The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1890-05-13

Maine need not be told what harm would
result to their interests if the Grand Trunk
road should be forced, directly or Indirectly,
out of United States territory. Our
principal western connection is the
Grand Trunk and it is impossible
to conceive of worse blow to
our prosperity than would be inflicted by
legislation whose ultimate effect should be
to drive the Canadian roads to seek an outlet
at the seaboard over the Intercolonial load
and the route through Edmonston. The
present Canadian government have been
bending all their energies to compel the
Canadian roads to do this; and nothing
would be more pleasing to Sir
John Macdonald than some legislation
on the part of Congress that would
help them. There is danger that in under
taking to protect our own roads from an
alleged danger-a danger which we believe
is myth-Congress may be betrayed into
such legislation. And as bearing on this
point the testimony of the Hon. William L.
Putnam before Senator Cullom's committee
Is OF great interest and value and we there
fore append it:
Mr.: Putnam. My point simply is that we are
entitled and the whole State OF Maine, under the
circumstances is entitled to this protection. We
do not think ought to be subjected to this arbI-
trary which, as say will cost the State of Maine
at least 1926, 900 year, besides throwing lines
of steamships which now go into and out of Port
land into Canadian ports.
Senator Reagan-Do you understand that any,
body desires legislation thai would interfere with
the interests of the roads through Maine and
New England?
Mr.. Putnam. Yes sir, / do. know there is a
very strong tendency in that direction The
Portland Board of Trade ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
iimprt9fperly, put they certainly SO understand
o. course we know perfectly well that there is a
strong interest to break up the whole system Of
Senator Reagan. If such action were taken by
This government as would place the American
roads on an exact equality with the roads running
be Objectionable?
Mr.. Putnam. Yes, sir; think it.
Senator Reagan. In what respect?
Mr.. Putnam, 1 thinkithe Canadian roads would
then take the traffic which they now bring to
Boston and Portland and put it through their own
ports.
Senator Reagan. If the Canadian roads were
simply compelled to act on an equality with the
American roads?
Mr.. Putnam. Yes, sir; that is il it proved to BIZ
Senator Reagan. If they are disposed to turr
l over the traffic in the way you have described
would it not be TO their interest," their connection:
being completed, to go to St. John or Halifax?
Mr.. Putnam. 1t is for tine interest of the pres
ent Dominion Goyernment-what you may cal
the present Dominion Government" as they cal
It down there, the Tories as against the Grits, Il
| turn all this traffic on to the Canadian roads
They are rep political loads; But no road desires t
fic as it is. The Canadian Pacific road is like any
other railroad, It today may be under the thumb
of the Canadian Government, but its man
| agersare largely Americans, it is largely
owned on this side of the line. Unless il
is forced by the Congress of the United States in
nxuifh fhQ inf nnxr
ment, It viii not change the present plan of doinf
is subsidized line of steamers belonging to the
Canadian Pacific running between Vancouver ant
China and Japan?
| is on. Their Government has lately made a con
tract to subsidize line of steamers from Halifa,
the Canadians intend to turn their traffic through
their own territory without reference TO the Unit
ed States?
| Mr. Putnam. 1t means that the Canadian gov
eminent intends to do that If 1t can, and we d.
| not want you to help them do it. The Canadian
lines run In and out of American ports in winter
| The Canadian government has tried to diver
| them from those ports, aud can not succeed with
| out the aid of the American Congress. With oul
| aid they can do 1t. We do not fear that any Sen
| ator is disposed to break up by direct and opeI
| action the present bonded system of transporta
ton. What we do fear is that it will be thongh
| necessary to do something to protect the Amerl
| can roads against Canadian competition, and tina
some action will be had of an indirect character
the effect of which is remote and not seen by Sen
| tors but which will have that effect.
The Chairman. To drive the Canadian road
out, you mean?
The Chairman. And to divert the trade to the
own ports?
Mr.; Putnam. Yes, SIR. a year ago this season
the steamers to the port of Halifax. On,
day three steamers arrived at the port O
| Halifax. This last winter those steamers came
back into our port They cannot maintain them
selves up there unless you help them.
| Senator Reagan. Would not the open seas for
commerce to Portland rather than divert it from
| there?
| Senator Reagan. On terms of perfect equality,
Mr.. Putnam. Yes, on terms of perfect equality
| II let alone. large, portion will come to Port
trade is forced out of ITS natural channels by leg
islation on the part of the Dominion OF Canada o.
the United States. OF course Canada has opened
short line through Maine with a view to fOrcinl
this business from our ports 1t does not seem Il
be understood that they already have two com
pleted lines from st. John to Halifax on their owl
| The Chairman. Describe those lines.
Mr.; Putnam t She has the Iatercoloaial An
wns.s !. y c-siled inc North shore, up where you
friend, senator Frye, goes to catch salmon. Thel
That is the line on which they did their bushes
| heretofore. Then they have weak line, bu
Which IS capable OF being made strong Linz
L
the New Brunswick Railway and down throug
| st. John and Halifax.
Senator Blair Which is the strong line?
Mr. Putnam. The upper line.
Senator Blair. What will be their termiDa
point in Maine? Has not the Canadian Paclfi
a project to build up port on the coast of Maine
Mr.. Putnam. They disclaim it If they have
| but in fact the Canadian Pacific has port here
| They are shipping an immense quantity of mel
| chandise here, and there is a good deal OF it
traffic that comes into Portland over the Portland
Ogdensbgrg line down through
| senger lines through there. and goo,
1 deal OF freight comes down there.
Senator Blair. 1 was not in when you begaI
i your statement, and you may have suggested t
the committee legislation that would be hurtfu
| and of which you are apprehensive. If you hay
| not, what legislation do you think Congress nigh
be apt TO indulge in that would be injurious to tn
| State of Maine.
Mr.. Putnam. We think that as business
| done on so close margin as it is today, any lee
islaton, direct or indirect, which can possibly a
| feet this bonded business will be Injurious
| Portland and to the whole State of Maine. An.
| thing that blocks up those lines puts us on a
| bitrary RAJ es, AVID of course there is nobody VIII
supposes that the arbitrary rate for Maine woul
be less than 10 cents, which will cost u
as have shown members of the committee, abol
| $225,0 annually.