Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1915-03-05
I[AR|NG ON ORDER FOR AM
INVESTIGATION OF THE MAINE
CENTRAL AND OTHER LINES

murrage rules in Boston had also in
creased the cost Of shipping apples AS
feSuIt OF this his shipping bill on one
iot Vi goods TINS season was sz44 -, where
a lew years ago it would have been bu,
s4-4- In his judgment the steady increase
OF rates by the road was a mistake for
II and a disadvantage to the farmers
lie quoted figures from the census bu
reau 10 show that the average farmers
income was s537.51 per year and that
there was an average mortgage Of $3.50
at per cent. on every farm in the Unit
ed States.
He stated that apple raising was his
particular industry and that this year
ms orchard produced a crop OF 1000 bar
reIs. AS result Of the increased freight
rates his expenses on this crop would be
$500. What was true OF his crop was true
TO a greater or lesser extent with all
other farmers
Answering questions by Mr. Heselton
Mr.. Cummings said that his duties In the
Grange caused him TO visit the Granges
and as a result of his talks with them
he was convinced the grangers would
stand behind and did want an investiga-
under consideration. The grangers. he
said, lacked confidence in the railroad.
Asked to estimate what such an inves-
tiSatlon would cost the State, he said
il would probably be from $500 to $50
600
Mr.. HeSelto1 was asked by Representa-
tive Sanborn if ha did not think this in
Vesugatian could be made by the Public
Utilities Commission. He said that while
he had great confidence in that commits
sion ire did NOT think that such an invest
lgation would be satisfactory to the pub
he. The public would prefer that it be
done by legislative committee Mr.
cummings agreed to this statement He
thought that the Grange and the public
would not object TO such an investigation
by legislative committee even though
ii cost $4,000 to $4,000.
EX- Senator Allison P. Howe Of
Palmyra, master of the Somerset po-
mona range. followed Mr.. Cummings
he said that the rate from Hartland
10 Portland was II cents per hundred.
While from Hartland to Boston it was
but IA cents. This did not seem fai:
TO him. He said that the grangers
in his jurisdiction, about 500 in all,
were in sympathy with this order. He
was not sure that a physical Valua-
ton of the road was necessary, but he
would like to see the tranSa ctions be-
tween the Maine Central and the SOM
erset railroad explained. He wanted
TO know if the shippers were being
obliged to pay for blunders in finance
by the road officials. He did not want
10 see lawyers on the investigation,
although he realized that they would
D. there. He told Hon. Seth NJ. Car
ter that he did not know a hearing
on the rates of the Hartland branch
was pending before the Public Utili-
ties commission.
Representative Perham of Wood
stock, spoke very briefly. He en-
dorsed the idea of an investigation. He
felt the cost would be justified by the
public, because it would find GU.
whether certain things had or had not
been. There were many suspicious
against the road which an investiga-
ton of this character would dispose
Of II seemed him.
Rufus T. Webb. who has attracted
Nt-ISlA4N4 & t4t dhACA4I4OlI i4AS past 4I "
months by public letters to the off,
Gals of the Maine Central was the
next witness. He is lumber dealer of
Yarmouth and a stockholder of the
Maine Central. He testified that the
Kicker Hotel Co, was capitalized at
81 40 600 and that its income in 1914
was S24 900. This was l 71-1000 OF
the cost of the property. II showed
a loss of 8 71-100 or in actual cash Of
$50. 1875. The Bar Harbor property
was capitalized at s255,310.77 and the
income in 1914 was s5,455.20 or loss
of 42-100 per cent. The organiza-
ton capital of the Union Station at
Portland was 100000 and the terminal
property was valued at a million dol
lars. The apprisal value Of the Bos-
ton & Maine property at the Station
was s2,5S1, $3.50.
At this point in the hearing an ad-
iournment was taken to 80 Thursday
evening.
Evening Session
At the opening of the evening ses-
sion, Mr.. Haselton suggested a new
draft Of the order under discussion.
MS new CId1l "Cdi0 70 lAC SOIi-
rnittee of investigation composed of
two members of the Senate and three
of the House and should be empower
ed TO inquire into the tariff rates Of
the Maine Central, investigate the
Capitalization and when and to whom
stock had been issued, the properties
received in return, the properties held
by the road that might be unproflt-
able: investigate what laws had been
violated by the company and what
corporations are liable, either subsid-
iary or outside of the Maine Central,
the money spent to influence legisla-
ton, how bonds and stocks have been
foated and the dealings with bankers.
The order would further have the
committee begin its work 80 days aft
er the adjournment of the Legislature
and file their report with the Cover
nor and Council. The members would
get S. a day and their expenses for
the work, be allowed to engage coun-
sci and experts For this, the sum Of
SIS 900 would be appropriated.
Rufus S Webb of Yarmouth. who
figured SO prominently in the hearing
before the committee on taxation when
the road asked a reduction in its
10 rnrYnhQYQ I O