The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-02-13
WAR ON With
RAILROADS IN
new HAMPSHIRE
B. & M. Back of Bill to Repeal
Acts Prohibiting Rate In
creaseS in That State
Louis Brandeis Prepares Peoples
Case That Comes Before the
Legislative Investigating Com
mittee

Legislative Investigating Com
mittee
Especial from United Press.)
Boston. Feb. 13--That the grip Of
the Boston & Maine Railway on New
Hampshire is nearly broken is the
opinion of Louis D. Brandeis, for the
legislative rate investigating commit
tee, who is preparing the evidence for
the people in the struggle to prevent
the passage of a bill backed by the
railway company repealeing the acts
of 1889 which prohibited rate increases.
Discussing the present situation, Bran
deis sad in special interview to the
United Press. today:
1.-The situation in New Hampshire
is favorable for the accomplishment
of some very definite results. The
investigating committee has been al
lowed the widest possible scope and
it has the disposition to go to the
bottom of the matter of increases in
freight rates both past, present and
future, with the view Of getting the
people Of the state their rights as
Well as doing justice to the railroad.
THE progressive spirit in New
Hampshire and especially in the
House is very strong and definite re-
suits can be expected from it. In
deed, this progressive spirit, that
elected Governor Bass, was the thing
that saved New Hampshire from
Democracy-while Maine, Massachu-
sets and Connecticut passed into the
Democratic column.
1.-The action of the supreme court
of New Hampshire in deciding that
the increases in rates by the Boston
& Maine were continued since
the acts of 1889 prohibiting in
creases in rates, is an inn
portant point for the people and
even greater significance. The SUI
preme court of the state already had
decided that increases were illegal but
the railroad had set UP the defense
that the prohibition on increases ap-
piled only to a few lines and that in
creases on the others were legal. The
decision was that increases on most
Of the lines were illegal, so the peo-
pie gain much.
1.-The main point now, however, is
to look to the future. The New Hamp-
shire House had passed a resolution
for an Investigation of railroad rates
as result of the Boston & Maine
interests introducing a bill that would
repeal the prohibition on increases
Such a repeal would not only vail
QdCo all oXlSI1nS rates IN new f1dInp-
shire but would enable the railroad
to raise rates above those now in
force.
"a proposition was introduced in
the House to instruct this committee
as to its duties. This measure failed
and the result is that the committee
has the widest possible latitude in in
yestigating railroad rates.
AT the hearing, last week, at
which the general freight agent of
tn, railroad testified, it was brought
out that on some lines of the rail-
part no higher than in 1888 or 1893
and that the desire for wanting the
prohibition against increases repeal
ed was rather with view to raising
rates in the future"
The hearings before the committee
were expected to continue in Con-
cord, this week, when Brandeis will
probably bring out the whole history
of the railroad control Of New Hamp-
shire by the railroads. Asked as to
his line of action .'the peoples at
torney' declared that he could not
say but from his statement, that the
purpose Of the Boston & Maine in
trying to have the prohibition of rate
increases repealed was for future ac-
ton rather than past or present. it
was apparent that he foresees a Bit
ter fight.
In direct opposition are the views
of the attorneys representing the
Boston & Maine. Asked regarding
the effect on the railroad Of the court
decision holding that the Increases in
rates were illegal, Attorney Edgar +.
Rich, counsel in charge of the roads
legal matters, said:
I'VE will be forced to increase some
of our New Hampshire rates. said
the Boston & Names lawyer from
that state. today. "The important
dustry and commerce are lower than
the rates required by the legislature.
These rates and others much lower
than required by law will be increas-
ed to make good the reductions de-
creed by the high court"
Brandeis did not care to discuss
Rich's statement.
The situation in New Hampshire
dates from 1888 when the Boston &
Ma me Railroad, a small line obtain
ed permission from the state to con-
solidate with other lines. With this
ion that rates should remain. Sub
seuuently, in 1889, another similar
consolidation act was passed, it also
prohibiting increases of rates on the
consolidated lines.
The Boston 6 Maine Railroad, by
that time, was controlling practically
everything in New Hampshire except
a little strip up at the northern part
of the state owned by the Maine Gen.
trail. In 1903 rates were raised and
about five years ago Winston Church
ills agitation against the railroad
control of the state began.
Suits were entered to make the
railroad abandon it's increased rates
and shortly after further increases in
1907 and 1908 the supreme court of
New Hampshire decided that the in
creases were illegal AS described
above, by Brandeis, the railroads
argument was that the prohibition
,nly restrained certain consolidated
lines from raising rates but allowed
others to do so That was the mat
ter that was decided by the supreme
court of New Hampshire, last week
and as a result of which Attorney
Rich declares the Boston 6 Maine
will lower it's rates.
But, in the meantime, the Boston
& Maine has an anchor out to wind
ward, of which the good ship Legis-
lative Investigating Committee, pilot
ed by one Brandeis, is apt to foul
The Boston & Maine did not send
in a bill to repeal the prohibition on
increasing rates until after Presid ent
Mellen of the New Haven, had taken
charge and had made his speech be-
fore the Wonolancet Club, shortly
before last election, in which he de-
clared the road would no longer dab
BILE in politics. Those in Concord who
have watched the process of ANAL
gamation of the Boston & Maine with
the New Haven think with Brandais
that they see far-seeing eye looking
20 future desire or necessity to
raise rates.
n DaDDvcONy a ~rrDr,cc