Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-02-03
Mr.. WALKER Of Newport, was opposed to

l Mr.. WALKER Of Newport, was opposed to
the bill, and even if the bill was to pass he
should be opposed to the amendment, for he
thought it would throw obstacles in the way
not anticipated. Where railroads have been
built, towns generally have been the first to
take stock. If the stock is to depreciate, 1t
HIS been generally considered that towns are
better able to bear it than individuals. But
laying aside that consideration, if a road Is
necessity to towns, it is proper that they
should take it off from individuals. lie did
| not think there were any towns which, II they
, could have their money back. would be will
ling to dispense with their railroads. lie OPP
, posed the bill because he thought it the prov
ince of the Legislature to determine where
the public necessity requires road and
where it does not. This bill proposes to
leave that matter in the hands of three men,
and these men paid by the several railroad
companies, which sum is assessed upon them
by the Governor and Council. They would
be subject to the frailties of men, and he
thought this a matter of such Importance that
there is no tribunal so well calculated to pass
upon it jas the Legislature. lie thought leg
islation had been too loose in reference to
allowing municipalities to invest their money
in railroads He thought there should be a
discrimination in that matter, that they should
be limit ed in amount, and that in each in
stance the Legislature should act upon the
matter and determine whether the necessity
of the case is such that it would be proper
and expedient for municipalities to invest
their money in that way.
Suppose this amendment is adopted and the
whole becomes law? Another year it will
be found that certain localities are in ex-
IRENE need of railroad. How shall they
get it? They have first got to raise $4,000
per mile from individuals. individuals don't
| WI n do hat nd tiy, lou
is to pass the amendment would defeat the
building of many railroads actually needed
He did not believe general law could be
got up that would be practicable This au-
thorizes the building of a road along by the
side Of another, which must destroy the value
of the first. The tendency, he thought,
would be for every locality to want road
built right to them, and good many roads
would be attempted that would never be COM
pleted. The tribunal is composed of only
three men, and we understand the pressure
brought to bear even upon this Legislature
in the interests of railroads. How much
easier to manage three men than tw o hundred,
how much easier to carry schemes. The
Legislature is composed of representatives of
the people at large, better qualified to judge
OF the interests and requirements of the peo-
pie than three men.
Mr.. PIKE said the amendment would kill
the bill. Towns are authorized by the gen.
eral law to take stock in railroads to the
amount of five per cent. of their valuation.
This bill simply takes the people and the law
as it finds them. We do not propose to in
tefere with that general law. He would go
with the gentleman (Mr. Reed) to regulate
that matter at the proper time, but it certain
ly was not proper now. He would have the
bill considered upon its own merits.
Mr.. CARLETON hoped the amendment would
prevail. 1t is the balance wheel which is to
regulate this wild scheme if the bill passes.
Mr.. REED remarked that he had offered the
| amendment at the suggestion of an eminent
gentleman in his locality. He was not op-
posed to the bill, but he wished safeguard
for the people.
Mr.. PERRY of Oxford trusted that the
amendment would be considered seriously.
This is a bill which proposes to change
the whole railroad policy of the State.
Now if railroads desire charter they are
obliged to come to the Legislature to get it,
and the bill has to pass both branches of the
Legislature and the Governor and Council
This bill proposes to vest this power in three
men! Whether he would vote for the bill de-
pended very much upon its shape on its final
passage. He suggested to the gentleman
(Mr. Reed that if he would strike out the
words land expend" it would remove some
T.
Reed, he said, does not prevent towns from
ioaning their credit as provided by the laws of
the State, but it simply regulates the matter,
and provides that they shall not give their
aid until there has been a basis for rail-
road corporation formed by individuals. He
believed that towns ten years hence would
have cause to thank this Legislature if it
puts forth bar against any further right of
municipalities to vote their aid. We all know
what golden dreams towns have in regard to
railroads They seem to. think that if they
can get railroad that their fortunes are
made. Let scheme of this kind be agitated
and you put every mans property in the town
at the hazard of few. He did not consider
that the amendment would kill the bill and he
supported it because he thought it safeguard
around municipalities. 1t is a poor time
when the people are so heavily taxed to allow
towns to go into railroad schemes and involve
themselves tens of thousands Of dollars He
admitted that under certain restrictions it was
well to allow towns to loan their credit to a
reasonable amount, but since the war, a great
change has come over the dream of the
people. They go into an extravagant expen-
diture of money and incur liabilities at which
they would have actually shuddcred before the
war. This spirit it running wild and ought
not to be encouraged by any legislation of
this kind. He hoped the amendment would
be adopted.
Mr.. REED accepted the amendment offered
by Mr.. Perry.
Mr.. PORTER moved to amend the amend
ment by inserting after the words $50 organ
lied until, the words tone half"
Mr.. PIKE said this is an experiment in the
legislation of this State. He agreed with the
gentleman from Newport, (Mr. Walker that
the matter should be approached carefully,
and he fully sympathized to the extreme ex-
tent with the remarks of the gentleman from
Waldoboro', (Mr. Reed,) and the gentleman
from Oxford (Mr. Perry, upon the subject of
towns loaning their credit He had taken
some interest in the matter last winter and
was instrumental in getting the opinions of
the Judges of the Supreme Court. This State
is good place to live in, but the Legislature
of this State, he was sorry to say, had, as far
as possible, legislated to make it unnhabita-
Bile. We are decreasing in population, and
for the last ten years have hardly maintained
our own in valuation. We are increasing in
nothing, while we have q mountain of debt
which spreads itself all over the State. Indi-
viduals may get in debt and it effects only
them. and hy tho hankrupt oct +ho,, ~,