Mr. Put
nam insisted that we were entitled to pro
lection for our vested interests in the road
| we have built.
Mr.. Putnam then read references to th,
laws and treasury regulations under whlcl
| the bonding system operates.
Senator Culom then asked If leaving ou
the bonding system, Mr.. Putnam though
that if the Canadian roads were put on th
| same regulations as American roads it woult
interfere with Portland and Maine.
Mr.. Putnam replied that if he would Civ,
specific instance perhaps he could tell NOR
definitely.
Mr.. Cullom repeating his question in sub
stantially the same form, Mr.. Putnam sal
he did not wish to answer contingent ques
tion. But, he continued, have read all tn
authorities and cannot find any reason to be
lieve that the Canadian roads recoup fron
their local Canadian traffic for the rate
which they may make Tor throug
traffic.
Mr.. Putnam continuing said: "a DANCE
is that if we attempt to interfere with thes
roads the Canadian traffic will stop at Mon
treal and go to Halifax in winter as Sir Joh
Macdonald wants it to do. We sha
play into Sir John MacDonald's hands. w
Shall hurt ourselves without helping th
American trunk lines. Besides, the Amer
can trunk lines arm not suffering from th
Canadian Pacific. 1t is their own rivalrie
from which they are suffering" Mr.. Pu
nam here cited some cases from bis own e.
perience, where useless roads had been bui
and useless quarrels entered into to the gref
detriment of all concerned.
Senator Cullom asking about Portland
line to the West Mr.. Putnam informed hi