Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1901-01-23
Pixies Toothaehe Drops Cure in One Minute.

1.13l. reduction in that time Of 112s-
nearly splitting the rate in two.
Now 4 cent ton in the freight buSi-
ness does not count much by itself. You
would say it was not of much conse-
4nenee, but the railroad business is in
fnitesmal, and that reduction, when
multiplied by that number of tons Of
| freight carried during the year ending
June 80. 1900, would amount to the splen-
did sum OF 81, 269, 757. and if the Maine
Central Railroad in the year ended June
80, 1890, had charged the same average
rate per ton per mile for its freight and
the same per mile per passenger that ii
received without protest from anybody
in 1880, the gross earnings OF the Maine
Contra! railroad last year would have
been 80 10000. instead of s. 69S. 900 as thcv
actually were-a difference OF e. 49, O4l-
more than 60 per cent. contributed to the
industries and prosperity of the State OF
Maine by YOUR Maine Central's wisdom in
reducing its rates so that YOU as citi
ZenS of this State. could be pat upon q
par in your business transactions with
the citizens Of New York Massa chusetts
getting al the markets Of the world.
Gentlemen | had not expected TO use
more than about - minutes in talking t.
you upon this subject. am afraid have
extended the time beyond what ! should
have taken. and that ! may have weared
you some: but as you may have liscOy-
cred. | am fun Of This subject Of railroad
opera Unconstitutional fairness; and | will
close by saving that ] have no advice 10
the form of the bill they shall draw, or
the form of law they snail recommend
for passage in regard To this matter Of
increasing the state taxation upon rail-
roads. | simply repeat what | said at the
StaTt-that / believe the Commonwealth
of Maine ought 10 have the money to run
one Of the best governments il is poss,-
bic for any state to run. l believe every
railroad ought to contribute its fair pro-
portional increase to produce taxes
enough; and only ask that you shall treat
IS WI he anne ia s,ra
individual in your State.
In leaving this subject, ] feel as if I
stood On historic ground. This room has
been the school Of Maine: and Of the
ablest of men who have had State, ma
tional and international reputation. ami
who have wOrthiy earned it--it has been
the school Of IDEAS for fairness, for up
rightness in dealing with the people Of
the State-ideas that have gone in broad.
parallel lines to the Pacific ana beyond.
Your State is a great State. II is worthy
OF the position it holds by reason of the
Intelligence Of its inhabitants and the en-
terpriSe Of It's merchants and Of its man
ufacturers III the great galaxy of states
That make up the proud picture Of the
nited States Of today. ! have no fclr
in submitting oIr case for the railroads.
or of any other case. to the fairness q az
business Of the Legislature OF State
like that a Legislature whose reputation
has never been snirched by hin- OF inn
pTOpriety or corrupt practice. Me ltaEe
the case in Your hands.
We simply say that, in representing the
the corporation the rail-
road corporation are honestly trying to
do everything within their power To
build up and make strong the industries
of your State; and we ask in return your
the same fair and just treatment TO the
people who spend their money for these
purposes in your State as EoI would yr
anybody who comes in here and spends
money for any other purpose.
Mr. Chairman. | thank You ana YOUR
committee for the patient way in which
l=t. u 70
and desutory remarks. IApplauscl.
Mr.. GARDNER Of the committee: What
would be the total value in Maine Of the
property Of the Boston x Maine Railroad
Company?
Mr. futile: ] am unable to answer
that question: and | do not believe any
body else could answer il. As | said in
the course of my remarks, if YOU We're
to take 20 different experts, YOU would
have 20 different answers, and they might
be millions apart. | believe the Valua-
ton Of the Boston & Maine railroad
could only be figured upon tho basis NJ
what it earns in the State of Maine from
the use of its public franchise; and thai
TO undertake any kind Of valuation which
amounts to an appraisement of the prop
ertY as property would be falaciouS, ana
bring out result by which nobody could
stand.
Mir. GARDNER: Based III its earnings
what would you say would be fair?
Mr.. FUTILE: | suppose the earnings
of the Boston & Maine railroad would
not exceed upon the mileage in Matte.
$1,000 mile. You must recolect the Bos-
ton x Maine railroad in the State Of
Maine runs through some Of the least
densely settled territory that il has. 1T
does not get into your thickly populated
section between Portland and Bangor. IL
simply skirts the shore with TWO lines
from kitterY to Portland and one-third
of its lines from Rochester to Portland.
one of which is a densely populated ter
ritory; but. as near as we have been able
to estimate. without close figuring. the
earnings of the Boston * Maine Railroad
upon that portion Of its lines, do not en-
coed $1,000 mile. although BY reason Nm
Your groSs-earnings law we are taxed az
some S1l,0o0 or $4,000 mile. as | under
stand il. Our earnings in Massachusetts.
in New York. III Vermont ana in New
Hampshire all going into the gross sum.
divided by the number of miles gives yoJ
the benefit in your taxation, as if we did
earn $ll 900 or $1,000 a mile although W.
90 not earn more than $1,000 q mile
Mr.. GARDNER: In a lump sum what
would II be fair - say is the value based
Mr.. FUTILE: | think that would be 4
question, as it would be if three men
We're % get together in a dark room ana
mark.
Mr.. GARDNER: What would you
mark?
Mr.. FUTILE: | should not mark. (Ap-
plauSel.
Mr.. TURTLE: | should have to give
the same answer.
MI b-AEtDN Ek. Ihcn the comm ttCe
can get no information on that point?
Mr.. FUTILE: | do not think YOU can
unless you set some experts at il in your
own way, and make such an appraisal as
YOU see 1T to. If you set each member
to appraising without fixing any basis.
you have just as many results as experts
Mr.. GARDNER: You would not submit
TO us your Judgment
Mr.. FUTILE: | do not know that /
could give a Judgment. suppose, for in
stance. We pay taxes. you understand
outside of our road upon the assessed
valuation. upon the station and buildings
and all the property around outside ~
our locatiou-now suppose you go Down
here in the good city of Augusta
Continued on page S.
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