The Portland daily press., 1897-02-12

gcot road has not been built is because
some of the towns which sent delegates
here Yesterday refused to help the COM
papy. The speaker said that after con-
siderable hesitation the petitioners said
they asked for special act because they
wanted permission TO use compressed air.
He said that was being provided Tor ny
the general law now before the legtsla-
ture, AS for keeping hotels, Gen :.
Mattocks said that general law charter
could give that right, and regarding emil
nsnt domain the speaker could not see
why the petitioners could not get all the
right OF way needed by general law
charter, but admitted that the special
law under discussion did not debar the
corpnrators from taking a mans
dwelling house, thing for Wnloh she
general law does not provide.
He asked why this company should
have that special privilege which tho
general law companies are denied. he-
eardipg aid from towns Gen. Mattocks
said the legislature had wisely provided
a safeguard against municipal eXtrava-
canoe in that direction. Gen. Mattocks
argued that if the road was going to get
the business it expected there should be
no need of asking the towns to help build
it.
Mr.. Bird thanked Gen. MattooKs for
the compliments he had paid him in
his arguments and congratulated him
on coming q new term, namely, cast
lion sympathy Mr.. Bird considered
the question. as to whether his company
should be dismissed and compelled
to ask for charter under the general
laws. He said he had no doubt that
the compressed air bill had been 1n-
stigated as a result of the ~estbrooE
plan.
pense for his company by compelling
it to stek general law charter and
regarding the provision IN the west
brook relating to eminent domain pc
asked that it be amen ded so that this
right would be given, subject to the
general law. :,
Mr.. Bird stated emphatically that no
get aid from towns. he called attention
to the fact that the Bridgton company
had delayed many years about extend
Ing it's road. He said that the
Westbrook people had advertised their
intention to apply for charter Decem :
Der Cd ard that activity on the part
the Bridaton company in applying for
location of an extension followed
Regarding the Presumpscot company
the speaker also asked who was the
speculator, the man or ooterie of men
who got a charter Ia 1876 aud then went
TO the legislature at least IL times Ior
extended rights, or the pcopie VINO
showed intention of building a road.
He asked if an old inactive corpora
ton should be allowed to dictate to 4,
young, vigorous, we'll meaning onmpa-
ny. He termed the old company the dog
In the manager. They sny, continued
Mr. Bird, that they have spent large
amount of money on survey and tnat
they have an excellent location for a
railroad. They want US to run to unde-
yeloped 81 water powers on this canal
when We would rather go to II water
pow ers, nine Of which are already de-
veloped and which seeks an outlet for
their products. They have paid in five
per cent of their stock. That is $500,
The speaker called attention to the fact
that the tow path water powers were
near the Mountain division of the Maize
Central.
M Bird said that the Portland Rail
road company had notified his people
that they would be opposed by the form
er company if they did not change ;
charter SO that it should specifically st4Ja
what streets it proposed to run through
in Westbrook and specify that its lines
should not go into the streets occupied
by the Portland company or interfere
land company insisted that it should
be providedB that the cars OF the com
pany should not be allowed to nse its
tracks. These amendments were OF
cred together with the one providing
that the Portland company shall not
use the tracks Of the new company.
In the executive session which followed
the charter was not taken up and there
is no regular meeting Of the com mittee
until next week.
The committee ON railroads and tale
graphs voted to report ought to pass on
the act authorizing the Auburn and Tur-
Ter Rail- Dad company to make a loan
act relating to the Atlantic Shore Line
Electric Railroad company; the act to
extend the charter of the Castine Kali
road and Navigation company.
The committee on legal affairs voted to
report ought to pass on the act to amend
sections thres and eight of chapter 30,
and section II Of chapter 81. Revised
Statutes, to services of trustee writs; the
act in relation to division fences: the act
to create p lien on spool lumber and
bars; and the act to incorporate the Port
land Female Provident assoei alton.
The judiciary committee in executive
session voted to report ought to pass on
the following measures: Act to author
ize the city of Eastport to issue bonds; acl
to authorize the Lincoln company to in
craass it's capital; act to authorize the
Dexter and Newport Railroad company
to issue bonds and the Maine Cen trial
railroad company to guarantee the pay
ment of the said bonds; act TO authorize
the Peppsrell Manufacturing company to
increase its capita. stock an act tc
amend the charter of the Wsldoboro and
Electric and Power company; and the
act to amend the charter of the Inter.
national North and South America 4
Transportation and Express com pany.
Public Buildings in ottawa Burning,