The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1891-03-27

NlNUs MAhCt1 ~, IOOL'
want this charter granted by the Legislature
The only citizens who appeared before IN
committee In favor of this charter from tn
city of Portland were gentlemen VINO are II
the charter as corporators. or gentlemen wn
came here in the interests Of the corporators
and the same gentlemen have been persist
emily lobbying for this bill. None OF tn.
city officials have been advocating this bill
No petitioners from the city government, o.
any of its members are asking this legisla
ture to grant this charter. On the contrary
the city officials OF the past municipal yea
charter. Four of Its members In the HOUSE
are opposed to the charter having passage
The present mayor Of Portland deems thi:
charter detrimental to the city's interests
and If the Senators will pardon me for mo
ment l will read a few extracts from the In
augural address of the Hon. George w
True, Mayor of Portland. as delivered BY
him on Monday. showing what his views are
on the subject.
The present board of selectmen Of the
| town of Deering, are also opposed to this
charter in its present form. We are told
| that the people of the new city Of Wetbro0k
| all want 1t. WE'LL gentlemen, the only citi-
Zens of the city of Westbrook who appeared
before your committee In the interest Of this
| charter were cOrporatOrs, or persons who
1
Senators, have you seen about the Capitol
any of the officials Of the city of Portland,
| OF the town Of Deering, or of the city OF
| Westbrook asking for the passage Of this
new mayor of the city of Westbrook, deliv-
cred on Monday by him, and you will find
| that he considered this matter of so little
Importance to the people of Westbr0ok that
| ne does not even refer to the subject, although
| he refers in his address to all miuor matters
| OF interest to the people of his city. Now,
| Senator'S, with these facts before you, are
| you not justified in accepting the report of
| the majority of your committed?
1t is rot a case where minority of a COM
mittee, influenced by friendship or favor,
have granted to one set OF men charter.
which they refused to another, equally ii
| not more deserving set of petitioners. Is ii
| not case where the granting of the charter
| will injuriously affect the vested rights OF
others?
Is 1t not a case where not the public well
fare, but the persistent opportunities of in
terested parties, and their friends have
sought 70 influence the judgment Of the ma
| jority of the legislature These are import
ant questions and the majority of the COM
mittee submit them to the candid considera-
| tion Of the Senate.
SENATOR HUNTS SPEECH.
Senator Hunt said he wished to offer few
remarks in explanation of his position. The
town Of WestbruOk is six miles out Of Port
ianu' IL ndS nearly iUUU lnndOltbntS anu IN
cludes within its limits two large and thriv-
ing villages. In behalf of this charter many
petitions have been received. The people Of
Westbrook ought to know what they want
ed. Mr.. Hunt read the names of some of
the incorp0rators, including those of Stephen
Judge Nathan Cleaves of Portland I;
Messrs Haskell and Lane of West
brook, and Messrs. j. Manchester Haynes,
2. E. Macomber and Orville d. Baker Of
Augusta. Mr.. Hunt was unable to learn
how this new line would hurt the Portland
Railroad Company. He knew that the pro-
m0ters of the new road were willing to meet
the objections Of the Portland Railroad
Company and effect an agreement with
them: He could also say for the corporators
tnat II this charter was granted the road
would be built within year. To any one
who knew Of the affairs of the Portland
Railroad Company it was amusing to be
told tina. the building Of this new line would
The stock of the Portland Railroad Com
pany now sold at 125 and not share of 1t
could be obtained. Mr.. Hunt believed that
the promoters of the Westbrook Railroad
Company would be glad to guarantee the
stock and bonds of the Portland Company.
SENATOR LIBBY's SPEECH.
Senator Libby of Androscoggln said that
he was neither resident of Cumberland or
Kennebec county and had no particular in
terest in the location of this road but he was
opposed to peddling out valuable franchises
in this state simply for speculative purposes,
especially when they ran counter and TO the
damage OF the vested rights of corporations
already granted by this state. 'Mr. Presi-
dent it has been said here that electric rail-
roads are In their infancy, That is true, but
speculating in railroad bonds is an old
established Institution" Mr.. Libby said that
iu view of the fact that the gentlemen
named In this charter had been reaching.
reaching around In all directions to secure
the control OF electric roads, and he
Peleyea Ha e;6 tnis 10 oe a speculative venture.
this road which showed it to be really need
ed that there was not money enough in the
city OF Portland and its surroundings to
build It, He did not believe that it would be
necessary in that case to 60 into another
county to find men to build the line
MT. LIBBY criticised the provisions of the
charter asked for by the Portland and West
brook company. He especially pointed out
tnat 10 the m after OF location and the man
ner In which its line might be constructed
the charter placed the road largely outside of
local control. Mr.. Libby read from the in
augural address Of Mayor True of Portland
that portion referring tn the use of electricl-
ty as motive power on street railways and
the present efficient service in Portland. He
said that the believed the granting of the
right to this company to enter Portland was
but the opening wedge to what might be-
come in the city itself q competing company
| to the old corporation.
Continuing, Mr.. Libby said that the
| weight OF evidence in the case seemed to be
| against the granting of the charter. The
| Portland Horse Railroad Company already
held charter over the territory covered by
the bill. He understood that this company
had In the last 2C years been giving efficient
| service In Portland and vicinity. They had
expended S300.000, and were now about to
| spend over 500 600 more in order to expert
ment with electricity upon their suburban
line. In view Of these facts, it was unfair
the unlimited rights contained in this
land land Horse RAILROAD RAILROAD Company % TS we're we're
residents of that city. They had their money
| In the plant. They could not issue and sell
bonds, pocketing the stock, and il their ven
ture proved unsuccessful step out and leave
| the road to the bondholders. They must
stand by and await the result Of the extra in
| vestment they were about to make In order
to give electricity trial on their suburban
| lines. be believed 1t unfair and unjust to
grant this new charter which, should the
new road never be built, could be held as a
menace to the old corporation.
Relics of the Tax Bills.
The Senate today. without discussion,
passed Mr.. Powers's substitute for the list
ing system bill This substitute makes the
present law more stringent in the matter OF
penalties and the duties of assessors and tax
| payers. 1t is in the form of an amendment
to the Revised Statutes and is very differ.
ent measure from the listing system. The
| bill was printed several days ago. This
probably kills the listing bill for this session
| anyway.
On motion OF Mr.. Savage Of Auburn, the
new tax bill on corporations was taken from
the table in the House. Mr.. Savage
said 1t seemed to the committee on taxation
that the general tax bill presented was toe
long Tor the House to consider and it seemed
| to be their desire to get at the gist of the
| thing and they have consequently presented
bill in more simple sections so that he who
runs can read the new bill. are simply sec
tions taken from the general bill and apply
to the corporations which includes the steam
and street railroads, parlor cars, telegraph,
telephone, express companies, insurance
companies, savings banks and institutions,
trust and loan associations. Mr.. Savage
read the effect of the tax on railroads the
same as has been printed and argued long
and earnestly that 1t should have passage.
He moved that the bill take its first and sec
| Ond reading.
Mr.. Peaks moved that the bill be laid on
the table, and the House adjourned.
Judge hanIIton's Case.
Attorney General Littlefeld will not ap
pear for the prosecution in the Hamilton