The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1897-01-15
Repeal Of Corporation Monopoly
Law Proposed.
WATERVILLE AND DEERING
AGAINST THE ENACTMENT.
Report of the Proposed New Normal
School Commission-Board Declines to
Recommend Erection of New School
Some of the Treasury Hold-Ups.
ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.l

ESPECIAL TO THE PREss.1
Augusta. January 14.-To use an old
expression often made to do duty In de-
scribing the doings Of the first day OF q
session of the Maine legislature, the flood
gates have been opened. and by this time-
worn figure is meant that the committees
having been appointed and the Senate
and House being now ready for business.
the bills, petitions and resolves are being
presented. This morning there wers lots
of them, and in the pile we're one or two
measures of unusual interest.
Judge Philbrook of Watervills pre-
sented in the House bill which at first
glance conveys no idea of It's meaning. 10
simply repeals all that part Of section !.
chapter l02, Of the public laws Of 1895,
after the word Corporations" In the 11th
line. The provision which this bill re-
peals, however, is one which has become
famous recently. The movement for its
annulment comes from Waterville, bus
request for the same action has been
made by the City of Deering. Repressn-
tative Moore presented today the Iesolu-
tion adopted by the Council of bis city
asking for the action which Judge Phil
brooks bill contemplates. Chapter 102 OF
the public laws of 1896 was originally one
of five measures reported to the last legis-
1ature by O special commission appointed
to recommend laws to do away with
special legislation in the shape Of charters
to corporations organized for various
purposes The bill which afterwards be-
came chapter 1o2 Of the public laws Of
1885, related to the organization OF gas
and electric lighting and power COM
panies. The first section of the act reads
in substance, AS follows:
Section Interpretations for the purpose
of making, generating, selling distribut-
ing and supplying gas or electricity, or
both for lighting, heating manufacturing
or mechanical purposes, in any city or
town, q two or more adjoining cities or
towns, within this state or for either or
any of such purposes, may be organized
under the provisions of sections 16, II,
10. 10 and 20 of chapter 48, r. s., and
acts amendatory of or additional thereto
and all provisions of said chapter and
acts are hereby made applicable to such
corporations. But no corporation Or
ganized hereunder shall have authority,
without special act of the legislature, to
do the business described in any CITY or
town in which another company, person
or firm are already prosecuting the busi-
ness or are authorized to prosecute it,
without the consent of such other COM
pany, person OF firm.
1t will be seen that the last provision
of this section gives monopoly to exist
ing companies in trowns and cities not
,1vSo
with gas or electricity, but also which
they are authorized to occupy. This pro-
vision has recently been the subject Of
considerable discussion, and it has a
local and especial interest in Portland
and Deering, from the fact that an at
tempt has recently been made by a new
concern to get into these cities. Judge
Philbrook's bill takes tho whole of this
provision, out ofMthe act and leaves the
field clear. Mr.. Philbrnok says he looks
for no opposition to the measure.
THE LOBSTER LAW.
The movement to put Close time OH
Holsters does not seem to be making any
headway. Gentlemen here who are An
terested in the question, say the Dresens
law is all right and should not be altered
for the present anyway. The price of
Holsters has already fallen, and thas is a
good indication of the increase of the
supply. 1t is claimed that the existing
law which forbids the taking of Holsters
less than ten and one-half inches in
length will, in O few years bring about
suoh change that the lobster will cease
to be a luxury.
THE NEW NORMAL SCHOOL.
Senate document No. is an interest.
ing one, and it will be used as an drau>
ment against the granting of an appros
priatioA Of $50, 600 or $50, 0oo to start an-
ether normal school in one of several