The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-12-15
Passenger Rates.

passenger Rates.
Referring 10 a proposal TO increase
passenger rates, the commissioners say
that two of the states served by the
Boston g. Maine require that mileage
books be sold on the basis OF two cents
mile. ''If mileage books were sold at
two and one-quarter cents instead of
two cents per mile, and local fares were
adjusted at minimum of two and one
quarter cents and a maximum of two
and three quarters cents per mile, the
relation between the mileage book and
the present fare would be a more just
one than now exists. We are all of the
opinion that these passenger fares re-
quire readiustment and that the stat
utes of those states which might inter
fere with a uniform treatment OF this
subject should be so modified that, if
possible, some Just rule applicable to all
territory may be formulated Assuming
that the same number of mileage books
were sold as at present, an increase OF
one fourth of a cent mile would yield
additional revenue of approximately
100000 per year.
"Clearly no increase in rates should
be allowed until it is made reasonably
certain that the revenues of this com
pany will be prudently expended in the
public interest. Mr.. Elliott, the chief
executive of the New Haven company,
which is the owner of a majority of she
stock of the Boston & Maine, and Mr..
Mcdonald, the newly appointed president
of the Boston & Maine itself, were both
called before the conference and were
asked what assurance could be given for
the future. They both replied, in sub
stance, that they could only say that so
long as they were identified with the
management of these New England rail-
roads their best effort would be employed
to secure a satisfactory and efficient OPP
Grafton.
"While this is all that those gentle
men, as individuals, can say at the pres
ent time, il is not wholly satisfactory.
The directors of these railroad corpora
tons are both in law and in fact the
source of all authority. They ought at
least to know whether the results OBJ
tanned by their appointees are salts
factory. Now. while there have been
some individual changes in these boards
of directors, the majority OF the mem
bership is the same to-day that it was
the future. If these gentlemen have in
recent times given any actual attention
to the management of these properties
their failure to see and to do is evidence
Of their conspicuous want of fitness for
the place. If, upon the other hand, be-
ing vested with the duty of manage
ment, they have utterly neglected that
duty and known nothing about the OPP
erations of these companies, that fact is
even clearer evidence of their unfitness
for these positions. If the stockholders
Of these companies would present to the
people of New England a radically
changed directorate, this would go far
toward satisfying the public that sSme
reform was contemplated, or
1t least that the directors would know !
what was happening.
Changes on Boston & Maine
Certain changes have already been
made in the management of the Boston |
Maine system which are in our opin- |
on in the right direction The opera |
ion of that property has been entirely |
divorced from that of the New Haven |
Mr.. Mcdonald formerly cher |
Executive of the Maine Central, has been |
'lected president and put in charge of /
he property. The long service of this |
gentleman upon the Maine Central and |
lis success in that field inspire conf
lence in his selection, and there is rea- /
on to believe that il he can receive /
roper support he may do much toward |
he rehabilitation of the Boston 6 Maine
tself.
Zone thing in connection with his en-