Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1899-02-24

compelled to run train miles OF 173,00D III
1898 to make this gain Of 1000 passengers,
carried, which was a less number, was
5000 more than In 1898. The estimated
costs OF operation are about 70 to u cents
Estimated "a that Il IL Is losis $500 yeas
II sells mileage book at 2k cents e
mile. This bill proposes to reduce 1t. Last
year the Portland 4 Rochester operated
about So miles Of road. It had net sur-
Plus after paying interest to its stock
holders and the interest on the funded
n neDa and carving 5000 to the maiute-
iund to guard against accidents and In
Juries occurring on the road where claims
nave nave been presented 10 double the amount
q surplus left Of $92 II they had sold
their mileage books at the rate Of cents
mile. taking into consideration the num-
nave mad deficit Of 5000, and II instead
Oh obtaining their regular rates on pas
, ssengers from Portland to Rochester, II
Z cents q mile. there would have been
another deficiency Of nearly $1,000
rms road is under the management OF
r. Wescott. The directors are Nathan
WeDD, as pure citizen and as able o
eountry a. srsI tat n any court in this
proposition before this Legislature Is 20
take the management of that road from
tn these directors, reduce the mileage from
|
in its operations. No more unjust act
was ever proposed, and II it isn't taking
private l,rAan property without compensation
railroad so that it cannot meet its proper
obligations, there can be no confscation
of property.
What does this bill mean? what a 4
aimed at? | judge 1t cannot be the Fort
land e. Rochester Road. l infer It cannot
be the BANG, Bangor & Aroestoqk: e 4 the
grievance against any of the railroad in
terests In this State? II he has. the law
affords him remedy. II the legal rights
lated: they have their relief under the/
judicial department Of the government
Has anyone any prejudice? They say
14.0O0 or 1900 people. Yes, under mis-
apprehension and under an unintentionai
mis-statcment OF the facts. Men make
Good men make mistakes. They occur u
almost every mans life. 1t doesn't de-
tract from his honor. his integrity Or HIS
worth, but because an error was made in
sending out these statements as to the i'll
crease Of passengers on the Maine Cen
trial Railroad in 1898 from 1897 to 467 90
If any error was made In creating the im-
had Increased 1857 900 in 1888 instead OF a
| loss, of 5000 and that has caused men to
send their petitions here claiming that
| this road could reduce it's mileage, say
| that If they came under that misappre-
u.
l have examined that Portland petition.
where the impression was abroad that
| there had been an increase in profits of
between $500, 900 and 500, 600 in this road In
one year. where under these circum-
stances the belief was that there could be-
some reduction in it's rates. yet I have
TONERS throughout the State could have
heard this testimony and the facts as
they have appeared in this case, they
would join with these remonstrants in
M iF1a IN int INF
the great interests that are existing be-
tween the people and these railroads.
Why, gentlemen. the Maine Central
1t tried it in 1892 and 1893. 1t found its
revenues were decreasing at the rate OF
between $1,000 and $1,000 month, and
best testimony of their officers Is that It
would decrease their earnings from At
least $4,000 to 100000, and yet it Is said
Look at its report. 1t shows after paying
its fixed charges and interest on its bonds
and dividends. that 100000 was left which
outstanding against the corporation. If
the 2-ceht mileage book good to bearer
Central in 1898 would have had floating
debt of more than 81 500 900 instead of a
floating debt Of 100000.
| say, gentlemen, it is no time to trifie
with the interests of this company. 1t IL
a great artery of your railroad system
When you destroy the lfe-blood that
cry branch road on its ih Ines Wien you
destroy the life-blood of that main artery
it means less trains. it means less SER
vice, 1t means poorer accommodations to
the people of every branch line that is
operated by this road. IT is all one sys-
TEN. Its mileage might be cheaper be-
tween Portland and Bangor if II was
direct line and no branches to maintain.
but there is the Belfast branch to main
tain. the Bar Harbor branch and the Og-
densburg branch where last year these
than $4,000.
You take these different branches, the
Bar Harbor, the Belfast, and Knox &
Lincoln. and gentlemen the passenger
traffic dosn't pay operating expenses of
these trains. 1t is the main line that SUI
tains the railroad connections in our
State. 1t is the main line. the travel up
on the main line. and the receipts upon
the main line that help maintain good
cry citizen of the State who lives on the
branch lines is entitled to just as good
service and at as cheap rate as the man
who lives on the main line.
What is the effect of this bill? AL
though ! see there has been considerable
modification in the demands of the petit
Central Railroad, yesterday. read an act.
or IA rough draft of an act,( which would
protect the railroads of the State against
scaipers in case they decided to put upon
the mileage book the word wife, and
President Wilson said to you that II that
law could be passed and they could be
t:Ssuicu VI DTOtcctlon, tnat tney WOuiQ
pledge the honor and the faith Of the d.
rectors of the Maine Central Railroad that
1t should be done. but that he desired no
legislation compelling him to issue such
n mileage.
Why no legislation? Because, gentle
men, 1t is establishing a policy in your
State against the practice that has ex-
listed here relating to railroad corpora
tions business, its organization. Because
II is contrary to the spirit of our institu
TONS because 1t is unwarranted and I'M
just exercise of power over business In
terests. What Is the effect of this pro-
posed bill? What Is the effect of this pro-
posed legislation? Let us see. gentlemen.
The fare from Augusta to Boston is 81.
The Boston 4 Maine receives $3.50 Of that
81 and the Maine Central receives $2.U
although the Boston & Maine carries
farther This is under traffic arrange
ment with the Boston & Maine. The
strong roads give the weaker roads a
traffic arrangement and 1t has a double
force. .etsglsts ssg
A traffic rate, I presume, exists today.
between the Washington County and the
Maine Genital and the Boston & Maine,
and with all lines. Suppose you pass this
law, and how will 1t apply from the city
of Augusta to Boston? The rate would
be $3.50 on a mileage. the Boston &
Maine with it's 115 miles of road would get
81. 80, and the Maine Central S1.26. but you
would take $1.24 out of the Maine Central
and transfer 1t to the treasury OF the