The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-02-26
TO the Editor of the Press:

TO the Editor of the Press:
A corporation is society OF indlVlou-
els empowered (by the people) to act as d
single individual. Nothing very aiar"-
ing about this If the corporation Is prop
erly restricted In its action.
A community is ''sooiety at iarRe'
the pu bile, OF people in general. Ills 40
bigger thing than o corporation.
A legislature is the supreme power Vi
State; that is the power OF the people
or community represented by men Sc
lected by the people and autro1iAou'
through such selection, to act exclusively
for the peoples interests. Ihere Is no
question about the "exclusiye'' llm1ta-
tiop. Every intell1 gent and right-mind-
ed leoislator must see the significance
and importance of this. He must have
the interests of the people and State in
view as distinct aim and purpose
against all adverse interests. Politicians
of certain pronounced type may object
to this as too literal Interpretation of
constitutional law, but 1t is this class of
politicians the constitution is espeola lily
designed to reach.
A legislative committee is of less i'm
portance, numerically, and in some othsi
respects, than large corporations. AS
representing the interests OF the people 1t
is often of greater Importance than the
legislature itself. Members OF commit
tees do not always appear to Comprehend
the true inwardness of these facts, and
while, in the great majority OF cases
com m ittees are made up of the best men
who can be selected, the best in ever
sense, both as to ability and character,
men who cannot be approached by any
thing Ike bride, still, through such
committees, opportunities are somehow
given to interruptions men Oh proml'
nence and influence, to obstruct leg1sla'
ion by giving public petitioners a polite
Invitation to withdraw" This is an
easy way to get rid of troublesome ques-
tious, and If the committee venture SO
far as to declare fought not to pass, ;"
they may feel, withous any serious
qualms of conscience, that they are
obliging their influential friends at very
little cost to the community or State.
This is true enough in part, and often
true as a whole. Many questions are
brought before committees when the Sop
position to public petitions is able to
make out q good case ana to show good
and sufficient reasons why such petitions
should not be granted.
In the petition for a charter for the
West brook and Harrison Electric road no
such reasons appear. 1t Is simply ques-
against the interests of the community
and people. No other view Of the matter
can we'll be taken. On the one side some
fifteen or twenty thousand people, repre-
sentinR the population of the towns
which this road would eventually reach,
or benefit, are in favor of the building OF
the road. 1t Is a matter of vital interest
to them. They are now practically shut
of from all modern conveniences of
transportation and travel, and several of
the towns, like Casco, Raymond, Otis
field and Naples, are, in these respects,
from fifty to hundred years behind the
times: that is, limited to private convey
ance, private tea ms and the old fashioned
stage coach. On the other hand few
steam railroad corporations appear in
person, or by attorney, and demand that
munity shall not be granted. Why?
Here is the gist of the matter concealed
in these three letters There is no reason
in the answer: because we represent
q great part of the wealth and influence
of the State" that is reasoning; perhaps,
for the other side. There is no reason,
SO far as the public is concerned 9roe in the
through this part of the country would
reduce the dividends on our stock, or
interest or cur honds:'' and yet this is
the only honest reason they can Uffer and
is the only reason for their opposition.
1t is simply question of self-interest
against the interest of the community.
The only fair argument they can advance
against the granting OF charter for this
road is either to show that the building
of the road would not be public conve-
nience, or offer to furnish equal conve
niences themselves. On the one hand a
few wealthy corporations want to save
money, taking it out of the people through
the charging of exorbitant rates, or
what amounts to the same thing to those
who are compelled tn submit to the pres
emit conditions for transportation. while,
on the other hand, the projectors of the
Westhrook and Harrison road offer a
means for cheap and direct transporta-
ton, and, instead OF consulting economy
in the saving of profits, are ready to
spend half million in the construction
of O new road, thus distributing and put.
ting In circulation large amount of
money at a time when it is greatly need
ed.
Their would seem to be but one way
to settle quetsion where self-interest is
opposed to general interest, and that Is
to settle it right. j. S. WHITE.
This Opportunity Should Not Be Lost.