Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-01-03

DlSneT,
Grover C. Thompson. who. with
Napoleon Dufresne has conducted the
line for the, past two years was then
sworn and took the stand. In re-
Spouse to questions from his counsel
he told of the manner in which the
petitions We're secured and explained
with the use of his daily report cards
the percentage of passengers who
paid fare of less than one dollar.
Attorney George l.. Fogg of Port
land, representing the Maine Central
railroad and w. l.. Shelton. repre-
senting the AndroscoGgn Il kenne-
bee electric railroad then cross
questioned the witness. They had
but started questioning him with re-
gard to convictions Of himself and
one OF his drivers in several cases of
attractions of the motor vehicle laws
when Attorney Carter voiced his OBJ
Jections, giving as his grounds his
belief that by their action OF a few
days ago in which they revoked the
franchise of the bus company for the
remainder Of 1924, the public utilities
commission had taken fun cognizance
or these matters and that the White
Line bus company should be allowed
to start out with a clean slate.
Mr.. SHELTON declared that he did
not feel that this was the case, that
there is no reason to think that the
proprictors of the company have
| changed since the acts We're commit
ted which resulted in their losing
, their franchise and that as this line
is run for the benefit of the public,
according to the statement of the
owners, these acts should not be talk
en- into consideration to determine
their fitness to guard the lives of the
public.
Chairman Quincy stated that the
Verdicts of the city courts should be
given some thought although he did
think that occasions might arise
where such verdict might be dis
regarded. The line of questioning
was allowed finally by the counsel
for the White Line Company and Mr..
Thompson testified that he had him
self appeared before the courts three
times, once for reckless driving, once
for exceeding the speed limit and
once for driving one of the cars
which was not registered. He. had
been fined in each case. One of his
drivers had been fined once each in
the Waterville. Augusta and Lewis
ton courts. He is not now employcd
by the company.
In response to n question by At
torney Shelton it developed that
sometimes eight passengers are car
ried in the cars, three on the rear
seat, three more on a board seat
which is placed across the two ton
neau seats and two on the front seat
with the driver.
1t developed at this time that the
company has made arrangements
whereby in case they receive their
certificate they will be protected by
liability insurane to the amount of
$4,000.
Attorney Everett V. Maxcy of Au-
gusta, representing the Central
Maine Power Company and the Wat
, erville, Fairfield and Oakland rail-
ROAD company. questioned Mr.
Thompson If his proposed routes
paralieled at any point the lines of
the Central Maine Power Company's
electric road in Warren, Thomaston
and Rockland or the line of the Wa
terville, Fairfield and Oakland rail =
road. Mr.. Thompson stated that
they did for shot distance but that
he would be willing that q clause
should be put into their certificate
providing that the busses should car
| where these lines are parallel.
/ Charles Jacobs of Vassalboro. Hen
ry r. Fossett of Riverside, Frank NJ
Allen of Lewiston, George 4. Pike of
Winthrop and Calvin w. Gilman of
Augusta testified that they used the
! bus frequently and that they had
been impressed by the courtesy of
the drivers and the careful manner
in which the cars were driven. The
petitioners then closed their testi-
mony.
A recess was taken for dinner and
when the commission again met the
railroad companies simply entered
prepared lists of their schedules and
rates in the places affected and the
case was summed up by the attor-
neys. Attorney Fogg stated that he
believed that 1t was necessary for
the petitioners to show the need OF
such service and that they were iii
persons to conduct such Il business
and contented himself by stating tina.
in his opinion the company does not
serve places that have not already
been served by one or the other OF
the railroad companies.
Attorney Shelton stated that the
petitioners have been convicted OF
arrangements OF the motor EenlCIe
laws and that this has q direct bear
ing upon their fitness to become car
riers. He declared that the burden
of proof as to their fitness rested
upon the petitioner as they had been
| deprived of their franchise and that
they had failed to prove their case.
He declared that the electric road
which he represents is giving serv-
ice on the Winthrop line which is
costing the company money and
that by being deprived of furt her
revenue by the bus line, the time
when they will be forced to discon-
tinne that line is being FASTENED. He
also spoke of occasions when three,
including the driver, had ridden on
the front seat and characterized this
as n dangerous practice.
Attorney Carter in speaking of
this last point, declared that on one
occasion last summer he had seen
the captain of the motorcycle police
driving with two young ladies on the
front seat with him. He stated that
1t was but a few years ago that the
electric line was applying for fran
chisc to do business and that the