Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-05


book of a thousand miles must issu
a five hundred mile book, what wi
happen to you? You know what wi
happen to US. We will not get an
mileage books at all. The railroad
will do business much the same. An
they Will do not the kind of bushes
that we try to do, but they VIII q
business in business way. 1t Wi
not amount to a fiddle to them Wheth
er they issue mileage books or mol
Their affairs are directed by this com
mission And neither this Legislature
nor any other legislature has RICH
under the law to oblige any railroad
to issue mileage books. The court
have so decided over and over again
And they can simply say, 1--WE vii
not issue any mileage books" Thei
where are we? The law don't amour
to anything.
Now, / say because of those reasons
Mr. President, because Of the reason
ing of the Governor who is ALSO
lutely right, that you have organizet
a commission to do this very thing
because of the fact that the law going
into effect September LIST will repeal
Amy prior acts, you have made the
law Woodland third because the rail-
road can avoid what you seek to OBJ
tain without hurting them bit-it
seems to me that we ought not to
stand here in our places and override
the veto of the Governor.
Mr.. COLE of York: Mr.. President, ]
would like to ask if the amendment
offered in the House has been incor-
porated in the new draft known as
House bill No. 4S6.
The PRESIDENT: The Chair will
state that the amendment was adop-
ted in both branches and has been
in the new draft
D Mr.. COLE. Well, I just want to say
a word. Mr.. President, that it seems TO
me that perhaps this new draft in
corporates something in it which even
the public utilities commission would
not have an opportunity to regulate,
because it eompels railroads who are
able 20 organize small branch roads,
small railroads under a different title,
and operate them as independent rail-
roads at a must higher mileage and
with altogether different regulations
rom the rules and regulations which
govern the operation of the main
ines. And l know that has been done
n a number of instances within our
'wn State.
The amendment which was offered
n the House compels the railroad,
When it is operating one of those So
oh, i.,i f1rl
| part of the great corporate itself, |
o allow the use of its mileage books
rood on the main line on these branch |
ines. although the two lines are OPP
rated under different titles. and diff
'erent titles only-one management. |
me result. but to the public two en-
rely different results, because the
Mileage rates on the branch lines ar.
great deal in excess of the mileage |
ates on the main lines.
/ do not know that under the public |
tilities bill, the public utilities COM
Mission would have any authority |
nth those two corporations organized |
S they are. to compel the lesser cor
ora ton to accept the mileage books |
t the greater corporation over the |
ne of the lesser corporation. But i'll
Gems to me that If this bill should |
e enacted into law. that the railroads |
perating under those circumstances |
'ould be compelled to accept over
heir own lines, main lines or branch |
mes. their own mileage books. This |
ill does not attempt to regulate the |
ates, but it simply says that if the |
cad does issue thousand mile books |
shall issue five hundred mile mile
ge books 1t is not proposed to COM
rel them to issue either, but it does
ay that if they issue the one they
hall issue the other.
This matter came up in the State
If Massachusetts quite number OF
ears ago with the Boston & Maine
Railroad. and all other railroads.
happen to know more of the opera ton
# the Boston e. Maine because I rode
'ver that line. and for many years we
we're compelled if we wanted to buy a
i've hundred mile book, to get one in
he state of Massachusetts and ride
rom the New Hampshire line to Bos-
on, and from Boston to the New
line on that, and by regu-
ar fare from Newburyport to Ports
mouth, which is my home city so far
rs travel is concerned.
After few years, however, the
Boston & Maine Railroad began to is
;ue five hundred mile mileage books,
good not only upon its main lines. but
ipon many of it's branch lines. pre-
sumo that the other railroads within
he State could just as well issue FIVE
hundred mile books as TO issue one
thousand mile books if they saw fit tc
10 So.
The proponents under this bill dc
lot attempt to regulate the price
That is still left to the utilities COM
1t is only in the matter of
he issuance of books. and | 90 not
know that the Governor has not taken
l wrong view of the matter. / think
perhaps he did not understand the
that was included in il;
and / am doubtful at the present time,
after having studied the bill little
and having had that amendment
brought to my attention as it was just
a few moments before the session open
ed, whether the utilities commission
can give the relief to the people who
happen to live upon these branch
lines, which they should lave, because
they are simply paying tribute to the
same great corporation unoer diff