New Britain herald., 1923-09-24
{ Consensus of Opinion Given
I.C. c. Is That New Eng.
land FayOrs St0rr0w Plan.
Though Some Desire
Notifications.
MOORE Is OPPOSED,
POTEET IN FAVOR

! of the interstate commerce commits
sion were here today To conduct a
hearing on the proposed consolida-
lion of New England railroads. Wide
spread interest In the hearing has
been shown throughout this section
and In addition to railroad officials
the views of state and city chambers
OF commerce and other commercial
organizations.
The discussion was expected to re-
volye around the report recently sub
mitted to the governors OF the New
England states by the Joint New
England railroad committee favoring
consolidation into a single system
of the New England railroads with
the exception of the Boston and Al
bany, the Central Vermont and the
Trunk and the Canadian Pacific. The
report also submitted plans for the
rehabilitation of the n. Y. N. II. and
H. and the Boston and Maine. The
Maine and New Hampshire members
of the committee opposed any form
of consolidation at the present time
the New Hampshire members ex-
pressing the belief that If consolida-
ton proved necessary later it should
be with the trunk lines.
Those in Charge.
The commissioners in charge of the
hearing are Chairman Henry Hall,
Frederick l. Cox and Joseph B. East |
man. Thomas z. Healy is examiner
tor the commission.
Governors Present
E When the hearing was opened Gov
ernor Cox of Mass, Flynn of Rhode
Island, Brown of New Hampshire and
Tempieton of Conn. were present !
President James H. Hustis of the /
Boston and Maine railroad represent
ed his road and James J. Storrow
chairman of the joint New England |
railroad committee was on hand
The hearing was started with a
brief address by Governor Cox who
formally presented the joint commit
tees report,
Mass. Is In Favor
THE people of this state" he said.
art vitally interestd in this ques-
ton. The people feel that their in
terests will be better served by con-
of New England lines than
by the formation of relations with
the outside trunk lines.
We ought to have a system sym
our own men,
Rhode Island Partly Agrees
Governor Flynn said that Rhode
Island was definitely In favor of
New England consolidation and not
or trunk line consolidation,
Personally" he added Il would be
behind consolidation as indicated I'm
he storrow report"
Governor Brown referred to the
dissenting report mad by the New
members of the joint com ,
nittee and continued:
New Hampshire people want ade- Z
uate and efficient service No struc- +,
ure unless financially sound can give
ueh service" II
New Hampsbire's View a
He said that the committee had
ound the two major systems in New 7
'ngland to be financially weak and 1
e opposed their financial rehabilita-
ion and merger with the other New
,ngland roads as proposed in the h
report He questioned 1,
-hether state aid would place the =
'oston and Maine and the n. y, N. u
[. and H railroads on their feet ;,
Fears High Rates ?
CAS- to New Hampshire he added, :,
in my opinion there Is the grayest :,
oubt as to the possibility of passing
ate legislation for the state aid ,-
roposed. / have no fear of absentee :;
engagement or the closing of the =
orthern gatewavs But ! have fear :,
excessive rates. Xxx The people OF !,
ew England prefer consolidation Z
it'll the trunk lines as against state .
d."
Prof. VIM. D. Ripley of Harvard {
,iversity asked Governor Brown If 4
appreciated that the result of the -
might be that the out
lie trunk lines which would absorb al
q New England roads might not be r
e strongest but perhaps some of the G.
aaker trunk lines. Governor Brown m
id he had taken this into eonsid- re
alton. cl
Conn. yHslIy Interested, de
Transportation in Connecticut" s pe
id Governor Templeton, means life a. a.
death to its factories, especially oi
ose making brass. | endorse the
mmittee's report as governor and ss II
small business man Do not con-
Ter trunk line consolidation. 1t
sans higher cost of transportation. Fly
e freight shippers can get better
ure If he has the choice of ship vi
1g lines. New England men have re-
2 brains and the money and can ca
Se care of themselves. an
From Little Vermont. gu
II. C. Comings OF Vermont. repre- III
,ting Governor Proctor. said the he
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