Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-05-02
The R. R. Commissioners
Hold Novel Hearing.
Capt. Phi|bTook Tells Of Prog.
ross Of Gypsy Moth Crusade.
Decision Delayed in Lewiston, Au.
gusta ( WaterviIIe R. R. Case,
STATE HOUSE CALENDAR,
Next Meeting Of Governor and Council,
Tuesday, May z. at 10 A. M.

Tuesday, May z. at 10 A. N.
A hearing of rather unique nature
was held before the Board of Railroad
Commissioners Wednesday forenoon in
which the so-called Hepburnl rate
passed by Congress was brought into
prominence. The petition on which
the nearing was held was brought by
Jonas Edwards. Charles d. Hasty,
A. >. Ferguson and S. S. Ferguson of
Lewiston, dealers in horses, who COM
plain that the tolls of the Maine Cen
trail Railroad for the transportation of
horses are excessive and that they
have recently been arbitrarily raised.
The petitioners pray that the rail-
road commissioners may fix the rate,
according to the powers vested in
them by Section / of Chapter 81 of the
Revised Statutes of 1903. This is the
first time that the law has been in
vol1ed in this State, though a similar
law is frequently made use Of in Mas
SachuSettS. TaScuS Atwood of Auburn
appeared in behalf of the petitioners
and Hon. Seth NJ. Carter of Auburn
and Hon. Forrest Goodwin of Skowhe-
gan for the Maine Central Railroad
Co.
Mr.. Carter stated that the statement
of the rates is correct, except that
they include the free transportation of
man one way to care for the horses.
The reply OF the railroad further
says:
When Congress passed the SO-called
Hepburn rate bill in June, 1906, the
management of this company deemed
it advisable to adopt the official claSSi-
flcation, which is in effect on most
roads east OF the Mississippi river and
north of Masons and Dixon's line,
with scarcely an exception. in place of
the old classification which this COM
pany has used for the past % years.
This classification was made effective
on this road Oct. 10, 1906. and divides
the freight into six classes. The
change in classification raised the rates
on a few articles, but decreased the
rates on a much larger number, and
this change increased the rate of
freight on a horse, which the petition
erS complain of.
considering the hazardous nature
of the freight transportation, its liabil-
ity to damage and the consequent
heavy payment of such damage, the
fact Of the highest grade of service be-
ing required, the carriage Of passen
ger, the exclusive use of a box car and
the constantly increasing cost of opcr-
alton. and the fact that our rates
average as low as other roads, and
lower than other roads outside of New
England, | beg to submit that our
rates are not unreasonable
Tascus Atwood. Esq. Of Auburn,
spoke in behalf Of the petitioners. VINO
stated that the rates for the trans
portation Of horses in some instances
are double what they were at the last
rate making, and the rates are large
and unreasonably high.
The petitioners called but one wit
ness. j. l.. Pearson. who testified that
he was the bookke eper for the firm of
Jonas Edwards 4 Sons Of Auburn,
dealers i'll horses. Mr.. Pearson testi- |
fed that the firm by which he was enl-
poyed sold 1000 horses per annum. |
A bout all the customers resided in the |
State Of Milne, and that the Maine
Central Railroad was used for trans
portation purposes. Mr.. Pearson cited |
several instances wherein purchasers
Of horses at the Edwards stables ut |
Auburn drove the animals across |
country to their destination because of |
the excessive rates charged by the |
Maine Central Railroad Company for |
the transportation Of horses.
Hon. Forrest Goodwin of SkOWhcgan |
spoke briefly for the Maine Central
Company. stating that he did
not believe that the rates were excess
sive when everything was taken into
William n Sandcrson Of Portland,
general freight agent of the Maine
CENTRAL Railroad Company, vas called
md in detail gave a schedule of the
'atcs for the transportation Of horses
md merchandise.
Mr.. Sanderson stated that the risk
If transporting horses is large and
hat while of course the railroad COM
,any did not refuse to take horses
-et it did not solicit this kind of
rade and the company would not OBJ
Get if the horses were driven across
he country in the future.
Asked by Chairman Peaks of the
BOARD if the rates were placed on a
Ugh plane to make them prohibitive
0 horse buyers. Mr.. Sanderson replied
hat such was not the case.
Mr.. Sanderson further said that from |:
, railroad standpoint the rates were
low. He also said that
he adoption of the official classified ,
ion of the rates according to the |.
hepburn bill would decrease the earn
ngs of the Maine Contra Railroad
Company $4,000 per year.
The closing arguments were made
y Attorney Carter for the Maine Cen
raj Railroad Company and Attorney
.twood for the petitioners.
The Commissioners reserved their
ecision.
Cart. E. E. Philbrook. special field
gent of the bureau of entomology
with the department OF
griculture. and who is during the Ill
csc IF prof I, T. HitphinoS the State |