The Portland daily press., 1896-12-01

zens Of Portland to enter protest
against the change of the Maine Central
headquarters, If this is contemplated,
but they cannot help feeling that such
move would injure their state and their
city.
Ex-Mayor c. j. Chapman said: 81
learned of the removal of General
Manager Tucker with great surprise and
regret. l know that Mr.. Tucker has al
ways been a great factor in the organiza-
ton of the Maine Central system, and it
is due to his energetic nianagem ent and
business foresight that this road has
been SO largely developed. He has al
ways been alive to the interests of the
business men in the State of Maine, and
az far as possible has contributed to the
development of the resources of the state
and the upbuilding of its business. ! am
apprehensiye that Mr.. fuckers removal
will be likely to prove detrimental to the
interests Of the business men In the
state. I should regard it as extremely
ruinous to the business men of Maine If
the general offices of the Maino Central
should be removed to Boston. Hardly
day passes that the busin ess men of Port
land are not obliged to transact business
with the officials of the Maine Central,
and to be compelled to communicate
with them over SO wide distance as
Portland is from Boston would work
very much to the business mems disad
vantage. 1t has always been understood
that it was the policy of the Boston and
Maine, although owning the controlling
interest on the stock of the Maine Gen.
trial. not to interfere with the manage
ment of that road, but that its stock
holders should bs allowed to choose their
own officials and indicate their own
peculiar policy. So far as the business
of the State of Maine is concerned, GER
tainly hope the policy of the Maine
Central is not going to be reversed al
though in the absence of any definite
reason for General Manager fuckers
resignation it exoites cause for appre-
hension of this sort.
Hon. Fred E. Richards said: ssMr.
Tucker has been the manager of the
Maine Central railroad system for more
than twenty years, and under his man
agement the road has contributed ma
terially to the development of the CON-
mercial interests of the State of Maine.
It's policy has been broad in the best
sense Of that term, and while ii has been
operated upon lines which have brought
handsome and uninterrupted dividends
TO the stockholders and the sew ral issues
of bonds upou the property have CON-.
tinually enhanced in market value, So
that today this corporation enjoys the
highest credit, it has been managed SO
literally that Its patrons have been
generously dealt with, and the road is
exceedingly popular with the representa-
tive men all over the state have heard
of no reason being given for this sum-
mary removal of the general manager.
The increasing prosperity Of the Maine
Central during the whole period since
Mr.. Tucker assumed its management has
been SO marked that it seems improbable:
that the change has been made purely
upon sound business principles. II the.
removal is made contrary to the de-
mands which would serve Its welfare, it
must be for the purpose Of gratifying the
ambition OF some individual or interest
and not TO increase the profits of the
shareholders. If. in the change the re-
moval Of the offices, workshops, etc., to
Boston is contemplated, it will so un-
favorably affect the city of Portland and
the State OF Maine that natural remedies
will probably suggest themselves and be
applied through the proper channels. 4