The Portland daily press., 1899-03-10

real root of the difficulty. | cannot for
one moment assent to the proposition
that these petitions mean nothing. and
that the whole source Of this agitation Is
in this state House. They do mean some-
thing. They mean a great deal. Thirteen
or fourteen thousand people from all over
this state have petitioned to this legisla'
ture for one single thing. IL may be thai
many of them have never used mileage
book; it may be that many OF them never
would use a mileage book even II this bill
should be passed; il may be that many OF
them do not understand the real question
presented; bnt l cannot doubt that u
great many of them do understand the
question and do understand and do feel
that there is occasion for something to be
DONE But the real cause of complaint
which has caused thess petitioners in such
large numbers TO sign these petitions, Is
not entirely the restrictions placed on the
sale OF mileage books, but is q feeling OF
dissatisfaction with existing railroad
rates, with local rates AS well as mileage
rates, with freight rates as well as passen-
ger rates. And these petitioners say, In a
voice SO loud that 1t cannot be unheard
and in a manner 50 clear that It cannot
be mistaken. that the existing railroad
rates need revision, Mr. Speaker, l be-
lieve that every railroad director in the
State OF Maine has heard that voice. / be-
lieve every one understands what it
means. believe that they will listen to
tho voice and heed the warning. Now
bold in my hand letter which, although
1t is addressed to me personally, is In
tended for the members Of this House:
/ Office Of the Maine Central Railroad,
Portland March :.
/ Richard Webb. ESQ House of Rerresen-
| tativUs, Augusta Maine:
! Dear Sir:-Ihe widespread agitation in
favor Of a two cent mileage book, good 70
/ bearer, which has taken form in numer-
/ Gus petitions presented to the Legislature
ANA In the efforts there being made to
/ secure legislation 10 this end has caused
/ the Maine Central Railroad company, IN
! common with other railroad companies OF
/ the state, 10 carefully consider whether
/ It's past present aud prospective passenger
1 business viii warrant more general use
OF such books.
it has been the policy Of this company
/ TO acoede to Gll reasonable demands made
I BIZ our customers in the mutter OF rates
aud train service whenever it has been
possible Tor Ii to do So and IL would give
f Us era pleasu ~ now TO issue IL transfer
able mileage book, without Legislation
compelling us to do 50 were we not con
WINGED that such action upon our rart
would seriously cripple US. We especially
Ideprecate legislation upon this subject
I even If II uoes not 90 to the extent sIg-
+ gextel in the pending bill Because II
mukes pgseedent which we consider
bud; because it implies lack OF conf
denue in the management which has 81
| WAYS endeavored to serve the best interests
! Of tha people of Maine; and II the i'm
preston is created abroad that the legisia-
| turs of Maine is disposed to interfere with
| the practical management OF the business
OF railroads, except In extreme cases, IN
| yolyIng clear abuse OF power, the value
! of our securities Will be uufayorahly
affected IN the hands Of investors; and ID
show thar this company appreciates the
| force Of she popular demand ana Is dis
/ posed to meet all concessions thereto
within its power, we will ut once place on
| sale mileage books which ut the request
| of the purcnasar may lie used for his wlfo
as we'll AS himself provided legislation
/ shall be enacted which Will tend TO pro
tect the company from tie Irregular use
of such books,
! If future experience in the use OF mile
age books under these modified CONDITIONS
shall demonstrate that additional changes
Z
! be the pleasure Of the management TO
| make them. In the meantime. If thele
now exist any Inequalities OF inJusties
| IN our local passenger rates or QUE irelght
rates, it win be our ende vor 10 discover
! them and apply a remedy. IS we nave al
ways endeavuTed TO do in the past.
! We trust The people of Maine as repre-
| sented in the legislature will receive these
! assurances In the fair anu friendly spirit
with which they are given, and We assure
! them that it is our Intention TO do all VT
yan to aid in the development of the
state and to coneede to the people all that
the proper management of the large bust
ness interests committed 10 cur care will
allow.
Very truly yours,
GEO f. EVANS,
Vice President and General Manager.
mir. Speaker, in view of the assur-
ances contained in this letter and in other
letters which are in the hands Of other
members OF this House, l wish TO inter
pose no objection to tire acceptance of this
report" (Arplause)
! MIR. Pierce OF Blaine said that in "A
minor way he hnd been identified with
this cause from the first. Whether or not
tire change should be to "a transferable
mileage hooks he could not say, but he
WAS firmly convinced that some concession
might he made In view of the fact that
the COMMITTEES had reported adversely on
the bill, although he had hoped that
some compromises, measure might be
agreed upon, and OF the further fact that
he knew that the railroads would make
some concessions. he would submit to the
decision OF tho committee. Mr. Pierce
then read "a letter addressed TO Mr.. Webb
by General Manager Cram of the Bangor