Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1871-03-02

charter was first infrooucea, ne .housnl - wa
not different from many others granted, ans
SEGMENT practice. But to my view, this com
nsny don't present the claims of many which
come to the Legislature. For instance, there
should be shown some public advantage to be
gained, in return for the unusual grant of pow.
er. A bank gives the public advantages, and
on this ground alone is entitled to privileges
granted it. The corporators are not entitled
to privileges not common to their citizens,
but in consideration of public convenience,
they receive the sanction of law. So manu-
factories which may be a source of wealth or
development, which will interfere with no
vested rights, and which require special grants
of privilege properly receive the favor of the
State.
The Cobb Lime Company has no such
claims. A charter to it gives its members
fictitious wealth by giving it the power to de-
preciate and possess itself of that of others.
This is no inference Of possible or probable
effect. But taking it for granted that the
wealth and influence of the concern would Sc
cure what it asked of the legislature it has
gone into active operations in advance.
There is claim, or if there is, it is false,
that lime making cannot be successfully pros
ecuted with such a capital as is authorized by
the general statute, at least $500, 900, and in
my judgment that is too large figure for a
general law. No, if let alone, and allowed to
have fair field those men who are now in the
business, with capital of 10, Is or $40, 900,
can 20 and reap fair reward for their time
and money in the business. Shall the legisla-
ture deprive them of the value of their bust
ness and their property by setting up great
monopoly, which undertakes to crush them by
controlling the market? 1t is believed this at
tempt has already been made by certain men,
r Al HI e1lI 1,v,.n
credit in New York and also reduced the price
to a ruinous figure, not with any intention of
making q permanent reduction, but to discour-
age those competing with moderate means to
drive them out of the market and then re-es-
tablish former prices, or what is more likely
make increased ones. Did you ever under
Stand the public paid higher prices where there
was free competition than to monopolies2 1t
would be an anomaly if this case should prove
SO. The interest of consumers, the rights of
those in the lime business, outside of these
parties and owning kilns, quarries, property
Of whatsoever kind appertaining to it, the
good of the city of Rockland, Thomaston
and Camden and other towns require that
the charter hastily given and without under
standing the merits of the case, should be re-
pealed.
And you may be assured that only the dread
Of commercial, social and political ostracism
by the proposed corporation has prevented the
appearance of many persons here to make per-
sonal effort against the charter. There have
already been presented to you, several hun
dred names-well known in Knox County,
praying for repeal of the charter. Shall they
be needed, or is their prayer of no avail against
the monied power, who ask to lord it over
them? Consider well the tendency to put
money over the honest poor! 1t is the ten
lav,o y<<,~ ora 500, IL Al. l.
do not approve of the course of modern de-
mocracy, l am too democratic to give my
countenance to so palpably unjust and mex
cusable q charter as this. Others may do
what they will, for one, have cleared my
skirts of responsibility for it. l oppose it,
though the petitioners for charter should cast
me under the wheels of Juggernaut for doing
SO, that rise no more. One thing | can say
my tongue is my own. If others, whose con-
stituents have as much interest in opposing
this charter as mine, had endeavored to block
the wheels, and prevented this great monopo-
ly taking root, as they might and ought to
have done, the House would not have again
been troubled with its presentation, and the
people would have been at rest
Consider well, gentlemen, before you en-
danger the rights pecuniarily, of your people,
to benefit and enrich few wealthy gentlemen.
have done my duty, and trust you may do
yours.
have, but, Mr.. Speaker, to call attention
to the great salt monopoly of the Syracuse,
IN. Y.) Company, and the recently developed
coal monopoly, about which the consumers OF
both articles are SO severely struggling to be
relieved Of such extravagant rates, to warn
this legislature of the fearful consequences
which are likely to follow if we do not repeal
the act granting this charter.
Mr.. BIRD replied:
Arguing that a monopoly would not result
from the incorporation of the Cobb Lime Co.,
any more than from hundreds OF other acts of
incorporation passed every year by the legis-
lature. He commended that the company hay
ing perfected its organization under the pro-
visions OF its charter, could not rightfufiy
have its rights invaded, as the bill reported
by the minority will do if passed. The bill in
cooperating the company in the first days of
the session, was considered by the Judiciary
Committee, and reported to the House. The
House discussed the matter, and concurred in
the action of its committee And now a
movement has been made to repeal the act,
and the judiciary have decided almost unani-
mously in favor of the incorporation of the
company, as before. He hoped the House
would not stultify its former action, and go
back on what had been passed upon after ma
ture elaboration, but that the company would
be protected in their chartered rights.
Mr.. Bliss replied to Mr.. Bird, and stated
that the proposition advanced by the gentle
man from Portland, (Mr. Bonney), and the
gentleman from Rockland, (Mr. Bird was
wrong, that the laws of this State, gave the
legislature full power and authority to repeal
this charter at any time. Mr.. Bliss also cited
the statutes, which sustained him-then
sharply criticised the argument of those gen.