The Portland daily press., 1899-02-15

p9rm1SSl0n 10 W1tDnrhW tut oul
give notice now" he continued, that at
the hearing on the mileage bill, this ques'
ton will be asked and If the railroads
withhold the information members may
draw their own conclusions"
The order was then withdrawn and an
other reference to Thursdays big hearing
came In the shape of an order presented
by Mr.. Macomber giving the railroad
committee the use of the bill OF the House
on Thursday afternoon for the mileage
hearing.
There is OF course In connection with
the mileage matter more or less specula-
tion as to the prospect of u compromise
measure along the lines already suggested,
the roads issuing books at two cent rate
good for mem bers Of family or members
o Il employees of a firm. Before the pas
sage OF the Vermont law which is In sub
stance the same as the Webb bill, the
1ieen Mountain State had such statute.
Under it, when man bought "a mileage
book, he stated by whom in addition to
himself, it was to be used and the names
of all these persons were written In 1t.
That mace the book transferable among
the memb ers of a family or the representa-
tives of business house. 1t removed the OBJ.
jeetion OF the roads, that transferable books
threw the sale of tickets into the hands OF
the scalperseand it relieved the holders of
books from the opportunities of friends
who wanted to borrow ride.
The statement that at Thursdays hear
ing the petitioners would introduce
figures from the report OF the railroad
commissioners has prompted the PRESS
correspondent to unearth from the report
of the railroad commissioners the follow
ing interes ing statistics as to the pas
ssnger business and revenue of Maine
roads in 1897 and 1898:
MAINE CENTRAL
Average rate per mile. 1897, 1857 cts.
Average rate per mile, 1885, 2.2S2 cts.
1895, 467, 29S
Increase in passenger revenue in
1898, 1906, 554. SO
PORTLAND AND ROCHESTER,.
Average rate per mile. 1897, .. 1872 cts.
Average rate per mile. 1888. y 33G cts.
IseS 1883
Increase in passenger revenue, $si0.S0
PORTLAND & RUMFORD FALLS.
Average rate per mile, 1897, ASIA cts.
Average rate per mile, 1898, :, Io5 cts.
Increased mum Der of passengers, 1865
Showing u slight decrease in revenue,
GRAND TRUNK.
Average rate per mile, 1897, Elias cts
Average rate per mile, 1898 1,99S cts.
In ntsrn NJ
Decrease in revenue (about) $500
CANADIAN PACIFIC.
Average rate per mile, 1897, ale cts.
Average ratt per mile, 1898, LA cts.
Increase in number of passengers, 9,692
Increase In passenger revenue 3d. sis. "a
Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath, who was to
have appeared for the petitioners, has
Withdrawn on account of other engage
ments.
THE EYE AND EAR INFIRMARY.
The resolve appropriating $4,000 annual
ly for the Maine Eye and Ear lnfirmary
has been favorably reported by the finance
COMMITTEES. The report was presented in
the Senate and tabled for printing under
the rules.
A GREAT QUESTION SETTLED.
SO far as the Senate is concerned a
great question has been settled by the
passage of An order directing that the
room which has been the subject Of SO
much controversy shall be occupied by
the secretary of the Senate during this
session and thereafter assigned to the
bank examiner for q private Office.
TEE MOREY BILL.
The Morey bill 20 prevent usury has
peen reported in new draft by the COM
mittee on legal affairs. The principal
provisions of the amended bill are as fol-
lows;
Section l.-An loans hereafter con-
tfactea for less than two hundred dollars
DIR. Hulfs Cough syrup cures colds and