Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-19

| 1T is necessary that the company
have some measure of temporary re-
| lief and the company asks the cooper
alton of the public
| Questioned by Mr.. Wheeler, MEM
/ Der of the committee, Mr.. Hobbs said
that the deficit for the company for
the months of January and February
| of this year amounted to 100000. He
also said that the increase in wages
was from 100000 in 1917 to $4,000
600 in 1920 and the cost of operation
| had increased from $1,000 per mile in
( 1917 to $4,000 a mile in 1920. The
taxes of the company were s726,000 in
| 1917 while in 1920 the taxes were ST.
1913, 900, and it is expected that the
taxes will besgreater this year.
| Questioned by Judge Cleaves,
member of the committee, Mr.. Hobbs
said that the increase in the payroll
in the four years mentioned was more
than the increase in the gross operat-
ing revenue.
IF We are to give service in this
State" said Mr.. Hobbs. I'VE must have
| money to keep our plant in repair.
Sixteen hundred cars. are now on side
| tracks awaiting repairs. ! do not see
any relief outside of the increase in
rates providing that We give the serv-
ice that we ought to give"
Gov. Baxter atthis juncture asked
! if it would be proper for anyone pres
| ent to ask questions of the witnesses
and Chairman Wheeler replied that
any inquiry which would assist in
solving this transportation problem
would be invited
| Morris Mcdonald. the president of
| the Maine Central Railroad Company
| in reply to a question by Judge
| Cleaves. said that he hoped that mat
tiers would be so leveled that the COM
| pany could deal direct with it's en-
| ployes. =
| Answering Judge Cleaves as to
| the amount that short hours and a
few minutes of labor, that were en-
| titled to the hours pay cost the
! company, Mr.. Mcdonald said he
/ couldn't say, but it was a very sub
! stantial amount. And, to Mr.. Guern-
, aey, that the readjuStment to the
S-hour plan cost approximately
: 100000. F.
! Guernsey-What is the amount of
your undisputed claims against the
United States government?
McDonald--Thcy are all disputed.
But we have set upon our books
about 81 100000 and also have items
that we think they owe us of about
Z 100000 more. In view of the fact
that they owe us q million, 1 have
had man in Washington for week
trying to secure even a partial pay
ment and can't. Doubt if we are
able to get 100000 as a payment.
They are comforting everything. I
( think the United States owes us
! about 81 100000 but what we will get
is question.
T Guernsey-Have you used, spent it
in advance?
, McDonald-Yes we have vouch-
ers ready that will take the whole Of
what we can get and all of it.
! Wheeler-Have you borrowed all
/ you can from the government?
i Mcdonald wouldn't want to say
we had borrowed all we can, but
perhaps our present government
! leans might prejudice our applica-
| ton for more.
Mr.. Blachford told Mr.. Wheeler
| that the Interstate Commerce Com
mission could put the new tariff
! quickly into effect, having the pow
| err, if it will use it. 1t would treat
| New England as a group and could
| give us the necessary relief at once.
The Boston G Maine
/ President James H. Hustis of the
+ Boston & Maine railroad said the
| committee in the so-called Divisions
! Case could have been appealed to
| by the New England roads in their
! emergency, but it was thought best
to appeal to the Governors, which
| had resulted in the present commit
! tee. He referred to the motor truck
competition but said their rates were
too low and would later adjust them
selves, with the wearing out of
| trucks, taxes, etc. The highways
We're suffering greatly from the
trucks. AS to decreasing salaries
!