The Portland daily press., 1897-01-28

ever nay be the merits of the case
visitors to Bangor would he lah TO Sa4
an arrangement of some sort by which
cars could run to tho railroad station.
They dou't now.
FOR BETTER ROADS.
When Mr. Holbrook's bill for the ep-
pointment of road commissioners in
each town comes up, there will be live
ly battle. Major Dickey, the venerable
member from Fort Kent objects to these
new tangled notions in running toWAs
and is mastering the forces of the oppo-
sition.
THE RAILROAD HEARING.
The announcement of the hearing on
the Engel railroad bill was sufficient to
bring to the State House today notable
gathering Of Maine railroad men and
others interested. Among those present
wers President Wilson Of the Maine Cen
sral, Hon. j. H. ManleY, Hon. j. ?.
Bass, Hon. George P. Wescots, president
George D. Bisbee of Buckfeld of the
| Portland and Rumford Falls railway,
| Hon. Clarence Hale, Hon. Fred N. Dow,
Gen. John Marshall Brown, Seth NJ.
Carter, ESQ.,, c. +. Woodward, Esq. and
Hon. Charles &C. Littlef1eld, whose
name at the end OF the list does rot
represent the position he occupied in the
minds of those present for is had become
known during the forenoon that Mr..
Littlefield had come to Augusta to fight
| the bill as the representative of some OF
the minority stock holders of tie Maine
Central railroad.
| Previous to the consideration OF the
great question of the afternoon the COM
mittee listened to Col. E. G. harrington,
secretary of the board Of railroad COM
missloners, who told the committee why
the board nesded an increase of $1,000
annually In the amount it receives for it's
exrenses. This would be paid by the
railroads of the state. After Mr.. Earring
ton finished speaking, Mr.. Bisbee and
Mr.. Weseott expressed their concurrence
| in Mr.. Farrington's views
. Then the committee made discovery
and an alarming one. The hearing had
been advertised to take place in Repre-
sentntives hall, but a report having gone
abroad through the Capitol that the
hearing on the Engel bill had been post
poned. the Judiciary COMMITTEES had ad-
| journed to the hail. with the ladies who
came to urae the wisdom of woman's
suffrage. The ladies completely filed the
hall and the railway committee found it,
self barred out
q When ii became apparent that the
ladies had won the day the COMMITTEES
decided to stay where they were and hear
Mr.. Littlefeld on the qustion of post
poning the hearing. There was great In
terest shown when Mr. Littleield arose
to state his request. His advent on tina
scene had heen so sudden it had revived
the talk of opposition. 1t was, in fact.
the first evidence Of any we'll defined OBJ
| lection to the measure and it naturally
| created great curiosity RS to who Mr..
Littlefeld's clients were. This feeling
was heightened when the Rookland at
4 L~-~- An 14N1 AL~.L L
| sentsd clients who held between $500 and
| 5000 shares OF Maine Central stock. Mr..
Littlefield added that one of his clients
| was not in the state and could not get
here before tomorrow or Friday. As Mr..
| Littlefeld had not had an opportunity to
confer with his clients he must ask the
indulgence OF this committee until some
time next week. Were the hearing to he
held now, he should be able only 60 sit
and listen to what was said
I Then Mr.. Littleheld sat down without
telling what every body most desired 10
hear who his clients are; but Mr.. Engel
settled that by asking directly whom Mr..
Littleteld represented.
Mr.. Littlefield replied that he was re-
tained by the Alden estate which owned
q, 1866 shares OF Maine Central stock. The
admin strator of the estate lives in Clin-
ton, Iowa, and is now on his way TO
Maine.
c. F. Woodw ward, ESQ.,, then told the
committee that be represented both the
Maine Central and the Boston and NJ aine
roads. Mr.. Woodward said that he should
not care to put in his side of the case
now, but would be ready at any time the
committee was prepared to go ahead
again. The hearing was then adjourned
until 2. 80 o'clock next Tuesday after
noon. 1t is called for the railroad COM
mittee's room but If enough people want
to listen to more than fill that apart
mens, the hearing will be adjourned 10
this Senate chamber.
Peculiar interest," attached to the an
rouncement of Mr.. Littletield that he
represented the Alden estate from the
fact that iu had been reported all aver the
building that MIR. Payson Tucker was
one of his clients. To the PRESS cor
respondents, however, MI. Littledeh
stated that this was not the case. He
was retained by the Alden estate alone.
For the last few days 1t has looked as IL
the bill would not encounter serious op-
position. 3his new turn of affairs, how
ever, may be the fOrerunner Gf the fight
which was expected in the first place. 1t
may also lead so discussion Of the
question as to the rights of minority
stock olders. In fact there is so much to
the railroad question that it is difficult
to tell what new questions a contest over
this bill might raise.
One of the most interesting hearings of
the day was that before the Judiciary
when MIR. g. C. Tozier of Skowhegan
appeared and showed the lawyers that
while they may know a great deal of
legal lore, they are not well posted in the
art of running stationary steam engines
MIR. TOzieF is himself an engineer, and
he appeared in behalf of bin establish
ing licensing board for such engineers.
There are two Of these bills already before
the COMMITTEES and third is coming
from Portland. The matter was referred
to a subcommittee consisting of Messrs.
Stearns, Hamilton and Fogler. Soma
legislation on the subject is likely to be
enacted.