The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-03-26

is raised by the light company. They say
If you let this Fibre company in, our
bonds will drpreoiate.
L 90 not think so. Recollect that I'M
der this proposed law the Fibre company
cannot light a lamp in the city of Port
land and it can only furnish power to
other lighting concerns. So far as light
ing is concerned, that electric light com
pany has and ill have the exclusive
privilege in Portland, and l say. this
field is enough to proteut their bonds and
yield them handsome income. How
ever. they are to lose no right to furnish
power, for they will still have the chance
to compete With the Fibre company.
"But suppose their bonds do depreciate,
what thenP Shall we protect the bond
holders or toe people2 This is the
question, shall we protect the bonds or
the peoples I say, protect the people; if
one of the two muet suffer let it lie the
bonds.
stBut they also say this light company
was the pioneer. 1t invested its money
and took great risks. They say it has
been to a great expense on account tof re-
placing old machinery by new machinery
due to improved methods. Well, is this
the only company with such experiences
think not. Take the pulp business, for
instance. They startsd, invested much
capital in /. buildings and machinery.
Soon inventive genius discovered new
and improved processes. Then went the
old machinery and out went more
money to buy new machinery. This
happened not oriy once, but several
times. Have you ever heard of the legis-
laturs protecting thsmf. But why not
protect these corporations as we'll as
those, dealing with eleotricitya What is
sauce for the goose Is sauce for the
gander.'
But they say no, this light company
Is q quasi-public corporation and should
receive projections Well, if there be any
reason for protection of these corporations
at all 1t Is On punlic grounds not
private '--1 -
No corporation anywhere by any
logic is entitled to protection simply for
It's own sake. simply for its own protec-
tion, simply for it4 history, Its success or
its reverses. its losses or it's gains. Now
this is taking them on their own grounds
from the point Of view most favorable to
themselves. When in any case you can
show that the people want new COM
pany to come in, when you can show
that thu peoples interests demand new
company the old company has not a
thread of argument, or right to oppose.
Now gentlemen these other questions,
the questions as to whether the Fibre
will deliver it's goods. whether
Sebago lake will wither and dry up on
account of one more days use OF its
waters per week. All these questions are
but dust raised to our eyes. The question
Is, and want to impress it upon your
minds, do the people want this Fibre
company to make and offer for sale COM
pressed air and eleotricityp say yes, and
I say you know they do. The question is,
is it for the peoples interests to let this
company have this right9
Mr.. Merrill of Portland said he had
letters from the Mayor of Deering and
the chairman on lights of Deering, also
others including thirty business concerns
in Portland, none of whom complained
of the service given by the Maine COM
pany. He thought that when the local
get the water powers offered
them, they can furnish light as cheaply
as 1t can be had, but that the foreign
company could become monopoly il the
bill was passed.
Mr.. Houghton of Fairfield called for a
yea and nay vote when any was taken.
Mr.. Knowlton of Portland spoke
against the bill and read some letters
from prominent Portland people who
write that the admission Of the Indurated
Fibre company was not favored hy them.
said that he voted for it and never re-
gretted 1t. The question was the ubsti-
tuition OF the minority which favors the
bill for the majority report. which is
against it. The motion to substitute the
report was defeated so to 81.
The majority report was accepted.
The committee of conference on the
Eastern Maine Insane hospital reported
The committee report as
63 to 0.
Mr.. Whelden of Portland moved that
the House adhere to It's vote to indefinite
ly postpone the resolve.
Mr.. Whelden few minutes later
moved to reconsider the vote by which
the Eastern Insane hospital resolve was
postponed He explained that he did 1t
SO as to kill the resolve. The motion was,
lost and the same motion can never be
made on this resolve. 1t seems to be
dead.
The confusion that followed, nearly
drowned the sound Of the Speakers voice
who was reading the state tax bills on
towns. They are routine bills establish
ing the tax rate at two and three-quarter
cents for 1897 the same for 1893 and CIV
Ing the amount for which each city, town