Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-10-02
Editorial Comment
Biz Tim and the Storrow Plan
OBOstOn Transcript

BOston Transcript
whats the Constitution between
fricnds?" asked big Tim" Sullivan.
Perhaps his question might now he
asked again with reference to the
discussion Of the StOrrow plan for
the rehabilitation of the New York,
New Haven & Hartford and the
Boston < Maine railroads. 1t would
seem that its authors ignored the
Constitution of the state of Maine.
The majority report of the Joint New
England Railroad COMMITTEES appar-
entity proceeds on the assumption
that the Maine Legislature could
commit that state to the underWrit-
ing of the securities of the two rail-
ROADS were they turned over to the
management of public trustees for a
period of ten years. But the Hon.
William r. PattSnCall, a former at
torney general of Maine. and one of
the leaders Of the Maine Bar, in
speaking at the hearing before mem
hcrs of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. quoted a provision of
tie Maine Constitution which. he
stated. stood as absolute bar to the
extension of state aid to the rail-
roads Attention has been already
called in the Transcript to this pro-
vision OF the Maine Constitution. It
has now been made part of the
record in the case as presented TO the
commissioners.
The statement made yesterday
concerning the provision OF the
Maine Constitution merely drives
another nail in the coffin of the Stor-
row plan for the financial rchabilta-
ton OF the two leading New England
,DiIrnal In tho n
the majority of the joint committee
many pages were devoted to the
elaborate presentation of this
scheme. but few references have
been made 70 it in the present pro-
cc"dings. The advocates Of Il single
Now England railroad system are
pleading with the Interstate Com
mcrce Commission to authorize its
creation and in so doing to prevent
any Other form of consolidation I'M
der the terms Of the Transportation
Act While. as Commissioner Hall
stated yesterday, the present pro-
ccCdin- does not relate to the terms
upon which given combination
might be effected, il is perfectly
proper and certainly extremely peril
ncnt. to show that any proposed
system would be one that could sup
port itself financially or. if it needed
help. would he likely to get it. The
StorrOw plan included the scheme
for State aid to a New England sys-
ten, hut the proceedings before the
commissioners go far to show that
the scheme lies dead in the house of
its friends. 1t enters into oblivion
unwcpt, unhonored and unsunC. 1t
may be asked. what il was begun for
il il was so soon to be done for.
The early death of the StorrOw
plan for the rehabilitation of the
New Haven and Boston & Maine
leaves the advocates of n New Eng
land system without any definite
plan for its financial support should
it he effected. No machinery is SuG-
ccsted for establishing the credit of
which it would be SOrCly in need. Is
there any wonder under such cir
cumstancos that the Maine Central,
a railroad which is in fairly prosper
Gus condition. wants nothing to do
with plans for q New England SNS-
tenn? Yet advocates of the St0rrow
plan evince extreme delight when
the Maine Central officials say that
they see prospect Of helm in time of
need if they affiliate with the New
York Central and see no prospect of
aid through the Storrow scheme.
Some of the mental processes which
have been revealed in the current