The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1901-02-01

t~ko away Ill to8 puf&NoN4f Anu 70 WIN
the Saoo line. II parallels two divisions
Of the Boston and Maine with branches
running to the advantageous points The
Boston and Maine has line built at
great expense along the shore connecting
the summer resorts thsrs. Il is admitted
that the road has run more trains In this
section TO accommodates the people there
than they ought to hare RON. We have
no controversy with the gentlemen who
come here and say that thsy believe the
electric road will not hurt the stsam
ROAD. They have a vague theory that the
electric line will 50 build up the towns
that benefit will result TO the steam
roads Well. the gentlemen who have
charge Of the steam roads and who spsnd
their lives in the study of these questions
DO not take that visw Of the case. II IL
shouli appear that there was q prepondsr-
ating weight OF evidence in favor OF the
electric line, the steam road would be
Obliged TO submit bus in that case, the
question should be settled In the manner
provided by the constitution and bylaw.
Then Hon. Charles +. Libby argued
the case for the petitioners. Mr.. LIBBY
in substance, said; II had hoped that in
view OF all the considerations In this case
and of the conferences that have teen
held, that the reasonable request OF this
street railroad, whioh Is doing something
to build up the taxable property of the
state, would not be opposed. do not
know now whether this opposition is
serious or whether Il IL made merely to
resord protest, but 1 must assume that
1t is serious. 1t is maintained that II
has been the policy Of this state not to
permit the building Of street road even
whwe they approximately parallel steam
lines. II that Is 80. IL Is the first time
have ever heard 1t declared. Up TO the
time OF the passage of the general act. no
street railway charter was denied. / Will
ask you what has been the action Of the
state since that time. IL you admit this
ST smert OF t1e policy OF the It e. to tie
correct, It's development VIII be arrest ,d
30 far as elect -ic railroads are concerned.
In 1857, what did the legislature dof
Why, trey granted special charter to
tbe Wett crook. winaham and Harrison
road, touohing the Maine Central at two
points, Why was it tat our friends did
net appear ana oppose the granting of
that chaftsrf The road stirts at West
brook where the Maine Central is and 1t
tends to South Windham where 1t
touches the Maine Central. Is that what
my friend calls parallel roadf
"Is II a fact that the Legislature is
found hand and foot SO that they cannot
take action In mattsr in which they
dsem the ntsrest OF tse public 10 in
volveds Shortly aftsr the passage OF tae
act the Judiciary committee considered
this question ana il 40 ffsrred to a
commission OF fhfus enAtf. e=wyers OF
whom Mr.. Appll ton of Bangor was one.
Their report. now on file in the archives
of this ft.te. declares hat in their opinion
the constitutional restriction does not
prevent the legislature dealing with
special charters when in their Judgment
such action is necessary.
''In reference to the policy OF the state
since the passage of the general act, take
the case OF another road, that from Port
land to Yarmouth. What railroads run
to Yarmouth You all know how the
Maine Central and Grand Trunk cross
there, yet in 1897 or 1925. this legislature
without opposition from those two great
roads granted this charter. Is this a
parallel road within the meaning OF my
brothers definition Of what constitutes a
parallel roadf Now our Gorham line is
not parallel with the steam road. 1t is
one side of triangle, the steam road aud
two sides. 1t is cross road, only two
miles long, to enable US to reach the
thiokly settled portion of Gorham from
part OF the town where we already have a
location. Doesn't IL seem extraordinary
II the Boston and Maine mas come TO the
conclusion that its vested rights will be
imperiled by the electric lines that they
permitted the building of all these other
roads.
"wby, gentlsmen, what do you thinksis
to be the effect at the dawn OF the
twentieth century on the development
OF the State OF Maine II the argument
presented here today prevailsf With the
selfish interests that all men have, we
want to see the state developed Is there
a man here who wants to see the State of
Maine go backward? 1 don't believe it.
Is there anyone who wants to sec 1t lag
behind the processionf / don't believe 1t.
What has been the situation in the region
where the Boston ana Maine does i.s
greatest businessl Did IL prevent the
building OF the suburban electric lines IN
Bostonf They form gridiron. Did IL
prevent the lines TO Springfield. to Salem,
to Portsmouth Why is 1t that the Bos-
ton and Maine now comes here and in
vokes Its vested rightsf Let me give you
a bit OF Boston and Maine history. What
Legislature Was 1t that chartered the Bos-
ton and Maine in this state and allowed
1t to parallel the Portsmouth, Portland
and Saoo road? 1t is easy to invoke great
principles when you apply them to the
other fellow. Didn't the Boston and
Maine hold club over the p. S. and p.
and what was the result The NO roads
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