Daily Kennebec journal., 1899-02-24
THURSDAYS HEARING.
Continued from page 81

| VI AHdiuc, anu lOuTibLS
10 enjoy our climate, our summer breezes
our fish and our game.
Now, gentlemen, look with me for one
moment at the result Of this proposed
mileage bill, and tell me ii it il not prac-
the mileage book the word family You
sheusa th HnIp protect mileage ticket With Only
road would be protected and the other
party wOulu be protected
Now the fare from Boston to Farming
tn, ton Is $.S5 The rate under the mileage
phi as proposed is 1894, discrimination
IN IN FAVOR OF tne summer tourist of 81 cents.
The fare to Lincoln-I have taken dis
tributive nrh,,lt points, different directions in
| tance to Lincoln is 2a5 miles and the fare
N.3. Under the mileage rate. to the tour
ist or sportsman It would be $3.50, a gain
h',a to him Of 8 IS, ana Il his family was with
more. Bar Harbor, a gain of IS cents.
Greenville, by way of Dover, a difference
against the road on the 2-cent milea se
rate of s2l2: Greenville by the way Of
Old Town, a difference of $il2
The discrimination under this proposel I
law against these interests and in favor
OF the summer tourist, who comes to
Maine to spend pleasant summer and
70 whom 1t is entirely immaterial whether
he pays cents or ; cents or cents a
mile in travelling on your railroads.
Under our statute the law provides that
any railroad corporation may establish
for It's own benefit fares. tolls and charges
on all passengers transported on the road
az such rates as may be determined BY
the directors, provided that such rates
or fare are at all times subject to altera-
ton by the Legislature or by its officers
The intent of the law is that the fare
shall be reasonable. that no arbitrary or
unjust rate shall be established Now.
gentlemen. what is the test of a reason
able rate? You can have no hard and
fast rule. There are such a variety OF
circumstances surrounding the construc-
ton and operation of the railroads of
Maine, extending over our vast territory
that there you can have no hard or fast
stances surrounding the case Who Is
the best capable of judging? The board
of directors. who are familiar with these
questions; =, Who .. is the best capable of
roads. their directors and their general
managers, or the Legislature of the
State? The roads must earn enough 10
pay the interest on their bonds; they
must earn enough to maintain q good and
safe roadway. to guard and protect the
public In its travel. They must earn
safely and in reasonable condition Of
safety. All of these burdens are upon the
road. Who knows best? The board of
where it belongs. the power rests where
II deserves to stay. with The boards of
directors of these various corporations.
II they have violated their powers. If
they have exceeded their authority if
they are proceeding contrary to the con-
stitution and laws of your State, let them
answer for 1t, but do not, putting out this
dragnet of uncertainty and peril, UNDER
take to sweep all the corporations of your
State and their business interests into its
dangerous coils, for. gentlemen. We have
been warned rn blythe legislation of other
ercising too much power in this direction.
of the great danger to the interests and
welfare of the State and her people.
There are many facts. gentlemen, con-
nected with this case. that l would like
to discuss, but / have discussed to you
some of the material propositions. If We
roads, if we have faith in our boards of
directors, If they are not violating their
great trust and discriminating against
the people of this State / say, follow the
fathers and let the power remain where
it is.
Maine is a grand and growing State.
Her great interests have been developed
and advanced by the growth and pros
perity and liberality of her railroads, and
before the Legislature shall lay its strong
corporations, before they shall deprive
them of the reasonable powers they are
exercising, first determine whether or not
they have violated the trusts that have
been given them under the law. Under
no other consideration does that statute
authority the authority to be exercised;
that fact must first be determined, and if
the railroads iof this State are violating
this great trust. If they are exceeding the
powers that have been entrusted to them
by the people. then, if you determine tnat
such Is the fact, the statute OF M this state
listing affairs relating to the transpOrta-
ton of passengers.
We live in a State, gentlemen. where
capital enjoys reasonable degree of pro-
lection. We live In State where the
rights of the humblest citizens are held
as sacred obligation by our courts and
our Legislature. l have no criticism, l
ren n make of the moving
parties to this controversy. We are here
to be heard. All we ask is a fair investi-
cation, fair determination of this case.
and, gentlemen, while We have been NOV
ing forward as State. while We have
been increasing our railroad mileage,
while you have been developing the great
has been a spirit of loyalty and devotion
to your State and her interests by all Of
our people. You have been moving for
ward at rapid rate: you nave neen de.
you have been giving communication to
the agricultural interests of the State,
that they might reach a market for their
products. You have been developing ev-
cry material interest of your common
wealth: you have been taking the lumber
from your forests the slate from your
forming it into something Of value; You
have been opening the great stOrehOuses
of your industrial wealth, and ! say to
you, this is but the beginning, II we are
liz we do not place upon our statute book
unwise legislation, l say this Is but the
beginning of the great future that awaits
her in the industrial progress OF the
world. Let us be true to her interests.
let us not depart from the great land
marks that have guided her In the past:
let us not be too hasty to adopt new and
experimental legislation; let US not Leg
islate from prejudice or from error, ana
if we do not, this grand old Ship Of State
of yours will keep on an even Keel ana no
one hereafter / care not how skeptical
he may be, no one hereafter need nave
any fear for the progress and develop
ment and advancement of the great old
State of Maine of yours.
At 5 p NJ, Ex-Governor Cleaves had
concluded. Judge Foster asked a re-
cess until evening when he would close
the case for the petitioners. Recess
was accordingly taken until o'clock.
| when the hall was again packed to
overflowing. Judge Fosters able
argument follows in full.
! Judge Foster spoke as follows:
| To say that do not feel the responsi-
bility that rests upon me at ms tme
would be telling falsehood l IeeI tne
| " - ai0n anu while