Norwich bulletin., 1912-11-16

II h. ~ Chamberlin of the Grand Trunk rail way issued a statement tonight Tn which he characteriZes as harsh ana unfair the statement issued by Her bert A. Rice and William c. Bliss after a conference between him and the Rhode Island officials today over the Southern New England railway situa- tion.
 Not Disgusted With New England.
 AIr. Chamberlin denies that he said, as reported. that he was "disgusted' with inc people of New England. He used the word disappointed" he said, in alluding to their attitude on the sus- pension of work on the roads project ed extensions in New England.
 Tt is inconceivable," said President Chamberlin in his statement, that either NIT. Rice or Mir. Bliss should gain such an impression from any statements which l made this morn ing ] know the people of New Eng land too well and admire them too much to express disgust in respect to any action they may or may not take
 Said He Was Disappointed.
 "I did not say that I was dissusted with the people of New England. said that l was disappointed with the people of New England, especially with the people of Rhode Island, for action they had taken in connection with the Southern New England mat ter.
 'I did state that the discontinuance Of work on the Palmer extension was a part of general curtailment of con- structiOn at this time of the year. In answer to urgent request that l state definitely when work would be re- sumed, ] replied 10 them that it de- pended on weather conditions and our board Of directors
 Mot Fair Statement"
 President Chamberlin said he was satisfied with the report of Swhat he had said about non n-discriminauOn in resumption of construction work; of his statement that at conferences with the New Haven officials abandonment Of the Palmer extension had not been discussed. and that the matter of re- frnbursement had not been considered.
 The Rhode Island officials version of what had been said about the ap- parent attitude of Rhode Island neople with regard 10 the roads millions of expenditures in that state was mot a fair statement" NIT. Chamberlin con- tinues.
 Obligation to Rhode Island.
 Mir Bliss" the statement says, -dwelt very much on the fact of the state of Rhode Island having granted a charter to the railway company and great obligation on the part of the railroad company on account of that charter. I acknowledged the obliga- tion SO far as the railway company is concerned. out also suggested that in asmuch as our stockholders had fur nished the Providence line S2.000, 900 in the past season and expected to fur nish more in the future they had right tc be considered in the prosecu- ton of the work
 Providence Harbor Improvements.
 Mir. Bliss stated that the state of Rhode Island and the city of Provi- dence had made large harbor improve lnents on account of the Southern New England railway. l asked whether they had given the Southern New England any exclusive use of them, and he re- piled that they had not and admitted that they were public property and not the property of the Southern New England.
 q did not say that had never per sonally favored the Palmer extension as a financial proposition. The gentle men have misunderstood me on that point"
 Did Not Say Extension Will Be
 Abandoned.
 What he was reported as having said about the origin of the project for the Grand Trunk extension into New Eng land was practically correct" he states. except the last clause, which says: "But Mir. FitZhugh should not be blamed fl the extension was abandon ed.T 'I did not intimate even that the extension would be abandoned"
 Mr Bliss himself made the state ment that if traffic agreements were made with the New Haven road fhere would be less reason for the eonstrue- ton of the Palmer extension. It was not my statement
 Want No Local Financial Assistance.
 Mir Bliss said that the extension from White River Junction to Boston would be paralleling existing lines. but did not consider that this was So with ela Palmer extension. and l stated that Ae was probably right.
 'I stated that under normal condi- tons the road was amply able to finance the extension, not simply and that local financial assistance could not be considered.
 Criticism May Have UnfavorabIe In.
 fluence.
 MT. Bliss wanted to know if gen eral criticism of the suspension of work on the Palmer extension would influence the directors unfavorably, and replied It might
 "On the whole. I consider the state ment of Mir. Bliss and Mir Rice harsh and unfair. No notes whatever were taken during the conference, which they say was an hours interview, and as they were quoting from memory think they should have taken greater care In drawing up their statement .
 SQUEEZING" NEW ENGLAND. Money Trust Committee Will Be Ask