Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-26

issues. The gentleman from Portland, (Mr
Knight,) had presented many good reason,
why the bill should pass, and he accepted
them, although he understood him to be op
posed to the bill. If he had any doubts abou,
it when he was speaking, they were dispelled
when the old motion to indefinitely postpon.
was made. The gentleman had talked about
outside influences. Did the gentleman wan
it to go out to the people that this Legislator.
is to obey the dictates of ''lobby" and no,
! carry out the will of their constituents? lie
| did not know what the gentleman meant, un.
less 1t was something of this sort. II ther.
ever was an honest Legislature assembled
this was one, and he said it in no spirit o,
fattery. He knew some Of the gentlemen a,
| the head of this railway corporation-Judgt
Rice, Ex Governor Morrill,, and Mr.. Lock
| woodland be knew they would scorn to ap-
| proach a member of this Legislature in any
improper way. He said this knowing the
high character of the men. The matter hac
| full hearing before the railroad committee
and though opportunity was given no one ap.
| peared in opposition. 1t received the unani.
NOUS sanction of the committee, though there
were members, who ,ifthey had any prejudices
they were against the Maine Central. liz
mentioned this to show that there was none OF
this gangrene jealousy which seems to have
infused itself into the minds of some directly
inteTeSteu III TINS matter.
If he understood the gentleman's (Mr.
knight objection to the bill, it was because he
saw in it the old ghost OF consolidation. He
did not consider any such proposition before
the House, and he called special attention to
the bill. 1t is said this road has consolidated
but they have done nothing except what the
people by their legislation have directly and
squarely authorized them to do; and that is
to lease roads. He found this power to
''lease" in almost every charter he had ex-
amined. If this was not right let the Legis-
lature say so, and strike it out of their char
tiers.
The Maine Central asks to issue its bonds
for the purpose Of providing means for put
ting its road and equipments, and the roads
now leased in an efficient condition. Is not
that proper? Do we want to ride over a
rickety road endangering our lives? Is there
anything wrong or unjust about it? They
further ask that the corporations herein
named may unite in mortgage for the pay
ment of its debt and liabilities. The Maine
Central has incurred large expense during
the past year in putting their road in good Or
der. They have expended more than mil
lion of dollars. They desire to make further
Improvements, and it is important tina. this
matter should pass to give them the means to
do with Each of these roads has its board
of directors, and according to the bill, no one
of them is obliged to join the Maine Central
in this matter, unless the stockholders Of
those roadslso decide. If these leases were
old Portland and kennebec, would be able to
run six months. He had not heard a single
argument which struck at the merits of the
bill. 1t has been only the general cry of
''consolidation"-the dread of voting away
the peoples rights. If there are any objec
tons in this bill let US strike them out, if not
let US pass it.
Mr.. PREBLE moved and the House ordered
that when the question be taken it be by yeas
and nays.
Mr.. HoLBRooK of Freepert, said his atten-
ton had been called to this matter by petition
placed in his hands, by the old stockholders
of the kennebec and Por Land Railroad Corn
pany. He had not received it till after the
committee had reported, or it would have
been presented to the House and gone to that
committee before it had taken action. All
the petitioners ask for is that their rights shall
be preserved-that we shall take away none
of their rights by any legislative act. He
had purposed in compliance with these petit
TONERS wishes, to offer certain amendments
to the bill, but he found SO much to amend
that it would strip the bill of everything
asked for, and he had come to the conclusion
to vote tor its indefinite postponement. The
latter part of it is apparently designed to take
away all the rights these petitioners have, and
it struck him that if the committee had ex-
amined it very carefully, they would have
seen the loose manner in which it is drawn.
1t authorizes the issuing Of bonds for GER
tain purpose, but no mention is made as to
the amount. Is it usual to give any corpora
ton such power as that? 1t appeared to hifv
that those interested in the Maine Central
Railroad Company were thinking more of the
other provisions of the bill than they were OF
the mere bonds.
Mr.. BCRLEIGH came here an anti cons oil
dationist, but after considerable thought upon
the matter, and listening to the various argu-
ments, he had become satisfied that the public
would be better accommodated as the roads
were now running. Its rates were lower now
than some old roads in Massachusetts,. The
Maine Central Railroad is a benefit to our
State and State institutions, and he hoped
the bill would not be indefinitely postponed.
Mr.. PERKINS of Poland, said this matter put
him in mind of the little girls saying their
prayers. One had got to this point "Give
US this day our daily bread" when the other
little one broke in and said, 'say cake sissy"
This company came here last year and asked
for bread, now they come up and say '.cake. "
lie agreed in the motion to indefinitely post
pone.
Mr. WEBB was glad to see this matter dis
cussed in the fair manner in which it had
been. He understood the gentleman from
Portland, (Mr. Knight to believe that i this
bill passes, it affirms consolidation and the re-
servation of the right of the people hereafter
to resist any operation which the railroads
might attempt is entirely gone-foreclosed.
1t is well known that the ingredients of the
Maine Central road are the Androscoggin and
kennebec, extending from Waterville to Dan
vile Junction, and uniting with that is the
Penobscot & Kennebec from Waterville to
Bangor. Uniting with that is the Andres
coggn extending from Pennington to Bruins
wick. Then is the Portland & Kennebec
road from Portland to Augusta. In addition
to that is the Somerset & Kennebec road from
this city to Skowhegan. All of these sepa.
rate corporations have been chartered by the
State. For instance, in the charter of the
Androscoggin & Kennebec, 1t is provided that
the Legislature shall at all times have the
right to inquire into the management of the
road apd correct or prevent abuses of the
same, imposing fines and penalties which may
be necessary, &c. He found this same pro-
vision substantially in every charter he had
namat IN tho ubt