Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1895-02-28

debtedpess. shall not exceed 10 per cent. OF
the last regular valuation.
Before entering upon a discussion ON
the merits involved In the proposed
amendment, desire to call the attention
Of the Senate in the first place to the fact
that the real issue to be decided by us Is
simnly whether we will advise by the
constitutional majority that this PROPOSE
tion be submitted to the people Our ac
tion. whatever it may be, cannot be eliec-
tive until approved and confirmed by n
ma iority of the people of this State; SO
that our action here is not to determine
the policy of the State, but to say whether
we are willing that the people OF Maine
shall determine what the policy OF the
State shall be upon this question.
Now. Mr.. President i concede that the
burden of proof is upon him who seeks to
change the organic law of the State 1t Is
not to be lightly changed. 1t is not to be
changed unless the conditions ana sltua-
tion are such as seem to require lt.
cheerfully assume the burden, which
think can be easily sustained, OF showing
that since the amendment of 1878 was
adopted new conditions of society and life
have arisen in this State which warrant
the submitting to the people OF the CUES
ton whether they would like to SO amend
the constitution as to permit municipal
ties to own their own water Works.
Now, desire to have it understood at
the outset that while it is true, probably,
that the wishes of one city are the Occa-
sion why this amendment is submitted ut
the present time, it is equally true that
the wants and necessities of other cities
and towns throughout the State are to be
met by this same proposed amendment,
and that it is for the benefit of all, and
not for the benefit of any one alone. ]
should have very little hope or expecta-
ton of winning if l came before this
Legislature and asked for this resolve if
it was solely for the benefit of single
city. 1t so happens that at the present
time there are other towns in this State
which are to be benefited now by the
adoption of this amendment, besides the
city in which l live. 1t appeared at the
hearing that the town of Pittsfield is the
owner and possessor of a portion of sys
tenn of water works, that it has under
taken to supply its people with pure
water, that it went as far rs it could with
the debt limit as it now stands, and was
then obliged to contract with the builder
Of the system. so that he today owns me
pumping station and the reservoir, while
the town owns the rest. Now, it is very
possible that Pittsfield can get along in
that unfav1rable and disagreeable way, but
| submit that it would be better that she
should own the whole of her system of
water works, which she cannot do unless
the debt limit be enlarged.
There has also been a proposition be
fore the committee from the city of Halo
well. They are DESTROYS of supplying he
people with pure water. Their debt limit
is $50, 900, and their engineer informs
them that it will cost them $50, 900 to
construct their water works and to pro-
vide for the $50, 600 over their debt limit
the city of Hallowell is asking for the en-
largement of the limit that she may is
sue her bonds and build her system.
The town of Boothbay Harbor is an
other whose wants have been brought to
the attention of the judiciary committee
this winter She owns her system of
water works and tunnels; they have been
built, they have been paid for, but there
are other things necessary to complete
the system and she is before us today ask
ing that she may do this thing.
There is another town in my own
county, Mechanic Falls, which is today
waiting anxiously for the action of this
Legislature In town meeting year ago
they appointed committee To investigate
the possibility of building a system of
water works 1t was found that they
could not do So with the present debt limit
How many other towns there may be
today do not know, but venture to say
that if we shall take the steps which in
the end shall make it possible for these
towns to buy or build their own water
systems there will be II score or scores of
towns availing themselves Of the oppor
tunity.
In 1878 the question of municipal water
supply was an almost unheard-of thing
Generally speaking, the people in Maine
had not awakened to the necessity of en-
larged and perfect water supplies. In
1878 many towns of this State inspired
with the desire of lettering their com
munication with the outside world, had
loaned their money to railroads, which
had made no returns, or to manufactur-
ing enterprises which had not got on to a
paying basis, and the result was that there
was general feeling that there should be
something in the law to prevent towns
from mourning Indebtedness in any such
enterprises, and so it was undoubtedly
wise to adopt that amendment. 1t was
an amendment to prevent towns from
giving away their money to railroads and
manufacturing enterprises, and not to
prevent towns from building or buying
their own remunerativc systems of water
works
Since 1878 times have changed, and the
people are awakening now to the neces-
sity of ample and perfect water supplies.
There seems to be two questions which
are opened up, one: Is it desirable that
towns, providing they wish to, rather
than companies, should supply the people
with water Second. will the passage of
this amendment, which will make it
possible for towns to do this, injure the
financial credit of the municipalities of the
State?
That water itself is desirable is beyond
question; that it should be furnished in
liberal quantities and in the best manner
will not be gainsaid by anyone here 1t
seems to me that there are reasons why
towns should own their own water works
which apply to no other enterprises in
which n town may enUaue I was asked