The Portland daily press. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1862-1921, 1899-02-25
SPECIAL
LAW VS.. S.
CHARTER.

The first engagement in the war over
the restrictive clauses of the corporation
laws of 1895 was fought this afternoon in
the room Ut the legal affairs committed.
Before the interesting hearing on tn is
question, two other matters were consid- :
ered
Eben w. Freeman, ESQ.,, OF Portland,
advocated the bill providing papers in
cases argued before the law court should
be bound In convenient shape for preser-
walton. The committee will not report
the bill.
.~istrics Attorney Isaac W. Dyer OF
Portland appeared In favor Of the bill for
the better protection of shipmasters and
seameu. The bill provides penalties for
inducing a member of the crew OF ves-
sci to desert. J. b. X eating, British vice
consul at Portland. also advocated the
bill. Mr. Heating told the committee
about the cribber and bis work. A crib-
Der Ia an individual who Is very friendly
to Jack as soon ss Jack has shipped on a
vessel and drawn some advance pay.
Jack and the cribber 60 out together.
Jack very likely gets drunk. The cribber
gets the money. Then Jack Is shipped on
another vessel and the cribber II he can,
bill The captain loses the advance money
and the Jolly tar. lt Is now proposed to
make things not quite SO pleasant for the
cribber. The bin will 10 reported.
Then came the corporation laws and
the committee announced that they would
hear at the same time what WINS to be
said in relation to the laws In reference
to electric light and gas light companies,
and telegraph and telephone companies
There are bills before the committee TO
repeal the CLAUSE in each of the laws pro-
hibiting companies entering fields already
occupied without the consent OF the .x-
isting companies. Representative A. NJ.
Gnrceion OF Lewiston. who introduced
the bills, appeared in favor Of them and
quoted the following passage on which
no rested his case, from the message of
Governor Powers TO the legislature of
1897:
~ would invite your attention to seo-
ton. chapter 20 Of the public laws Of 1895.
This section seems to prevent any neces-
prior person or corporation has merely
organized unless you buy him or 1t of.
or get Legislative action. was a mem .
Der OF tn Q legislature that enacted It. For
some reason it escaped my observation as
| presume 1t did most of those who are
responsible for its passage. As view 1t,
1t contains novel and sweeping prohibit
tion of almost ever public enterprise,
until session of the Legislature shall
grant rslief-no matter how much public
convenience may be tnjured-in
case some rival has located in the same
town or city or in some cases in an ad-
Joining one. and refuses consent The
public should not be compelled to wait
perhaps for two years before they can have
an opportunity for hea ring
Hon. Herbert NJ. Heath of Augusta,
represent n the Oakland and Skowhegan
Electric light companies, opposed the
proposed change In the law in reference
to gas and electric companies. MIR. Heath
contended that large sums Of money had
L.. &ut<
that many of these companies ware earu-
ing no money II they were not running
at u loss, and that the proposed change
would subject them TO now burdens in the
shape OF competition.
Representative Murphy of Lewiston,
who appeared In favor of the bills, said
that he desired to inform the COMMITTEES
that few years ago the gentleman from
Augusta (Mr. Heath) appeared before the
city government OF Lewiston in the inter-
est of the Dirigo Telephone comp ny.
MIR. Heath then said that the telephone
law of 1895 was the most outrageous act
ever passed by a Legislative body. Mr..
Heath also said that II the Dirigo com
pany was admitted TO Lewiston rates
would be reduced from $50 to SIS.
Attorney General Haines, Wallace II.
White of Lewiston, H. W. Oakes of Au-
burn, i. b. Marshall Of Portland and
George II. Bryant of Oakland also op-
posed the law. arguing that the bills
would result In injury to existing COM
panies which had l rye vested rights.
Superintendent Abbey Of the Skowhsgan
Electric Light company. speaking from
the standpoint Of a practical electr ician,
said that the present law protected ex-
listed companies from vicious eompeti-
ton.
i, c. Payson. ESQ.,. of Portland, who
opposed the bills, called attention to the
address Of Gov. Oleaves In 1893. when
he advised the enactment Of general laws