The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1913-01-27
GOV. HAINES COMPLAINS
About HOld-up in Boston Which Bothers
Maine

Waterville, Me-, Jan. 27.-In reply K
a copy of resolutions adopted at the New
England governors conference on Satur
day, Gov. w. T. Haines has sent the
| following letter to Gov Eugene N. Foss
of Massachusetts, with reference to the
railroad situation in Maine:
/ "The establishment OF permanent
conference of the heads of state commits
sioners can do no harm and might dc
some good. But as our legislature has
now before it measure for the estab-
| lishment of a new public service com
mission or court. to have full control
and regulation of all public service con
Germs in our state, including railroads,
should prefer not to see such confer
ence on the part of Maine until we have
such new board as will undoubtedly be
created by our new public service law.
81 cannot see how directors of a rail-
road can be appointed by a state owning
nothing in such property. Maine has no
ownership in our railroads that | know
of. Both our constitution and statutes
restrict investment, even In our mupc-
palities.
Il do not believe In state leadership OF
railroads, but do believe in state regl-
lation and control of them, through ie-
gally constituted officers.
"The Grand Trunk railroad now serves
Maine in many ways. Lewiston and
Portland and large part of Oxford
county have the direct benefit of its
lines. All Maine gets cheaper rates from
the western grain and agricultural prod
ucts by means OF this company coming
into our state. We have no issue with
the Grand Trunk that / know of.
I'VE in Maine want good Transports
tion in and out of the state Boston
for many years has been the worst sta
tion we have to pass. 1t is the only
place between Maine and New York at
which we have to change cars and pay
the Armstrong Transfer company, hack
and hotel bills. Our people 90 great
deal to the New York market Our state |
is full of factories whose products are |
sold there. Sometimes we go by way of |
Springfield and avoid what we call the |
Boston hold-up.' Now | would do any
thing to help you to improve this condi-
ton. You may be sure that the people !
Of Maine are at your service.
Crowded urban and suburban trans
Dortation does not interest us. With more
area than the rest of New England and
with only $4,000 people, you can see
low THIS is with us, but electrification of
Ill our railroads is live issue in Maine.
With our cheap and abundant water
lower, we are soon expecting to see all
# our roads operated this way.
Uniform legislation, providing for the
Boston & Maine, and we regard it as
of corporate entity is beyond
/ .
'our job, so long as you run it, but if ,
here is anything that makes Maine
nan mad, it is to be stalled at Berwick
md sit two hours on sidetrack, and
When trying to find out what the trouble ,
5, to be told that it is case of Whit |
ey's poor COAL Is it not possible that
he New England system may improve !
pon thisl The Maine Central is now
aid to be under their control and we {
now it to be the best managed now of ]
ny time in its history.
Not owning dollar of railroad stock,
r railroad bond, ] suppose it is safe
or me to say this. ! do not think peo- I
lie care much who owns and operates
and trolley lines. as long as
hey are well operated, as most of ours
re. | think they have a great many '
wners. v
"The reduction of all leases of lines to r
bsolute ownership, these New England l n
tates as a whole could have nothing to ]
0 with. Each state may control its n
wn railroads within its borders. and
lille it would and perhaps could not "
brogate leases made in good faith by "
gislative authority OF make retroactive h
ws. it might in the future look out i
stter. perhaps, than il has in the past ei
ith reference TO this matter. Maine has
me so. The later consultations with
Ie Maine Central have been by pur-
Iase and complete ownership. and not B
= leases. Ii saves expenses and is
tier business. The Maine Central rail-
ad is a mass OF leases and consultations
probably more than fifty companies :,
axe il up. .
The charter Of railroad or a bank o.
MOUNTS TO mighty little 80 far as opera 81
Dn goes. IL depends upon the men who ~
m L. What We want in Maine : re- o'
Its and not theories. We are doing
city well now in Maine with our nail G,
ads. but not a. well a. We might. a.
rhsps, OF as We hope to; but much
tier than We did. The Bangor &
-oostook strike. nov on. Is our worst
mediate trouble, and We hope soon 10 Il
E that settled u