Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-28
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
Continued from page ~

Np", SoiiielHlHS ABOUT the career of
these roads, and what they have done,
and what they have had to meet and
| want the gentlemen of the House to
understand this point, and want to
say to you in order that you may fully
understand my position, that j am in
tcrested in the development and the
building of electric roads in Maine:
and the roads that have been built
since 1891 have, from the moment they
began their career, met opposition from
the leading line of the State AT every
hearing when they came to the COM
mssioners and asked for Il charter
they have met with this opposition
and l believe there is no exception to
this-they were met by the statement
from the steam roads that these lines
were not needed. that the public good
and the public service was met by the
existing condition of things, and OPP
position was pushed to the very limit
until the people at the hearings and
yotr friends at the hearings that We're
he'd demanded that the roads should
be allowed their rights.
There is something else that | wish to
call to the attention of the members of
this House. and TO show you that these
roads have been your friends. From Lew
iston to Bath, previous to the building of
the Lewiston. brunswick & Bath Road.
the fare was 81. and it is now 81 cents:
from Lewiston to Brunswick it was IS
cents and il is now Is; from Bangor to
Old Town 1t was ~ cents, and it is now 10
cents; from Augusta to Gardiner it was
p cents, and it is now 10 cents; from
Portsmouth to York Beach it was o. cents,
and it is now p cents.
In May. 1901. at the annual meeting of
the Lewiston, Brunswick & Bath hallway
and the member from Eath viii correct
rhnt L. mt Il .A ID
requested to raise the fare from LewiStonl
to Brunswick from - to IS cents. and from
Lewiston to Bath from % cents to 30 cents.
the stockholders the interested parties,
from outside the State. favored this: the
Stockholders within the State OF Maine
field the rate was originally 10 cents and
it is now five cents The whole history,
gentlemen, of the electric ralroad bus
ness in this State has been IL record OF
hard work to get what they have. The
record of the Maine Central Railroad has
been opposition to that work on the
ground that the public good did not de
mand it. AT this session of the Leg Stature
they come here, at first asking for the
right to build and operate roads and to
purchase lease the electric tailroadS
Why do they do it? Why did they do it?
assume that there can be but one reason
If they were correct and meant what they
said when they said that the opposition
was on the ground that the public good
did not demand it, then | say that their
only opposition for it must be that they
did not want the competition, and that III
taking out those electric railroad charters
and in building those lines, It is with the
some of the development that YOU gentle
men. have been Instrumental in bringing
about for your State
Now. is there any good reason. some will
ask. why this bill should not have pas
sage and become a law? | think only
need point you to this record. ii the record
OF the past is that they do not believe in
this development and that the. puhlic good
does not demand ii. Then, | assume, 1t
ptpf h1 HOY sl
much interested in the development of the
State of Maine along the lines Of electric
railroad competition anu bonding AS TN
men who are engaged in that work are.
| say, 1t Is fair to presume that every
man in this House and every man who
loves his State is interested III it's devel-
opment. If we grant these road the right
to take out these charters and to build
electric roads. what will be the result
hold it two years; they may ask Tor
it's renewal they may do nothns; the
ons n ,n ARE oss shS s vi a. IN p 2ss
roads told me himself today that he die
rot intend to do much in that line,
Now. gentlemen. there are men in thi.
state whose business it is to develop tn.
State along those lines, and they are mcr
who will do something in the way Of de
Nelopmeht. Ii Is their business. Whether
is Il line that parallels it. it does not mat
ter. and although the line were simply {
feeder from u village into their line ano
connecting with it. they would not put th'
road where the electric road has pat it
The record of the past shows that Ans
IN making this opposition to the bill, | an
net doing it in opposition to them alone
| am not doing it with the desire Of at
lacking the railroad committee; ASSUME
they did the best they could under the cir
c,mstances But. Mr.. Speaker. and gen
temen Of the House, am presenting Thu
matter solely and purely on the groun'
that the people of the State OF MJtine. i
they are interested in its developmcn
thnxs sp,l n o. a
road building and the steam raiifoa
building.
ton In the way of development that come
To our State from the electric railroad
that think will appeal to YOU more ina
all other arguments combined. Along tn
lines of these roads that connect the large
and the smaller villages OF our State th.i
were a large number OF small conn'r
schColhouses where only few weeks G
tuition were doled out to the pupils froI
year to year: a low, rate IN some II
stances a half rate and in other instance
even less than that and in some instance
two-cent rate. has been Eoted 70 U.
towns for the use of the chidreh, an
TO the larger places and particularly :
Brunswick and Yarmouth and t'reepor
and they have awaited themselves e. ., noo ~
lengthy sessions; and in that way IT "a
been a direct benefit In the way OF educ'
ton that cannot be caiculat ted.
Now ask the gentlemen Of this Hou'
10 consider this matter candidly aud TAI
ly. ask you to forget that You haye
NAV hive an interest in any road. rs
YOU to forget that yoa may be : s1oekh ,,,.
YOU may be a stockholder or a direct.
il. an electric line ! submit that \;
nothing whatever to do with the questiI
that lis now before us If you have he11
YOU the fact that the development OF tn
State depends upon this competition. al
Won know what 1t has done in the last
years If YOU have before you the reeol
mat The steam roads do not care for IN
con,petition that they do not believe tn
the public good demands II, then II Is i
YOU. gentlemen, to put your foot dow
once for all and say to these roads: "fo'
ZINC of business is steam railroadng al
the line OF business for the other felio
tx electric railroading.
Mr. Speaker while this bill We
through to It's passage to he engross,
without opposition. the bill was not fai
understood or digested. There were
large number of gentlemen who we
ieaay to come to the hearing that was
nounccd. and who did come to the he;l