Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-20

MlIIlken are: CAarleS T.. Gurney, Ed
ward w. Wheeler, L. E. McIntire
and L. M. Hamlin.
Opposes Mcdonald Plan
Address of Pres. B. & M.
Statement Of James H. Hustis,
president, Boston and Maine Rail-
road before the State Chamber Of
Commerce and Agricultural League
in the matter of the proposed
"Maine-New York Central Trunk
Line Plan" Friday. was as follows:
I'm any discussion Of the subject
Of railroad consultations, it is desir-
able to bear in mind two things
First, that while the Transports
ton is now conducted, does not re-
quire consultations, the Act as a
whole may have the effect of making
consultations necessary to roads
which have relatively high operating
costs and are without adequate
credit
Second, that while individual rail-
road arrangements and individual in
tereSts representing various sections
of the country may and do have
preferences and claims that must be
recognized, in the end these local
considerations must make way for
the greater good that will come to
the country as a whole through the
stabilizing of the railroad situation.
while my purpose is to conflne my
remarks largely to the position OF
the Boston and Maine on the subject
it will be necessary to refer briefly
to the general situation, particularly
as it effects the New England rail-
roads.
I'm compliance with the terms OF
the Transportation Act. the Inter
state Commerce Commission served
upon the Governors Of the several
New England states tentative plan
of consultations. In preparation for
the public hearings upon this plan
which were recently held in Boston
the Governor of each New England
state appointed committee to con-
slider the subject. These committees
organized into a Joint New England
Railroad Committee. which in turn
worked through a smaller executive
committee. Experts were employed
hearings were held and voluminous
testimony was taken. Nearly year
was consumed in the investigation
Many men, representative in their
communities. gave literally of their
time and money to the inVestEa ton
with no object other than the nope
of contributing something of value 70
the problem You are presumably
familiar with the report of this Joint
Committee which was given wide
circulation. over $4,000 copies having
been distributed.
Briefly. this report favored an all
New England system, with certain
important omissions. but this recon-
mendation was predicated upon the
nrior Rehabilitation of the two
largest New England railroads by
means of a program outlined in the
report. ...
II do not intend to discuss this
report at this time, further than to
say that its recommendations were
| far from unanimous.
1.-THE committee from your own
state, while concurring in the fnd-
! ings and conclusions of the report
, felt it necessary to add that in thels
| Judgment the interests of Maine
would be adversely affected by inc
! adoption of any form of consollda-
! ton considered by the committee.
! New Hampshire made the reserNa-
ton that if consolidation must come
| they should be with the Trunk Lines
! "Mr. Dexter, the one member from
Massachusetts, aside from the chair
man. who attended most of the
! hearings. dissented from the majority
report indicating his belief that II
| consultations must come, the POSI-
bilities under Trunk Line consollda
| ton are much more promising thar
under a New England consolidation.
! "While the views of the TrunR
Line roads on the subject were large
" expressed prior to the publlcatoH
of the report of the Joint New Eng
land Railroad Committee. there was
! a considerable divergence of opinion
in rospect to New England. Al
Trunk Lines were substantially IN
accord, however, in urging that nc
one line should acquire predoml-
mating influence in New England.
| "The various commercial and IN,
dustrial bodies who have expressed
opinions have generally favored a
! New England consolidation except
ing, OF course, your Maine organiza-
lions who have favored the Maine
New York Central Trunk Line Plan
| Notable exceptions to either of the
above mentioned plans by CONNER
cial and industrial organizations were
the Associated Industries of Massa-
chusetts and the New Hampshire
Manufa cturers' Association.
Here in Maine, Mr.. Todd, while
indicating his preference that the
Bangor & Aroostook should be LEFT
alone, advocates a New England
! system. Mr.. Macdonald proposes to
/ combine the Boston & Maine and
New Haven after appropriatng for
the Maine. Central an important line
! of the Boston & Maine with such
traffic as may go with it.
"Mr. Pearson of the New Haven
| advocates a New England system
! differing from that recommended by
the. New England Governors Com
mittee in that the Boston & Albany
and Central Vermont are to be in
! cluded. =,
"The position OF the Boston &
Maine, as ] will later explain, diff.
fers in some respects from that OF
any other New England railroad. 1t
will be noted that all interests are
disposing rather freelv of the prop
critics of others. An old story re-
Gently revived by the American Edu-
cational Association may not be out
of place at this point.
Mike-So YOU believe in equal own