The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1915-09-22
EXAMINE B.&M.
EXPENSES
The Road Spent $40,111 for
Legislation in New
Hampshire
AT LAST SESSION
OF LEGISLATURE
Some Interesting Figures
Relating to Expenditures,
Including Vermont Roads

Concord, N H., Sept. 22.--New Hamp'
shires public service commission yester-
day began an investigation Of payment
made by the Boston s. Maine, the Con-
cord & Montreal and other railroads in
New Hampshire since January !, 1912,
for legal expenses, advertising and in
fluenoing public opinion or legislation.
The commission was represented by j..
Il. Benton, formerly chairman of the
public service commission; the Boston
& Maine by General Edgar G. Eastman,
counsel in New Hampshire, and Edgar
J.. Rich, general solicitor. Mr.. Benton
was not able to get as far as he hoped,
because he said the publicity vouchers
gave him no light. He did, however,
give some interesting figures regarding
expenditures by the railroads. A supple
mentary statement showed that the Bos-
ton & Maine spent S40,Il.24 at the last
session of the legislature on its effort
to secure legislation to allow eonsolida-
ton OF the Boston & Maine and the
leased lines in New Hampshire.
The examination of witnesses bearing
on the publicity expenditures viii not
be taken up until correspondence be-
tween the officers of the Boston g. Maine
and the newspapers and publicity agents
in New Hampshire can be secured. The
present inquiry deals with the large
sums paid to attorneys in this state,
with reference to inhuenc-
ing legislation. Counsel Benton stated
that he did not wish the press or the
public TO obtain the impression that |
these expenditures had been for the |
purpose OF corruption or that there was |
any attempt to find anyone guilty OF
wrong-doing, but the people Of the state
are entitled 10 know what sums were
spent and why.
MIR. Benton explained in opening that
ne had spent the summer in an examina
ton OF the vouchers of the Boston g. /
Maine and other roads and would sub
nit a schedule of the expenses. He had
hoped to be able 10 20 forward at this
iearing with reference to all classes OF
by the roads. This, he
aid, is not practicable. He had made an
examination of the vouchers so far as
hey affected New Hampshire legal ex-
'enditures, and some In Massachusetts.
lie read schedules, showing that the Il
American Exprest company expended
ince January /, 1912, ss,06944, of which
q, 77629 was for legal expenditures,
in connection with the ex-
,ress rate cases. The Canadian Express
ompany had not expenses. The Sun
ock Valley railroad spent s60.l6; the
Nashua 4 Lowell $500; the Concord &
'lsremont, the Concord & Portsmouth,
he Manchester & Lawrence, the North
I'm, the Peterboro 4 Hillsboro, the Swift
liver, the Upper Coos and the Wilton
ialroads reported no expenditures.
The Maine Central reported $3.50.
aid as total Of monthly retainers 20
w. Drew and other expenses OF
547.50; the Central Vermont paid only
1882 for advertising the Grand Trunk
5 lessee OF the Atlantic 4 81. Lawrence
eported texpcnses of S3.ls6.36; the
rand Trunk railway Of Canada paid
emick and jackson as attorneys, SS5,
DO in connection with their campaign
1r a charter The Pullman company
aid 800 for 1918 and 1915 20 Drew
nd Shurtled for information regard.
~ legislation az two sessions The
River railroad had no ex-
enditures but In the last session OF the
gislature a group Of stockholders paid
$50 20 Lewis Sperry. a Connecticut
.torney for appearing before the legis-
ture. Tho Concord Montreal erpend.
s3l 327 SO for legal expenses Of any
Ind regarding legislation and il to-
I expenditures in New Hampshire were
iq.740.2s.
The Boston & Maine statement Gov.
ed expenditures for legal expenses and
iblicity over its entire system, the to-
! being ss4i .26Tl4, Of which STA
l 80 was for advertising. Since the
vestigation vas ordered there had been
"a a statement Of bills incurred. but
4 paid. within the period Of the or
r. The Boston A Lowell had been
ia on advance sl0lll24Hi the Fitch.
rg $3.50, General Y o. Eastman as
Q, and George L. Mayberry fl0@so,
addition 70 q pfesious Al 600 In con
ction with the Boston 4 Maine consol-