The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1893-01-23
"HAULING REPS. .
An Augusta Occupation Which Is
Flourishing This Winter.

FlOuriShing This Winter.
THE RAILROAD COMMISSION TO
THE RAILROAD COMMITTEE.
How Chimneys Not on the Plan Got On
the State House Roof-The First APP
preparation Bill-Gorham Normal
School in Good Condition.
Especial to the Press.l
AUGUSTA, January 21.-The dignity of
the state law makers absolutely fails to
city. That is the drivers of those nom
descript vehicles known in local parlance
as s'ten cent WAGONS" Some of these
carriages, all of which have seen better
days, Lear signs alleging that they an ac-
commodations That is SO for their assist
ance in mounting Augnstas perpendicu-
lar streets is not to be lightly estimated.
But the drivers of these ten cent wagons
exhibit great lack of respect for the
members of the legislature. Among the
drivers, the grave Solons familiarly
spoken of as "Reps,' an Augusta con-
traction of representatives. Consequent
ly, it will be readily seen how the calling
of man who drives the Senators and
Representatives about town has come to
be the occupation of ''hauling Reps"
But all the members do not patronize the
accommodation vehicles. Such are
known to the drivers as walkers, or indi-
vidually as Mr.. Walker.
The term REPS" is not confined to the
Jehus by any means. A small boy re-
marked as he passed through the lobby
of the State House the other day:
''Say, made Is cents today
s'How was that?'
s'Oh, I was workin', doin' up bundles
for Reps" es
Such is fame.
Railroad Legislation.
Messrs. Twitchell, Holman and White
are subcommittee of the railroad COM
mittee to consider the recommendations
made by the railroad commissioners in
their annual report. These recommen-
dations were explained to the committee
at the hearing this past week. Chief
among them is that for some statute pro-
vision to prevent the securing of charters
from the legislature by men who want
them only for speculative purposes and
have no intention of building. At the
hearing, Mr. Mortland, of the commits
sion, was emphatic in his expression of
opinion of the harm which might be
done under this practice in preventing
the construction of needed lines and
thus hindering thet development of the
state and the influx Of capital from other
sections of the country. The point was
raised by one of the committee, whether
it was not competent for the railroad
commission, under these circums tances,
to permit the formation of companies
under the general law to build through
the territories covered by charters held
for speculative purposes. Mr.. North
lands reply was that while such course
might be pursued by the commission,
the fact that the regions through which
it was desired to build were covered by
special charters, would be a serious
hindrance to the newer enter
prises. If, for instance, the
promoters Of line organized under the
general law, in their attempts to borrow
money in other states should be met by
the statement that their territory had
already been granted by the Maine legis-
lature to another concern, they would
encounter an obstacle which might ruin
that enterprise, capitalists refusing to
put money into a road of whose rights
they had suspicious.
Another of the matters discussed by
the rail- DAD commissioners and the
committee relates to the necessity for
legislation to provide for the safety of
passengers travelling on electric roads.
thing to say upon this question. He
tric lines along the highways and over
highway bridges had thrown upon those
bridges strain to withstand which
they had not been constructed. MI.
Chadbourne did not wish to be under
stood as saying that he believed there
was now any actual danger, but he said
lhe bridges in question had been built to
provide for the passage of ordinary road
vehicles. Now, heavy electric cars,
W ighing many tons and often dragging
one or more trail cars, were daily cross
ing such bridges. Between Biddeford
and Saco there was such bridge. built
several years ago in the most approved
manner. While Mr.. Chadbourne was
satisfied that the bridge was now strong
enough to meet all the demands made
upon it, the time was coming when it
should be carefully watched and inspect
ed in order that it might be made cer-
tain thatit was in condition to stand
the strain of the passage Of electric cars
as well as the ordinary street traffic for
which it was built.
Another matter in connection with the
running of electric cars, of which Mr..
Chadbourne spoke, was the manner of
the ossing of electric and steam rail
wav tracks. Mr.. Chadbourne said that
if the railroad commission was entitled
to the respect and confidence which it
should enjoy to be of value to the state,
he believed it should have some rights of
supervision in these matters. AS a case
in poinr in tho ~, ttor Of oroccinrc an ar.