Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-06-11
To the Proposed N.YyN. H.
&H. and N. Merger,
Strong Opposition Shown al
Hearing in Boston Monday.
Heavy Guns" Said to Have Been
Saved for Today's Session.


business and political interests were
before the legislative commit
tee on railroads today in opposition to
the proposed merging of the Boston IL
Maine Railroad with the New YORK,
New Haven & Hartford Railroad. Inc
held two sessions and heard
Il witnesses, Is of which spoke either
in opposition or urged legislation to
guard Massachusetts interests. Both
sides, however, decided to hold back
their heaviest guns until tomorrow.
when it is expected that the position of
the New Haven road will be laid before
the committee by its chief executive,
Pres. Charles S. Mellen, while the COM
mittec may ask for the opinion on the
question from the officials Of the BoS-
ton g. Maine Railroad.
Only two witnesses, L. d. Brandeis of
Boston and Rep. Robert Luce of Som
ervilIe came forward with different
propositions in the way of bills Mr..
Luce's measure provides for control
Ter of railroad accounts and seeks to
give publicity to the financial condi-
lions of Massachusetts railroads. On
the other hand the bill of Mr.. Brandeis
is one of the most drastic measures
that has been presented to the LeSis-
laturc for many years. Mr.. Brandels In
LAYING the bill before the committee
stated his conviction that the proposed
merger could be stopped and in this he
was supported by several speakers who
followed him.
Mr.. Brandeis. who appeared in the in
estate which
holds several thousand shares of Bos-
ton & Maine stock, explained the eight
sections of the bill and endeavored to
show to the committee that its passage
would absolutely prevent the proposed
consolidation. The bill makes it IN
lawful for the New Haven Railroad, di-
rectly or indirectly to control or at
tempt to control the Boston IL Maine;
directs the New Haven Road in case 1t
does control the Boston & Maine TO
dispose of such holdings; forbids any
official of the New Haven Road to act
for the Boston & Maine; prevents any
company interested in the New Haven
Co. from controlling the Boston d
Maine: forbids dividends on Boston &
Maine stock held in violation of the
act: makes void any issue of New HaV-
on stock for exchange for Boston 81
Maine; provides for penalty with fine
or imprisonment, and gives the SUI
preme court jurisdiction to compel the
observance of the act.
The Brandeis view was commenced
by Former Representative d. J. Kiley,
who spoke against the merger as rep
resentative of the Democratic state
arnrnUp6 nv Gram
Vile s. Mcfarland in behalf of the In
dependence League. it was favored by
William II. Lincoln, n Boston mer-
chant, and it received the endorsement
of John F. Crocker. president of the
Boston Chamber of Commerce.
Senator James II. Valley in opposing
the bill declared that if the consolida-
ton was permitted it would be glar-
ing example of stock watering; that the
recent increase in stock by the sub
sidiary companies. the New England
Navigation Co, and the Consolidated
Co. had all been made without any
actual payment of money and that the
mileage indebtedness of the New HaV-
en- was many times that of the Boston
& Maine.
Several Of the speakers hoped that
tho interests of Boston would be par
ticularly conserved. President Jones of
the Boston Merchants Association.
wished that the name of Boston might
not be wiped off the map of New Eng
land; City Solicitor Babson of Boston
thought that while the Legislature
might not be able to prevent what mad
already taken place, it would see that
the new corporation did the fair thing
for Boston and this sentiment was also
echoed by William II. Lincoln.
The political seeches were made by
Former Rep. Kiley of Boston, G.. s.
MacFarland and L. Gerry Brown OF
Prockton. All three pointed out that
there was danger of corporate control
Of the Legislature and Mr.. kilcy was
vehement in his denunciation of the
New Haven Road for what he said was
its habit Of controlling the Legislature
of Connecticut and the election of the
senator's Of THAI state. Mr.. MacFarland
raid his respects to both railroads and
said that what the New Haven had
Gone in Connecticut the Boston Il
Maine had also done in New Hamp-
shire. Mr. Brown also referred to what
he considered the political powers
welded by large corporations.
Shortly before the close of the hear
ing one of the speakers, A. p. Edgerly
Of Boston. in opposing the merger,
suggested that the remedy for better
service and fair treatment was for the
state TO cancel. condemn and take over
81 per cent of the stock of the Boston
& Maine and allow any other company
such as the New York, New Haven &
Hartford to have 40 per cent. The state
would then reap the benefit. How
much would such a plan cost the
state?" was asked.
"Just the indebtedness, S97, 900 per
mile was Mr.. Edgerly's reply.
BOxERISM REVIVED.