The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1900-02-06
A Commission Suggested to Study
The Laws.
And Advise Changes To
Be Made in Them.
Portland Men Mentioned As Sui
table Members.

The Maine Railroad laws are likely to
come in for q large share OF attention at
the next session of the Legislature. Tue
amendment secured at the instigation Of
prominent street railway pro- sectors. CIV
ing petitioners an appeal from the deois-
lon OF the board OF commissioners, has
proved more or less Of boomerang to
those whom 1t was intended TO help. Any
trolley line project, no matter how loud
the public demand for transportation ser
Woe, or how we'll equipped It's projectors
may be to carry out their plans. can be
held up at ths pleasure Of any body OF OBJ
jectors.
Az result OF this condition 1t 10 prob
able that not mile Of the projected troll
ley extensions and new roads pstitionsd
for In York county and western Cumber-
land can be laid this year. For instance,
the Atlantic Shore Line railroad, whose
petition for location from Biddeford to
connect with the Portsmouth, Kittery
and York street railroad at York Beach,
is well understood TO meet the approval
Of the railroad commissioners. Behind
this projeot are the Goodalls Of Sanford,
WHOSE financial ability to carry out their
plans is beyond question, and whose good
faith In the matter 10 proven BY the fsot
that they have already ordered, In antici-
patton Of favorable dsoision from the
commissioners, about $4,000 worth Of
equipment.
An appeal from the anticipated decision
Of the commissioners 10 Threatened by
tarties who desire to block the Shore
Line road. and II the threat is carried
out, not tie can be laid nor q spike
driven till the court rules on the appeal.
In conversation with q Boston Herald
correspondent prominent Maine railroad
man said la response to question as to
what would be likely to come up In the
line Of railroad legislation: 1t seems to
me it would be wise plan for the man
ayers Of the steam and trolley lines In op-
erat lon In this stats TO get together and
ohoo SO . commission to make a special
study Of the present railroad laws. listen
to suggestions Of needed charges, con
slider impsrtially the iDterests Of all and
then draft bill to be presented early in
the legislative session.
"The commissioners could then 60 be-
fore the railroad committee. present its
case In all the details. and the committee
would be enabled TO make q report
founded on the best possible Judgment Of
the requirements Of the situation.
"Of course the choice Of such a commits
sion would have to be voluntary on the
part of the railroad companies. and they
would be obliged to bear the expense. but
IL they should all come into tho arrange
ment, and assess themselves pro rata. &C
oording to the last state report Of their
gross earnings. the plan could be success
fully carried out without hardship to
any company, and In a spirit OF absolute
impartislity.
.iAs tho mem bers Of such a commission.
would suggest the names OF Judge Sy-
monds Of Portland, Chairman j. b.
Peaks Of the board of railroad commits
sioners, President Albert A. Burleigh Of
the Bangor and Aroostook. President
Charles +. Libby of the Portland Rail
road company and President A. u.
Gerald of the Lewiston, Brunswick and
Bath Street railway. These men. from
their wide experience in railroad build
Ing. management and counsel, ought to
be able to present to the Legislators a bill
whose passage would be q benefit, not
only to the railroads now in existence and
those in prospect OF building. but to the
state itself, without infringement on the
rights of any citizens Of the reasonable