Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-27
MAINE LEGISLATURE.
SENATE.
WEDNESDAY, Feb. 20

WEDNESDAY, Feb. %,
Senate met according to adjournment.
Prayer was offered by Rev. Nh. THOMAS
Of Gardiner.
Journal of yesterdays proceedings read
and approved.
Bill ian act 10 authorize the formation
and regulation Of railroad corporations" re-
fused passage by the Senate, came from
the House referred to the next Legislature.
The Senate receded and concurred.
Bill 'ian act amendatory of chap. l43 of
the revised statutes relating TO the Insane
Hospital passed to be engrossed by the
Senate, came from the House, that branch
insulting on its vote Indefinitely postponing
the same and proposing Committee OF Con-
ference.
The Senate insisted and Joined Messrs
Burgess, Brooks and Smith as conferees
Resolve in aid of Temperance Reform,
came from the House indefinitely postponed
The Senate adhered to its former vote.
Bill an act to authorize the consolidation
OF certain railroads, indefinitely postponed
by the Senate, came from the House amended
and passed to be engrossed.
Mr.. FARRtvoroy moved ~ recede ant con-
cur.
Mr.. MAY spoke as follows.
This bill plainly asks to have the principle
Of consolidation settled by this legislature.
The Penobscot and Kennebec, and the An.
droscoggin and Kennebec, (now Maine Cen.
tral, In 1870, asked the same thing and were
defeated In the legislature, whereupon they
sought to effect their object under the &c. of
April LIST, 1856. After getting control of sew
eral other roads by lease or purchase, they
come into this legislature and ask to have
their doings ratified by consolidating the whole
into one corporation; or in other words. ask
the State to do indirectly what it empha,ical-
" refused to do directly.
We are told by the friends of consolidation
that railroads must and will in some way COM
bine. If this be true it stands the State in
hand to be vgilant that no dangerous or op-
pressive monopolies be foisted upon the peo-
ple.while ithas the power to prevent. Let re-
strictions be put on before they get beyond
our control, let the State put itself in such
position that gigantic corporations cannot die
tate their own terms.
No man would rejoice more than myself in
seeing the State of Maine checkered over with
railroads, our water powers improved, and
our manufactures humming with industry,
especially when could be assured that wealth
may not be immoderately amassed, labor
cheapened and depressed, or the independence
Of our citizens jeopardzed. 1t becomes US al
ways to be cautious in centralizng power in
the hands Of the few. Cunning men will
weave meshes to entrap the honest and I'M
suspecting citizen. Jefferson's remark that
"great cities are great sores" ia no more truth
full than that oyergrown corporations create
monopoles, and that monopolies when once
established will surely encroach upon the
rights and interests of the people. Let every
tub stand on its own bottom each railroad or
its own merits, and be located just where cap
italists choose TO build them, taking their
chances of success the same as individuals
who invest their money in any other lawful
enterprise. The multiplicity of railroads
works no injury to the State though they NAV
TO individuals. OF course some will be profit
able. whilst others may prove a failure, yet on
the whole become a benefit to the State
am willing to confess that my fears are
that the object Of consolidation is to get con-
troll of the public travel. assume the power 10
enhance and regulate fares, and consequent
ly shape the legislation of the State, eau
tion utterly forbids my giving my vote to
create or sanction r monster corporation OF
fifteen or twenty millions of capital with
length of railway from six to eight hundred
miles. Admitting that this enormous corpor-
alton could do more for public accommoda-
ton than small one, and in the mean time
sarn more money for itself, what assurance
have we that the officers would not pocket the
profits and, in common parlance, let the pub
lie slider Doubtless the officers are high
minded men, yet bad men might succeed them
and turn this powerful engine against the
State and shape its course to suit itself Then
hirelings wonid throng this chamber, each
member would have lobbyist at his back,
and bribery and corruption would be the order
Of the day. Members of the present legisla.
Iure have witnessed but slight demonstra-
lion of what the pressure might be when cor
rupt capitalists sought legislative aid. More
money and more free tickets would be put in
circulation than we have yet seen, and great
or influence put forth by able and cunning
men outside to sway the members from their |
honest convictions. At present the induce |
msnts to grant this act Of consolidation are |
hardly equal to the hazard incurred. The |
project Is too gigantic and startling, and If |
adopted, l fear, will be a cause for reere.
when the remedy is not in our power.
As legislator, called upon to vote for such
a bill, must say that consider il AGAINST
public policy, an infringement of priya.e
rights, and arbitrary in It's operations. We |
ought not to grant power that in the future |
W cannot restrain. Once consolidated and no |
power on earth can discover or control this
company there is no repeal, its limits will be