New Britain herald., 1930-07-07
INDEPENDENT TRUCKING

INDEPENDENT TRUCKING
 f. the same principles were to guide the Maryland Public Service Commission as guid. similar state regulatory bodies in some other states the Pennsylvania railroad would have won a slashing victory ir that state recently. But down in Maryland they don't like trucking companies, motor coach companies, street cars, steam boat. and such auxiliary transportation services operated by railroads.
 Down in Maryland they have an old-fashioned notion that railroad officials should run railroads and try to compete with other services reserved for independent entr.- preneurs.
 The Chesapeake Bay divides Maryland into two halves, and the eastern part is called the Eastern Shore. This i. operated from Balti- more. the chief city, by the Chesa- p.ake Bay.
 After citizen. Of Baltimore had built the first railroad in the coun- try to ply due west from Baltimore calling it the Baltimore & Ohio, the construction Of railroads on the Eastern Shore began In due course. But these ultimately were gobblcd Up by the Pennsylva system :; and numerous boat lines esta blished 10 ply between Baltimore and East ern Shore points also came under the indirect ownership of the Pennsylvania, Thus it remains to this day. So far as railroads are con- cerned. the entire Eastern Shore Of Maryland is served by lines leased and operated by the Pennsylvania system.
 For years this monopoly, though it vexed eastern shoremen, was air tight. But in recent years matters changed, Independent trucking con- cerns bobbed up, and independent ferry lines operated between Balti- more and Eastern Shore points; also independent motor coach companies sprang up, making a bid for the passenger business which hereto fore was monopollzed by the Penn sylvania
 The Pennsylvania, like the New Haven in Southern New England, became quite aroused. It, too, want cd 10 start trucking systems, and perhaps later go into the bus busi- ness on the Eastern Shore. So two subsidiary trucking companies owned by the Pennsylvan made application 10 the Maryland Public Service Commission for permission Il 10 operate trucking routes totalling 2,900 miles, touching every town on the Eastern Shore.
 The company promised co-ordina- ton Of trucks and its boats, etc, in- deed, presented plenty of verbal bait of the usual caliber that is so potent in some states.
 At the same time flock of inde- pendent companie. made similar applications.
 Sentiment on the Eastern Shore was overwhelmingly for the inde- pendenu. Shippers, Chambers of Commerce and business men gen. erally joined the warwhoop against the Pennsylvania's subsidiar ries.
 The Public Service Commi ission considered t2e avalanche Of appli- cations for several months, yielding hearings and digesting arguments. Then its decision.
 The decision was in conformity with public sentiment. Not a single Pennsylvania subsidiary got . franchise, while virtually all the in- dependent applicant. received franchises.
 Thus, says the Wicomico News, published in the fast-groving city Of Salisbury on the Eastern Shore:
 The Commission decision ends one Of the most outstanding trans portation fights the Eastern Shore has experienced. Many ob- servers saw in the hearings and the Commissions ultimate decision an important epoch in the future trans-