Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-06
STORROW DEFENDS
HIS CQNS0LI DATION
PLAN N. {. RAILWAYS

Boston, Oct. 5.-James J. Stor-
row. chairman OF the New England
joint railroad commission which last
, summer submitted a report recon-
mending consolidation of the New
,, England railroads, with the eXcep-
ton of the Boston and Albany and
Canadian owned lines. defended the
consolidation plan today at the final
hearing of the Interstate Commerce
Commission here. Josiah +. Hill. of
the banking firm of Lee, Higginson
and Company and John r. Macom-
Der. former president of the Boston
Chamber of Commerce, also address
ed the commission in favor of the
all New England plan. Mr.. Hill sub
mitted an alalySis of statistics indi-
eating that the cost of operation Of
New Finland railroads compares not
favorably with costs of other Ameri-
can systems.
Costs per dollar Of revenue arc
three cents higher than outside of
New England Mr.. Hale stated. and
declared that this compensated for
higher revenue rates. A previous eS-
innate submitted by John w. Oldham,
who spoke in favor of trunk line con-
IfOI, pldCtu New lIllSi'tu - manu-
cap at 10 cents on the dollar.
Mr.. StolrOw in summing up the
results of the hearings asserted that
public opinion. as generally voiced by
shippers and business men of New
England. was overwhelmingly
against control of New England rail-
roads by trunk lines. He declared
that although the cooperation OF
Maine and New Hampshire was dc
sired. yet if those states preferred
to stay ort of the New England con-
solidation plan the system would
still be workable. He asserted. with
Mr.. MacOmber that the New England
business and banking houses were
ready to give the full strength nI
their backing to the proposed consoll-
dated system.
1t was announced at the meeting
that the directors Of the Boston and
Maine had voted endorsement of the
personal views of President Hustis
in which he opposed the consolida-
ton plan and suggested t"at If
adopted, it should embrace every
road in New England. excluding only
Canadian lines.
Mr. Storrow presented list OF -
Massachusetts, manufacturers employ
ing 214.S77 persons. and with an ag-
|regate capital Of at least S6'o.ooo.opo'
all of whom wished to be recorded as
favoring the Storrow plan.
He referred to tho Associated Indus
tries which favored trunk line control.
and asserted that but 10 out of AZ
members of the associations executive
committee had gone on record in IA
vor Of that system. Turning to the list
of Massachusetts manufacturers which
he had read. Mr.. Storrow said:
"Day before yesterday we looked up
this list to see how many of them
were members of the Associated 1n-
dustries-and found SO out of 20 men,
bers.
II went little further-kind of
mean. but We did it. And we found
out that of these 70 men-l don't know
whether membership in the Associated
Industries is by companies or by rep
rcsentatiVes-1i were on the executive
committee of that body
Mr.. Storrow said that only enc mar
from all New England who was a ton
mage producer had come to the hear
ings to favor trung line control.
The joint committee" he said. "set
up 4 definite concent which is always
pie for the other side.
''rhe pcssimists picked out details as
reasons Why the plan wouldn't work.
Continued on Page 2-CoI! 81