Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-02-08
and from Rumford Falls south. The
letter is as follows:


and from Rumford Falls south. The
letter is as follows:
Portland, Me, Feb. 6, 1911.
Hon. Seth NJ. Carter.
Attorney Maine Central Railroad
Augusta. Maine.
Dear Sir--If the proposed merger Of
the Washington County Railway, Som
ersct Railway and Sebasticook 4
Mooschead Railroad. under the terms
of the bill now pending in the Legisla-
trrc. is made, it would be our intention
to Withdraw from sale the mileage
books now issued by Washington Coun-
~ and Somerset Railway and extern
the Maine Central mileage books over
the entire merged lines.
This would mean that the restric-
tons applying to territory between
Rumford Falls and Oquossoc and BinS-
ham and Kineo stations, where an ex-
ira rate is charged, would be with
drawn. thereby making the Maine Cen
trail mileage book good for travel,
without this restriction, over the entire
mileage of the merged lines.
Yours Truly.
MORRIS MCDONALD.
Vice President and General Manager.
Mr.. Carter also assured the commit
tee that advantageous changes in The
freight rates were contemplated and
would undoubtedly become possible un-
der the merger.
George w. Heselton of Gardiner rep
resenting the wholesalers of the State,
asked If there would be any objection
to amending the merger bill SO as to
specifically provide for the universal
two-cent mileage. Mr.. Carter said that
there was objection because it fixed
definitely the passenger rate for all
time. in spite of the fact that a pub
lie utilities commission was likely to
be created which would be charged
with regulating rates. He argued that
regulating rates doesn't always mean
reducing them, that the situation
might arise where the commission
would decide that the freight rates
were carrying more than their burden
of operating expense and want to re-
duee them. but might not be able to
reduce them because the only other
source Of revenue. the passenger rate,
could not be raised, it being arbitrarily
fixed by act OF the Legislature.
providing for the two-cent mileage in
the merger bill and said that If any body
of people had been crucfied by rail-
road, 1t was the people of Somerset
county by the Somerset Railroad. lie then
went on TO review the history of that
road In which the financial history of sew
eral towns Is linked. lie declared 1t to
be his opinion that the line from Bling.
ham north was one of the most paying
part of tho lines and that there was no
need Of charging three cents mile.
BENJAMIN +. Andrews of Portland Of
the United Commercial Travellers said
that excessive mileage cost came out Of
the travellers, not out Of the business
men, because when the expense account
of travelling man exceeded more than
the proper part of the 40 per cent of his
earnings set aside for the expense of
maintaining a representative on the road,
the excess was deducted from his salary.
He went on to say that, Mr.. Carter hav-
ing promised that universal two-cent
mileage would be granted on all the
merged lines. he was willing to leave II
to the committee TO decide whether, II
was safe to take such a promise. Mr..
AuuTcRS Was accompanied ny AiHUiooS
Leighton, George A. York. Frank Bibber
and Fred A. Sparrow Of Portland Coun-
ell. U. c. T.
State Auditor Stevens came in at this
point and took the ground that the in
creased mileage would cut down the earn
ings per mile SO that the State would
not get much more in taxes than it is
getting now, Notwithstanding the tax re-
bates. He also offered an amendment
which provided that the road must main
tain a service which will permit trav-
eler to leave his home station, travel 100
miles and return within IS hours. He
stated that 1t was impossible to perform
this feat from. Wells depot.
Representative Miller of Hartland hoped
the merger would go through as It meant
great benefits to his constituents who
have been paying five cents mile.
Mr.. lIeselton thought that the Donigan
amendment should so into the bill be-
cause the state was giving away some
thing extremely valuable and had a right
to expect little something in return.
Mr.. Carter. in rebuttal, said that the
best evidence of what the people could
expect from the Maine Central in the fu-
ture was what 1t had received in the
past.