The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-23

. conductor 70 allow him v travel ON his
wifs's mileage book, thing ths con-
ductor would not permit.
"You hoped that b would put you on
the train. didn't your asked Nh. WOOD
ward.
:s"I didn't care II he did," responded Mr..
Gardiner.
with pass in Jour pocAst you tried
10 pick fuss with conductor.
81 didn't try to pick fuss. asked
him 30 lot me travel on my wHs's book. :"
Mr.. Gardiner sAid be wanted 10 explain
that he thought members Of the lsgisis-
ture who accepted passes did so because
they regarded it as matter Of courtesy-
/ believe there are only four members OF
the House who do not use passes, said
Mr.. Gardiner.
els that possiblef" asked Judge Foster.
with an expression Of surprise which was
greeted with roar Of laughter. Tbs
collcquy between Mr.. Woodward and Mr..
Gardiner went into the ethics Of the ques-
ton OF travelling on railroad mileage
books. Mr.. Woodward wanted to know
II there was any contract the patrons OF
q railroad were bound to live mp to.
"Your own conductors do not live mp to
itr' exclaimed MIR. Gardiner who had In
his interest crossed the room to where the
railway attorneys sat.
Come back here" said Judge Foster.
81 an getting Interested In this thing.
Mr.. Woodward remarked. I'VE Will see
that our conductors do take up these
books In future" Later Mr.. WOODWARD
said that the reasons the orders mentioned
had recently been given 10 conductors re-
gsrding mileage books was "beosuse OF
the performance of this Mr.. Gardiner.
There was great deal Of laughter and
applause during this discussion, particu-
Iarly at the references to the pass system.
The hearing Was full of amusing Incl
dents Such was that when Judge Foster
asked II any body was present from Lewis
ton or Auburn to answer question he
wanted to put.
There was pause and then MIR. Garter.
attorney for the road, and resident OF
Auburn arose. He said perhaps he would
serve, and In answer to Judge Fosters
questions said that formerly under GER
tain class Of ticket 1t was possible to go
from Lewiston to Portland and return for
GO cents and less while IL now costs VI. so.
The petitioners rested their case at this
point. Having appeared Us witness for
Judge Foster" said Mr. Carter, II will
now open this case briefly for the Maine
Central railroad" Mr.. Carter spoke first
Of the difference In the business done by
the Maine roads and those Of more popu-
lous states. 1t was not a fair comparison
to take tie case Of Maine roads and put
them In the same class as roads centeripg
In great cities and having the advantages
OF the immense suburban traffic there.
The Maine roads run through sparsely
s,ttled state. They have to collect theii
business from ANAL towns and deliver II
to the Boston and Maine at Portland and
where two trains take these passenger
over the Boston and Maine. Then Mr.
Carter took up the case of the Maine Cen
trail SO far as figures are concerned
spoke OF the ISSUE Of the $500 mile
mileage book in 1899 and said thai
statistics collected as to the operations o.
the road during the year those book.
were in use showed large falling of IL
passenger revenue while the ratio OF ttt
persons travelling on mileage books wa
largely increased 1t was doubtless true
that more people would travel II the two
cent book were issued but the increased
travel which came to the road because q
few people took members Of their families
with them on their mileage books woulc
be triiiing
At this point, this hands of the CLOCK
pointing to six, the committee adjourned
for supper. When they came back at 7.3C
Mr.. Carter resumed his opening address.
He argued that the figures printed in tbs
papers were so misleading that petitioner.
had been mislsad by them, so that In
stead Of an increase of 1866. 900, there was
by careful management.Ia sum less thar
half OF this saved In operating the road
and the public got the benefit Of all but
about Sal, 900 of this saving. Mr.. Garter
said that every body admitted that til,
but 1t would not be wise to make changes
which they asked II the changes woult
endanser the prosperity Of the roads
There is no reason why the wife OF o com
mercial traveller should share TIL
privileges extended to her husband be
cause OF his business relations with tn,
road. than that woman who has nj
husband and travels only occasionally
should be carried at the same rate. The
attention of the roads has recently beer
called to the extent of scalping by the
case Of man who was elected to thil
Legislature and then asked conductor t.
let him travel on mileage book ISSUED
to another person. The roads think that
when the time comes for reduction oil
fares IL should be on the local tickets and
not by an extension of the mileage sys
| teIn.
Mr.. Carter then made an interesting
statement. He said that II the legisla
ture would enact n bill which he read