Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1918-07-13
Next Council Meeting

Losses will run into the millions Of
dollars to the industries of Maine as
the result of the recent increases of
% per cent in freight rates made by
William c. McAdoo, director general
Of railroads.
This information was brought out
at hearing Friday before the Pub
lie Utilities Commission at which
were present representatives of in
dustries from all part Of New Eng
land. The hearing was held at the
| invitation Of the Public Utilities
| Commission which desired Informal
ton as to the effect that this increase
would have and also invited sugges-
tons as to any possible remedy.
The hearing was rather SHINY at
! tended and Judge Cleaves, the chair
man of the commission, announced
! publicly that the small attendance
I was a deep disappointment 10 him
! because the newspaper had been
most generous in giving publicity to
! the notices sent out. He felt that
! the shippers were not showing a
/ proper interest in the proceedings.
Judge Cleaves also announced that
/ from an investigation made by him
/ self and Frank j. McArdle. the rate
expert of the commission, it was evil
/ dent that the lumber industry would
suffer to the extent of a quarter OF
million dollars because of the IN
crease, the potato growers of ARGOS
took county would lose half a million
dollars and the hay, grain and milk
dealers of Maine would lose $4,000 a
wear. These figures were made still
greater by the statements of repre-
sentatives of industries present.
Charles II. Tiffany. traffic manager
of the New England Pulp and Paper
Association, declared that the per
Centage in the method Of increase or
freight rates was vicious and tine
only thing in its favor was the fact
that il was the easiest way TO grant
ore. He urged the commission that
because New England was depend
ent on long hauls for its freight ana
because Maine was the most hard
hit of the New England states that
the Maine commission should lead
the way in a protest to Washington.
John A. Mcdowell Of New York,
representing the American Wooden
Co, after declaring that Maine was
the hardest hit state in the union,
said that New Englanders can get no
sympathy at Washington.
Andrew 2. Lane Of Boston. repre-
sentine the Vermont Pulp and Paper
Makers, recommended that the rate
expert of the Public Utilities Com
mission be present at the forthcom-
ing hearings at Boston, New York
and Washington when the coal rates
are being made up to protect he in
terests of Maine. The rates about to
be published for Maine are not the
correct ones and must be checked up.
The presence of an expert at these
hearings would mean the saving OF
thousands of dollars to the Shippers
of Maine.
II was brought out conclusively by
the speakers at the hearing that the
condition of the Maine railroads are
such or will be such as the result OF
what will happen under the increase,
that the IS per cent. increase was
not warranted. An amount Will be
produced far in excess Ct the govern
ment needs in operating the railroads
in Maine and surplus would pc
created that would be turned into the
federal treasury and subsequently
snent for railroads outside OF Maine
and New England.
| Among those present at the near
ing Friday were Sheldon E. Ward
we'll of Boston. representing various
shippers in Maine and directly the
| Great Northern Paper Co, and the
st. Croix Paper Co.: Charles n. IN
fanv of Boston, traffic manager or me
: New England Pulp and Paper Co.
Leslie E. Jacobs. representing the
Skowhegan Board of Trade; William
T THOMPSON of South China, master
of the Maine State Grange: George
= Feeney, representing the Portland
chamber of Commerce: George W.
RAYMOND. representing the Lewiston
f-hamher of Commerce; Judge Harry
Mansur and F. w. Winton OF Au-
hurn. John A. Mcdowell of New
York. representing the American
WOODEN Co: and Andrew p. Lane o.
BOSTON. representing the vermont
Pulp and Paper Makers