Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-04-03

on various matters, which are hear /
before them on petition or on their
initiative, and it would be utterly i'm
possible for the members Of that com
mission TO be present at such pre-
l!mInary Vest-gation- il is only when
the, final hearing comes before them,
in which both sides are properly rep
resented, that they will be able TO de-
terTntne and give to the State an i'm
partial anc fair report That, / think
is as far as the scope Of the order
goes. Il Is as far az the intention Of
those who appeared before US re-
Quired.
l don't believe in any undertaking
process. That day has long since
passed. Wa are aware. Of course, thar
the railroads have suffered from mis-
management, W are honest enough 70
believe that they have learned their
lesson, and are attempting 10 get back
to honest business and thereby, while
this investigation might not have any
material benefit on the railroad, 1t
might solve some cf the problems
which are troubling the people f
Maine today regarding rates. To in
vestigate the rates Of the Maine Cen
trail Railroad concerning which there
arr complaints would require from the
shippers who mtcht make an applica-
ton 70 the Public Utilities Commission
for re-adjustmert II rates TOO much
. expense. No one man could afford
% hire counsel on his own behalf to g
into that and as it affects the whole
people and not a few, as there Is some
difference in some rates or some seized
uies which appears 70 be unfair in the
local traffic rates. it seems TO me It
would be unwise. after the House of
Representatives has acted upon this
matter for this Senate to turn it down
and say that the people Of Maine are
wrong. and that no investigation IS
needed,
! don't want to stand here and criti-
! else the Maine Central Railroad. I
don't criticize it. ! wouldn't raise one
/ finger 10 i1iure that road or its bust
ness. I believe this Legislature ought
10 help it. but if this investigation will
I 60 anything 10 make better har-
/ nony, better feeling, more harmoni-
( Gus relations between the shipper and
! the traveller and the railroad. which !.
| believe it will 60, then 1t will be we'll
worth the price it may cost.
] Further and bevond that. We have a
/ Public Utilities Commission in this
State to which we may apply for re-
/ lief. 1t is new institution and j
new organization. II came into being
with a great prejudice, carried on
with great fervor by its opponents.
Up to date that Public Utilities Com
mission has made good in the small
matters in which it has been engaged.
! A change in sentiment is going on over
/ the State regarding the efficiency Of
| that commission and the members
/ making it up. | believe this investiga
| ton will bring to that commission the
material which they need in the trans
action Of matter which come before
( them, which ultimately they must
have. because there are always mat
/ tiers arising in which they will neei
it: it is the duty OF that commission TO
I collect that material, and it isn't ma
! terial, it doesn't make very much dit
ference whether it is done piecemeal
or all at once, except that if it is done
all at once it has the records in its Of
! flee to which it can refer at any time,
and perhaps save a good deal of flu
| ture expense. If this ended the mat
ter and there were no future, doubt if
it were worth the price. but if any
shippers over the Maine Central are
dissatisfied with the rates and the
schedules. and make application to the
Public Utilities Commission for new
rate between Bangor and Augusta, or
Bangor and Waterville, or Augusta
and Portland, then those rates are de-
cided upon a reasonable return upon
the capital invested. and if you ask
for a hearing upon some small rate, II
les based on the same principle
as though you investigated all the
rates all over the railroad, and
in order to get a fair report,
and a fair return from the hear
ing, it would be necessary for the
Public Utilities Commission to go into
the whole standing of the Maine Cen
trail. just as it would be in a thorough
investigation, and have the material
which is needed
In the House there were presented
petitions representing PISA members
Of the Maine Grange, from 14S differ
ent Oranges. That seems to me to be
worthy Of our consideration. l don't
believe that every member Of a Grange
who votes for these things gives them
serious. thorough consideration. We all
know that people will vote for these
things; but We do know that there
must be some general discomfort when
there will not be someone come in AMI
oppose it from the great general pub
p = 70