Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1912-11-16
STATEMENT OF II. A. RICE.


| New York, Nov. 15.-Herbert \.
| Rice, attorney general of Rhode Is
| land, issued statement here. this
afternoon. after a conference with L.
| ]. Chamberlin president of the Grand
| Trunk Railway. quoting Mr. Chamber
| lin as saying ne was disguised with
! the people of New England and es-
| pecially with the people of Rhode
| Island at the furore raised oyer the
suspension of work on the projected
extensions" The suspension, he add
ed. according to Mr.. Rice. was merely
part of general retrenehment plan
of the Grand Trunk. According 10 Mr..
Rice Mr. Chemberlin said:
That the suspension of work on
the Palmer extension was a part of
a general curtailment of construction
work along the whole of the Grand
Trunk system, and was ordered by
| the directors OF London
THAT he could not advise when
construction would be resumed, and
it was wholly dependent on the atti-
tude of London directors.
THAT upon the general resumption
of construction work. so far as his
knowledge is concerned. there win be
no discrimination made in regard TO
work on the Southern New England.
THAT at his conferences with the
officials of the New Haven Road the
matter of the abandonment of the
extension of the Palmer extension had
not been considered or discussed and
would not be at any further confer
ences.
THAT at his conferences with the
officials of the New Haven Road. the
question of reimbursement by that
road for any expenses already in
Cured in the construction of the
Palmer extension, had not been con-
siaered or discussed. and that any re-
port TO the contrary was a lie. He
would welcome any investigation on
this point.
THAT the people of Rhode Island ap-
parentiy considered that they were do
ing a favor to the Southern New Eng
land by permitting that road to ex
pend eight or nine million dollars up
or the Palmer extension.
THAT the appropriation by the state
IF Rhode Island and the city of Prov
idence for harbor improvements were
made not for the benefit of the South
ern New England, but for the benefit
of themselves.
That he has personally never favor
ed the Palmer extension as a financial.
proposition.
"That the extension of the Grand
Trunk into New England was not due
to Mr. Hayes, but was the project of
Mr.. Titzhugh approved by Mr.. Hays.
but MI Fitzhugh should not be blam
cd if the extensions We're abandoned.
THAT if all the traffic agreements
with the New Haven Road We're con-
Guided there would be less reason for
the construction of the Palmer exten
sion.
That the extension from White
River Junction TO Boston, would be
paralelIng existing lines, but admit
ted that this was not true of the Palm
er extension. Sd
THAT under normal conditions his
road was amply able to finance the exs
tension and that local financial as
sistance could not be considered.
THAT the general criticism aroused
by the suspension of the Palmer exten-
sion would be inclined to influence his
directors unfavorably.'
Mir. Rice. the Rhode Island attor-
ney general, said, tonight, that the
railroad situation would not only be
laid before United States Attorney
General Wickersham, but probably
also before the congressional commit
tee which is investigating the Money
trust
Mr. Rice said he would not go to
Washington, but Mr.. Bliss would be
there, Monday, in connection with Al
convention of Public Utilities Commits
sions and ne would then take up the
railroad situation with the federal au-
thorities in behalf of the state OF
Rhode Island. A representative of the
sttae of Massachusetts would also be
present, he said.
The idea of taking the matter be-
fore the Money trust committee was
based he said, on reports that large
| financial interests had placed 4
! Squeeze" on the railroad situation IN
| New England. The committee has
| broad powers. said Mr.. Rice, and he
| believed it should have the facts laid
before il SO far as known.