The Washington times., 1923-05-24
ASKS ALLIANCE
WITH TRUNK
SYSTEM
Hustis, of Boston and Maine,
Favors Affiliation With
New York Central.

| The Boston & Maine Railroad is
seeking no alliance with other lines
| but if the consolidation of railroads
! plan of the Interstate Commerce
! Commission is finally carried through
! il would be to the advantage of the
| road to be affiliated with a strong
| east and west system. James IL
! Hustis, president of the road, told
| the commission today. At the pres
ent time, he said. the only system
answering that description is the
New York Central
81 am convinced the Boston
Maine would he of real value to
any trunk line system Hustis
said. while it is true that all
necessary routes and gateways
should be preserved, there would
be an inevitable tendency for the
controlling line to secure the long
haul on traffic to Boston & Maine
territory. To Ietain this long haul
however, it would be necessary to
provide service equal, if not super
iOr in quality to that provided by
other existing routes, and so long
as the quality of service is main
tanned, the question of routing
should not be of material interest
to the shipper.
Hustis told the commission that
for it to decree this or that particu-
lar plan must be adopted and rigidly
adhered to in those instances where
there otherwise would be bargaining
possibilities as between several in
terests, might result in serious loss
to the owners of the railroad proper
ties affected.
He urged the commission in it's
final plan mot to foreclose" the
Boston & Maine from making the
best bargain consistent with the pub
lie interest to which it is entitled
by reason of it's intrinsic value both
from a physical and traffic stand
point.
Fear Loss of Industries.
The specter Of New England's big
industries outside that territory if
trunk line acquires control of the
New England railroads was held up
before the commission by T.. j..
Rearson, president of the New York,
New Haven and Hartford.
Testifying before the commission
on the plan TO consolidate the rail
roads OF the country into a limited
number Of systems. Pearson said
the competitive incentive heretofore
displayed on the part of the trunk
lines To participate in New England
traffic would disappear if one of
the trunk lines should control in
New England
1t is highly probable that after
acquiring control such frank line
might 50 act as 10 bring about a
relocation of industry outside of
IxU 1t1S ft.aR, l.. IL.
from The handling of the traffic
might be ii Little more attractive, -
Pearson said. lit has been assumed
that trunk line consolidation would
produce the 'pocketbook' needed by
the New England roads, but where
is the assurance? Would not their
greater interest be found in the in
dustrial development outside of New
England with consequently greater
advantages to their traffic else
where.
Predicts Restriction.
Pearson claimed the use by New
England shippers of any and all
routes, water as we'll as rail, would
almost suraly suffer restriction in
stead of encouragement as now.
He asserts the value rising from
consolidation for the creation of an
exclusive route for the movement
of fuel into New England was de.
batable. The New England market.
he said. must be supplied from vari-
Gus coal fields, in order that the
market may he wide open and the
best results secured as TO quality,
price and delivery. This is desira BILE
for protection in case of interference
in any mining field or of transpor-
tation difficulties on any railroad
or through any particular section,
he said
Should the Pennsylvania take the
New Haven, or the New York Cen.
trail take the Boston and Maine, il
is incOnceiVable that public opinion
in New England would countsnance
any less favorable ngement than
an independence Of management with
which the people of New England
could directly handle their own af.
fairs. and a cOi~ inuation Of The di,
rect relations in this regard now ex
iSting,' Pearson asserted
ing materials showed mn material