Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1872-01-26
Jason M. Carleton,
Il. M Cor1oeou

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=. Jason NJ. Carleton, !
J. N. Carleton,
Mr.. Caldwell was declared duly elected.
On motion Of Mr.. HAYroRp,
i, ORDERED. That the Secretary be directed
\ 70 notify William Caldwell that he has beer
duly elected State Treasurer for the curren
, fiscal year.
The purpose for which the convention wa.
formed, having been accomplished, the Sen
ate retired
IN HOUSE.
READ AND AssIGNEp-An act to authorize
the formation and regulation of Railroad Com
panies; an act to enable the Boston anG
Maine Railroad to discontinue portion of its
line, and extend the time for the making OF
its extension.
PASSED TO DE ENGRossED---An act to
amend section SO, of chapter 40 of the Re
vised Statutes, relating to the yearly close
\ time on land-locked salmon, trout and togue
an act to fix the compensation OF the Judges
of the Supreme Judicial Court.
PASSED TO BE ENACTED-An act to amend
an act entitled San act empowering towns,
cities and village corporations to make by
laws and ordinances in certain cases." ap-
proved February'third, eighteen hundred and
seventy one; an act to amend the charter of
the Blanchard Maine State Boiler Company,
and to make valid the proceedings of said
company; an act to incorporate the Dexter
Mills; an act to set off certain territory from
the town of Waltham and annex the same to
| Eastbrook.
| FINALLY PAssED--Resolve in favor of
America Bartlett resolve in favor of James
| Withee resolve in favor of Hiram Morse.
Bill an act authorizing the Maine Central
Railroad Company to make a loan, came up
| by special assignment, the question being on
| passing the same to be epgrossed.
Mr.. KNIGHT said it was we'll known by
members of the House that he had been one
| of the movers in favor of general railroad
law, which shall give to everybody who brings
| the earnest money, and the earnest purpose
to build railroad, the right to build one.
The Legislature of Maine finds this occasion
the supreme moment of its rights and duties
1t is question more important than any
| other which shall challenge the attention Of
this House-unless it be the general railroad
| law-to which our attention is now called
We cannot divorce this question from the
other questions pressing here. When the
matter passed through the hands of the COM
| pittee, the next thing was another project
asked for by twenty or thirty thousand pee.
| pie to charter road which somewhat affects
the interests of this. One went through, and
the other failed; and so far he could discover
no prospect of a charter asked for being
granted without conflict with the interests of
| that power which is now centralizing in this
State. He said this in no fault finding spirit.
1t was not in his heart to join in this cry
against the Maine Central, and he might say
further that the complaint which is said to
have come from Portland against this corpor-
alton had never found favor with him. For
the managers of this road he entertained as
profound respect as for any other citizens, but
. ia anf lad tf,h a
consequence to which no other bears any just
| comparison in the history of our legislation
A year ago the Androscoggin Railroad got
| charter to connect with the Grand Trunk in
obedience to the voice of a great number of
people along its line. Then there was no
opposition powerful enough to defeat it. A
few months more and that Androscoggin road
passed into the hands of the Maine Central,
and the charter died. 1t now comes up here
substantially in the came form, and it is fought
not only by the power which opposed it be-
fore, but by the new po~er gained by lease.
1t is another case of the lion and the lamb
lying down together, and with the usual re-
sults-the lamb comes up missing.
And so with every authority which ncreas.
es the power of this or any other corporation.
1t is an authority which at the same time and
to the same extent ties the hands of the PEG.
pie. He did not think the Maine Central
worse than any other corporation with the
same opportunities, but this move is so much
more dangerous than the consolidation asked
for year ago, that that to-day reads like a
fairy tale. He would have had no objection
to consolidation two years ago if at the same
time the people could have got back their
rights which had gone away in that Andres
coggin and kennebec charter. If it were a
question of better management, there is no
reasonable man who could have opposed it,
but it was opposed then upon the ground that
it was increasing the scope OF power which
in itself was injudcious, and which no people
jealous of their liberties would have granted.
But YET. we are asked to grant this same thing
again, and over territory and interests so
broad that it seemed to him there was no re-
call. He looked upon it as the duty of the
Legislature to take these things together.
He did not propose to follow through the
changes that can be wrought upon the origi-
nal charter of the first road the subsequent
consolidation, and the shape in which it comes
up now, but he did assert that the Maine Gem
trails charter, power and name have been
taken, and around that and under it clusters
the most OF the power, and that every rail-
road which could be got there has done So
because with that group there were fewer
rights left to the people. There is nothing
unnatural as the world goes in that; it was
the best for their interests.
If any gentleman could show him the diff.
ference between the bill under consideration
and any form of consolidation which can
be asked for, he would admit that he had
studied the English language all in vain. He
referred to the suits now pending in the Su-
preme court of the United States between
the stockholders of the old Kennebec & Port
land Railroad, and said in his judgment those
suits were to be sustained, and the men who
may have rights as individuals-as men who
have put their money in, may yet regain their
| rights.
He would like to see a case where a man
living along the line of this road could say
that in his judgment if there was desire to
build road or another branch conflicting
with the interests of the other, that they
would stand so good chance as if this power
| they ask for is not granted. Can the people
along the line of the Androscoggin get their
rights in question? Once they had road in
| dependent, and could come here and in the
name of that road ask for their rights-could
get them--it may do it again. They have put
| into the hands Of that road which they have
nurturpd and eucOuraUad tho nnvar +o Il,