Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-02-10
COUNSEL CARTER IS
FOR TAX REDUCTION
Maine Central Railroad Attorney Upholds the
Roads Petition Before Committee on Taxa
tion-Other Hearings Monday

tie mileage book, starting from
device created for the purpose Of taking
care of special class OF travel. limited
to certain individuals TO whom it vas
issued. and limited to the length Of time
in which il could be used. had gradually
spread itself out into fat rate of &c.
, covering ne entire system OF the Maine
Central. good for anybody VITO should
present il. and unlimited as to the time
in which il could be used. Issued under
these conditions. a very large portion Of
the passenger revenue OF the Maine Cen
trail was derived from the sale Of these
books.
Confronted with the demonstrated fact
that the passenger service OF the Maine
Central was not yielding fair share OF
tie revenue, and confronted further
with the settled policy OF the interstate
| Commerce Commission TO demand that
the passenger service should furnish its
fair proportion of the revenue and con-
f-onted further with the fact that an in
crease in tire loca. fares or general pas
senger rates without any increase in the
mileage book. would nply tend to in
crease the difference between the mileage
+
thereby increase the discrimination in
favor Of the mileage book, the Maine
Central Railroad Company could justify
/ 10 increase il rates which did not begin
| With the mileage book.
I These conditions in relation to 9assen-
ger fares. and especially the relation
which the mileage book bore TO them,
vas brought forcib!y TO the attention Of
! the railroads. the public, the Interstate
I Commerce Commission AID the Railroad
| Com nlssicners Of various states by the
! investigation made by Hon Charles a.
! Propty, representing the Interstate Com
/ me-oe Commission in conjunction with
/ the Railroad Commissioners OF the st:tes
OF Massachusetts, Vermont, New Eamp-
shire ard Maine.
! The mileage book is used for interstate
as well as for interstate travel. and IN
! der such conditions, its use for Lntersta
/ traTe! is subject to the control o; the
! Interstate Commerce Commission AID
! must be the subject Of an interstate
! tariff. Such tariff was fled with the
! commission and was open 10 objection
I from any party who saw fit 70 enter
complaint Naturally enough. 70 COM
i plant was made. in view OF the opinion
expressed b; Hr. Prouty as Representing
| the Commission. that - was little
enough 70 expect from the Boston &
Maine In the meantime the Legislature
o. New Hampshire had passed statute
! requiring the sale of mileage boo:ts by
the railroads in New Hampshire at &C.
! This Statute did not require the railroads
/! 70 sell books at that price, good for an
| interstate tourney. but only such as
, would be COOS for a journey TO be made
wholly in New EGmpshire, which was no
| part Of an Interstate journey.
! The railroad claims that these statutes
were beyond the power OF the lsgislat urc,
and litigation is TOW pending in the
i United States court 10 determine the
question, but N the meantime the public
service commission OF New Hampshire,
| after an exhaustive examination of the
! question OF rates and charges finds that
the rate OF &c. upon the Maine Central
IN New Hampshire is Of Itself confsca-
tory. and comes TO the conclusion that &C.
| a mile is an unressonably low rate for
! mileage books upon any railroad