The Portland daily press., 1899-02-24

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ming expenses and interest on its bonds.
The road has never paid dividends on
its stock. There are not people enough
In Aroostook county to make good the
loss by Increased travel. Where then is
the money to run the road to come froms
It must either be by tinkering the pns-
ssuger tariff or raising the freight rates,
and the freight rates are fixed now to
meet the competition Of other markets
that Aroostook may retain and increase
its business. After we have struggled
through the hard times, gentlemen, and
we are at the dawn of a new era OF pros.
perity, do not put your cold hands up
on us and add to our burdens The Ban
gor and Aroostook Is surprised at this
proposition. It feels as Moses might have
felt when be gazed upon the promised
land, had some innocent son Of Israel
arisen and suggested to him that he
should 4 return and wander another 40
} ears In tho Wilderness"
why has this two cent rate been fixed
upon9. asked Mr.. Chaplin, and ne an
swered the question by saying that per-
haps IL was because this rate prevailed
on the great roads of the country. To
show why that was not fair argument,
Mr.. Chaplin read from reports to show
that where the Bangor and Aroostook
carried one passenger, one of these great
roads carried hundreds and thousands.
Mr.. Chsr.ir was loudly applnuded at
the conclusion of his vigorous and able
presentation OF his argument. Then
Hon. George d. Bisbee appeared for the
Portland and Rumford Falls rond. Mr..
Bisbee said that he should not weary the
committee with figures because the fig
ures were all In the report OF the railroad
commissioners. Had We any idea that
the committee would report this bill,
fence. 1t is rule of law that II case
is not made out q non.suit may be en-
tered and II the distinguished counsel on
the other side was in your place, l
should move for non-suit in this mat
ter, and know that he would order 1t
entered. daughter and applsuse.) The
| two star witnesses for the petitioners
were asked many questions about the pc.
titions and there was IN uoh said about this
right of petition. That point need not be
raised here. Nobody denies 1t, but where
are the grievances of which the petition
ers complain? Who comes here to say that
the tolls of the Portland and Rumford
Falls are excessive. That road, believe,
Ia the only one represented here, which
was organized under the general law and
the general law provides that the fares on
this road may be reduced after hearing
of complaint, by the railroad commits
sionsrs Has anybody made such com
asked for here Is dangerous Ii Is th'
same scrt OF law which has been tried IL
Western states in the hope OF securing
better times, and the result has been dis
aster. The learned counsel on the othel
side, when President Wilson said tina
Maine Central stock sold at 14S, esait
| that he had stock that paid nothing
Two to one that stock was issued in Kan
sas or some other Western state wher
the people try to run the railroads
daughter We cannot place Main
side by side with New York and othel
wealthy states. We haven't the money
The history of Aroostook and Washing
ton counties shows that in the first in
stance the money for building Main
roads must come from outside the state
DO you want to give notice to capitalist
from away that the management o
Maine roads has been taken away froii
the skilled men who have had them Il
ohsrse9
Then Mr.. Bisbee gave history of tn,
old Bucktield road. its early struggle
ami its final development into the Fort
land and Rumford Falls, which by build
ing up a valuable water power has adde
a million dollars to the valuation of tn
state.
The petitioners ask that a two-cent ra I
be imposed on every road over 80 mile
in length and they support this. ba
proposition by petitions aot sent to tn
represent tative men Of Oxford county
but circulated in Portland TO be intro
duced here by the Portland delegation o
this floor. The proposition Is not scienti
tc one. 1t applies to every road no matte
how poor or whether or not 1t is on tn
town, If 1t stretches its weary length owe
so miles. l have my hundreds while Var
der bilt has his millions. What would 20
say If Judge Foster should present bi
here TO provide that Bispee should hav
as many servants, horses and carriagt
as Vanderbilt Both Judge Foster an
the representative from Patten hav
, taught school. What would you say ha
they made q rule that they would flo
, every boy over i've feet, two inches /
height If there was any whispering in tn
school.
Mr.. Bisbee In conclusion said that
, Thought the friends of this measure ha
been actuated by honest motives in ii
Producing it. lie thought that they shoul
t now come forward, admit that they wei
, mistaken and allow this matter to
r unanimously rejected.
5 George Curran, Esq, of Calais, speal
> Ing for the Washington County roat