Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1873-02-06

should be protected in their rights in that re-
spect by the legislature, and that those asking
the road should be obliged to come here be-
fore they took action.
Mr.. DryaLEY explained the bill. 1t pro.
yides that when twenty-five persons desire to
construct a railroad, they may associate them
selves by signing articles of agreement, stat
ing the termini of the road, its route, the
capital stock, which shall not be less than
IS 200 per mile where the guage is feet l-2
inches or more, and not less than "a COO per
mile where it is feet and six inches or less,
and give the names Of not less than I, nor
more than persons 10 act as directors. 1t
provides that when 10 per cent Of the capital
stock named in the articles of association
shall have been actually paid, that the direct
ors may then complete the organization, and
proceed to construct the road in the same
manner as though they had a special charter.
This makes the bill free railroad law and
substantially says TO any gentleman who
desires to construct railroad that if you will
raise to start with, at least $4,000 per mile,
that you shall then be granted the same pow
ers as though you had special charter.
Ohio, Minnesota and Mass. have already in
auguratcd this system, and there has been no
complaint that the public have suffered, but
on the contrary, there has been universal tes-
timony that the public have been better pro-
tected, and all the interests of business bet
| ter subserved. Existing railroads, he con-
tended would be better protected by such a
law than they could be by the whims of leg
/ islatures lie commended that nothing could
so well protect the PUBLIC interests as compe-
tition in transportation, not allowing any body
| of men to monopolize the business. Ii it is
seen that the rights of the public are not pro-
tected, in the way of rates, then parties could
step in, in competition, and existing railroads
would be held closer TO all those principles
which govern en- in the transaction of their
! business. They will feel a responsibility
that they do not now feel, for the moment
they begin to feel that they are liable to have
competition, then they will respect the rights
of the public and the necessity for competi
| ton will not exist. In regard to taking prl-
vate property, he said that before any land
can be taken for road, there must be paid
into the treasury Of the corporation certain
sum, while under a special charter they are
obliged to pay in nothing before locating
He thought the public would be much
better protected than by special charter
He referred TO the loose manner in which
special charters are now drawn, the latitude
allowed in locating, and to the great efforts
now used in procuring them. Charters have
always been granted in the end, however
great tie struggle. This system brings q
| large lobby around the legislature, and legis-
Iation affecting public interest has been made
in this House, to depend upon the withhold
| ing of this or that charter. lie was aware
that the gentlemen of the lobby would by the
passage of the bill, like O,hello, 'fnd their
occupation gone;" but he contended that il
was sound public policy to inaugurate sys-
TEN which shall dispense with the services Of
those gentlemen, and shall say to gentlemen
who desire to build railroads, you must be de-
! pendent upon the same business laws that
govern in other departments Of business.
Mr.. MoRTLAND replied. He contended
that the rights of the people would be better
subserved by special legislation, in the mat
ter of railroads. He believed the legislature
to be generally right, and he was willing to
leave so important matter TO the people,
representatives. Leave it to few indigidu-
ais, and it would be found that the wrong had
been done. He moved the indefinite post
ponement of the bill.
Mr.. DINdtET said ii no one wished to dis
cuss the matter further, lie would move the
previous question. The House seconded the
call, and ordered the main question, which
vas upon passing the bill to be engrossed
On motion of Mr.. REED, the House or
dered the yeas and nays, which, being taken,
resulted in the affirmative, as follows:
YEAs.-Messrs. Atwood, Bailey, Barron, Bsbee,
Brewer, Brockway, Butman, Came, Campbell, Cary,
Dsnnison, Dingley, Egery, Fessenden,, Folsom OF
Newburg, Ford, Foss of Danforth, Fuller, Gregg.
Green, Halves, Herrick, Heselton, Hnckley Hinch,
Hobson, Howard, Hubbard, Humphreys Jones,
Jordan, kenniston, Kingman Kimbal Knowlton.
Learned, Lincoln, Loring of Portland, LoIing
Of YARMOUTH, Mason Of searsmont; May6erry,
Rsndall 81 Riehm@sd Ee%cf Robbins ofeuiiord'
Robbins oil Deer Isle, Robinson, Rollins, Rounds,
Sargent, scoGeld, Stevens of Goudsboro', Stevens
OF PASSPORT Sturtevant, Titcomb, Treworgy, True,
Twombly, yinton, Warren, Webster of yinalhaven,
Webster of Orono, Webster of Castine Weed,
Weeks, Wheeler OF Corinth Wheeler Of Chester.
vie, Whipplc, whitcomb, Wilder, Winsow,
Yases-e9.
NArs.-MessTs. Adams, Bennett, Boarlman,
Carl, Ellis. Folsom of oldtown, Getchen, Haley,
Harmon, Hatch, Huiit, kelloch, Keegan. Lndey,
Mathews. Milliken, Mofhtt, Mortland Prentiss,
Randall Of Island Falls, Reed, Richards, Rich
ardson, Kicker. Smith. Talbot, Thomas. Thompson,
TorTey, Totman, Trefethen, Walker, Witherly
wood-3s.
So the bill was passed to be engrossed.
Bill an act in aid of free high schools, with
printed amendments, was taken from the ia
bic, on motion of Mr.. CoRrHELL, who moved
the adoption of the amendment offered by the
gentleman from Hartford (Mr. Alley.
| Mr.. KEEGAS opposed the bill. 1t appeared
TO him TO be legislation for the benefit of the
rich at the expense OF the poor. III he UNDER
stood the bill, the people of the whole State
are to be taxed to raise the whole sum of
money, to be distributed to those people who
have the means of raising an equal sum, for
i the establishment of high schools. He sub
uliiied that il was taxing the poorer classes
for The wealthier places. But the proposition
was still worse. After the whole town has
4 paid $500 in order to get an equal amount
from the State, YOU are going to make dis.
iriei school for the wealthiest district in the
town. and tax esch inhabitant in the town
10 support that school. lie represented see
ti0ns which could derive no benefit from this
act, still they are to be called upon to sup
port the system. He contended that the bill
would he prolific OF endless trouble in the
location of schools. He was in favor Of tax-
alton as much IS the legislature pleased for
the common schools, but let TO taxes be i'm
posed upon the poor for the education of the
rich He understood that the mill tax law is
said to be unconstitutional, and he Had also
understood that the constitution is framed in
the interest of the rich. If that be so, if the
constitution precludes the right OF the people
to tax the whole State to educate the children
Of the State, then we have had legislation
cnouuh and hoI