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

computations and We shall inseoduos
figures prepared BY ststs oficsrs, the
railroad com missioners, TO show that this
concession will not ssriously Affect the
earning capacities 81 the roads. They 40
not call these privileges concessions In
other states, but have noticed In my
experiences that the railroads In this
stats do not grant privileges or oonces'
sious unless they are obliged 10. have
hoped that this matter might b set
tied smioabiy without coming 70 his
general court, BY MUTUAL concession.
But when ! consider the strenuous OPP
position which has been made especially
was adjourned. am not surprised NJ
anything which may be introduced here.
am not surprised that men who signed
petitions have written letters withdraw
Ing their names. but will mention that
later. We come hero representing 1900
people-not the bondholdsrs Of the roads
and the people who ride on passes.
(LAughter.) We shall Introduce evidence
TO show that these petitions were signed
BY people living on the railroads-not
people In the hack townA
Representative Pierce Of Blaine Was
called - the nrst witness. He said that
be had examined all the petitions re-
osived mp 10 week ego and found them
signed BY 2,449 persona. He should
estimate that the petitions since received
repre- sented 1900 persons. He was famil-
lar with the business and residence Of the
signers In Aroostook county. They
were people who lived In towns on the
railroad and people who travelled on the
roads. In general he should say that nine
tenths Of the signers were residents Of
towns on the railroads. This applied to
all Of the state.
Mr.. Bisbee cross-sxAmined Mr.. Pierce
- to the methods used In obtaining
petitions He did not know whether the
circular letter accompanying the petitisns
was written In the State House. Mr.. Bis
bee handed Mr.. Pierce letter (which Mr..
Pierce read. 1t referred to the two cent
mileage bill as q just oneiand urged the
recipient to secure rs many signatures
as possible to the petitions.
MIR. Bisbee-Weren't all the petitions
received after the letters were sent out
from the state House.
Mr.. Pieroe--I think not.
Mr.. Bisbee any petitions re-
ceived before the letters were sent out.
Mr.. Pierce-I think there were. l do
not know Tow many.
MIR. Chaplin then took hand In the
cross-examinatioo. His object was to
show that some of the petitions were
based on the Gardiner bill. MIR. Chaplin
introduced another letter sent with the
petitions This letter referred to the fact
that the master of the state grange favors
this. bill.
Judge Foster-I did not know that.
th ank you for the information.
A burst of laughter greeted this sally.
at the conclusion of which Mr.. Chaplin
said: az did not know We were holding
n town meeting. thought We were try
ing an important case before this COM
mittee "
Judge Foster-We are.
MIR. Chaplin-I thought SO.
Judge Foster-One eminent counsel
consents. daughter.
MIR. Chaplin asked MIR. Pierce some
questions as to the facilities afforded the
people of Aroostook by the railroad
there, and then Judge Foster called
Elias Thomas of Portland, who testified
particularly as to freight rates. Mr..
Thomas said that he found that rates on
Inolasses were about twice as great from
Portland to Ellsworth rs they were
from Boston to Ellsworth.
MIR. Thomas said that he favored .
two-cent mile age rate
"Do you think this Is a question of
freight rates. MIR. Ihomas" asked MIR.
Macon Der Of the committee.
~ do not" replied Mr.. Thomas. II
was asked to come hers and make this
statement and have done SO. ="
This is purely Q question of passenger
rates" said Mr.. Maoomber.
II am glad to hear It," said Judge
Foster. 1--WE had heard an intimation
that II this bill passed freight rates
would be raised" daughter.
President Menish Of the Maine Com
merciaI Travellers association, who Is
commercial traveller for the house of
rwitchell -Champlin company, was the
next witness. Mr.. Menish created good
deal of amusement when he presented
mileage books which he had just bought
of ticket scalpers. Mr.. Menish referred
to the recent instructions to Maine Cen
trail conductors to ask passengers If the
names in mileage books we're their own.
Isn't that considerable annoyance ?
asked Judge Foster.
1t 10 some annoyance to the passenger
and q great annoyance to the conductor,
was the reply.
Mr.. Menish was oross-exanined by Mr.
Bisbee and once when the discussion be-
came somewhat animated, Mr.. Bistee re-
marked: "Thers is no occasion for show
ing any feeling"
~ haven't any," was the reply.
"You seem to show some," said Mr..
Biebee.
"Oh, you're mistaken" bland ly re-
sponded Mr.. Menish, and again the audi