The Portland daily press., 1899-02-09

than had been represented. Motormen
are not more exposed than expressmen
or drivers of other vehicles In day
like this, said Mr.. Libby, the windows
IN yestibule must be opened. 1t WAS
a question of the best way of running n
road in the interests of public safety
1t was not question Of expense.
Manager Il. A. Newman OF the Port.
land road, was called as a witness. MIR.
Newman told the committee that the ps'
titions In favor of the bill had been signed
by some Of the employees ON his road,
but the men who had had experience in
the vestibules to man refused to sign.
Mr.. Newman said the mon were free
to sign or not as they pleased. One OF
the motormen OF a vestibulsd car when
asked how he liked the vestibule replied
In vigorous English that IL was not
worth damn. The motormcu rs a rule.
were In better health than the oonduc-
tors One motorman, who ran vcsti-
buled car, and is now carried on the pay
roll of the company has been sick since
November. He got pneumonia on day
when he was forced to lower the glass in
the vestibule There are motormen on
Portland cars who have been in the EN- :
ploy of the road over 90 years The per-
centnge Of accident the vestibuled
cars is 20 percent greater than on tie
open. In Hartford, where q record has
been kept, the percentage is shown to be
IS per cent greater. Mr. Newman said
that ali tho Portland lines conferred In
the congested city streets.
Senator Reynolds who introduced the
bill was also speaker. He had drafted
the Cape road and declared that he knew
the men must suffer from the cold on
their 40 minute trips. He admitted that
this might DO called matter Of sentl-
ment and did not think that was an
argument against 1t.
Mr. Libby made the closing argument
and 1t was an eloquent presentation OF
the nature of the legislation proposed.
He said that the Legislature should hest
tate before IL entered on u course which
committed 1t to the regulation of the
business of q railroad corporation in all
Its details There WAS no great demand
for this bill from Portland people. It
rested with the petitioners to make Out
case and he submitted that they had
not done SO MIR. Libby said that the
Portland road took pride in giving the
people good service and they did not
want the impression to go abroad that
they were unmindful of the well being
| of their employees The fact that men
had been IN their employ for over 20
years showed that they We're properly
treated.
| Elder Basney created good deal of In
terest by his earnestness. He said he
appeared as clergy nan, the friend OF
the boys and "a humanitarian.
Then you are not an expert in railroad
ing, remarked Mr.. Macomber, to which
the elder replied that he had learns sd a
good deal by observation.
The committee after the hearing voted
to report the bills ought not to pass.
The case of the Cumberland and Ok
| ford charter will be heard tomorrow af-
ternoon. No action was taken on the ex-
tension of the westbrook, Windham and
Harrison charter.
| THE TRADING STAMPS.
MIR. c. S. hichborne of Augusta was
the principal speaker in favor Of the law
to prohibit the use of trading stamps.
The hearing was before the judiciary
committee. He argued that the custom
was injurious to business interests. Mr..
Hitchborn said:
|
We believe that such methods in busi-
ness are hurtful and that our merchants
should be protected by law against the
inroads by parties outside of the state.
| MIR. Hichborn read letter from par.
ties who give away "magnanimoualy'
pictures OF deceased members Of the
family. These persons do not believe in
trading stamps. but do want to be al.
| loved to work their schemes He aasa