The Portland daily press., 1901-01-18

has been criticised bus we thing our
books would show 10 IL q wise one. i
said that none OF us felt that the state
OF Maine intended TO grant to anyone a
monopoly OF the telephone business
In answer to question by Mr.. Han
dali, Of Portland, MIR. White said that the
rates to business houses were 90 year,
to residences, SIP.
The Eastern company then closed It's
presentation Of the case and Hon. CLAIR
ence Hale OF Portland addressed the com
mittee In behalf OF the New England
company. MIR. Hale said that for many
years his company had done business in
Maine and now its lines were found In
every city and nearly every town Of over
800 Inhabitants, so that q company ask.
ing the powers sought by the Eastern
company must parallel the lines OF the
New England. Mr.. Hale spoke OF the
committee as one OF the highest tribunals
In the State, dealing with great issues.
Now, TO this committee come some Of the
ablest and best men OF the State asking
that their request be granted. NOW"
said Mr.. Hale, "in what am going to
say exculpate these gentlemen from any
intent to do wrong to anybody but you,
gentlemen, are to see both sides OF the
case while they present only their side,
as they have done 80 ably. 1 ask you not
to be prejudiued because they see Only
their site of the case You are to see both
sides.
| Now what is the policy OF this State in
regard to competition when a man is "a
grocer, he has perfect freedom to conduct
his business when and where he pleases.
The law OF supply and demand regulates
that, but when it comes to public sell
vice, the use Of the streets Tor instance,
another rule Is applied. IL Is not feasible
to allow many corporations to use the
streets. II the service Is not good; II the
rates are high you have relief in an APP
peal to the courts. Now what Is the poll
cy OF the Slater 1t is shown in the 40
ton of the railroad commissioners who
refuse to allow line OF railroad to be
paralleled. There Is, too, the right to
appeal to the Legislature hut the Legis-
lature has shown that 1t lie slow to act in
the case of new companies unless 1t oan
be shown that the old companies have
bsen giving poor service or charging too
high rates. ask you to bear these things
in mind when you consider these ques-
lions. The petitioners here ask for the
right to parallel the lines of the New
England company. 1t devolves upon
them to show that public necessity and
convenience demand the new service.
When you go to the booth In the state
House to telephone to your homes you
are using the lines of a company that
extend to every village of 800 people in
this State and to far distant points. 1t is
evident that the business in these small
places must he done at q loss. The New
England company comes here with open
hands. 1t has nothing To conceal. Fer
many years st earned dividends OF only a
small fraction over three per cent. 1t has
never paid more than six por cent.
Ths petitioners ask tn build lines
wherever they may select territory. In
other words. they want to take the cream
and leave us the skim milk. Il this new
companv-it is practically n new COM
pany-should be able to take advantage
of the powers given by that charter, II
would mean practically the confiscation
of the hundretds of thousands OF dollars
OF the yes ted interests of the company
which / represent. 1t would mean loss
to the widows and orphans who are
among its stockholders. They would
compete with us in the good territory
and leave us alone In the poor.
Suppose gentlemen company should
come here and ask to parallel the Maine
Central road, would you grant 1t such
rights. Why it's absurd. But suppose
further that they asked to run their
road between only such points as they
might determine. Would you do itf
Now, gentlemen. 1 do not propose to
take more OF your time. Yon are the
court and know you viii not be preju-
diced by friendship or by great names
MI. Cobb asked on what the small
dividends mentioned was paid and Mr..
Hale said on the thirty million capital OF
the company in New England. MIR. Hale
did not know what this investment OF
the company was in Maine but the
amount OF the State tax indicated that 1t
was about $751;, 0C0.
Judge Wing of Auburn also spoke in
opposition TO the bill. MIR. Cobb replied
in a few words and the hearing was over.
MEETING orr ROARn OF AGRICuI