The Portland daily press., 1901-02-15
Senator Virgin One of Those To
Oppose the Act.
TseEcIAL 10 THE PREss.1

Augusta, February l4.-By a majority
of six, with two members absent. the
Senate today passed the bill to amend the
charter Of the Eastern Telephone compa-
ny. An attempt made Immediately altar
the decisive vote to amend the act by in
serting in It q provision contained In
the chapter of this New England oompa-
ny that the Eastern shall not interfere
with the existing companies, was defeat
ed. Ihe rules were then suspended and
the bill passed to be engrossed. The
next step Will be when the bill comes up
in the two branches upon It's final pas
sage to be enacted.
The bill gives the Eastern Telephone
company, an organization which originat-
ed in a company formed to connect the
Island of Vinalhaven with the main
land, the right TO do business anywhere
In Maine and, so far as the Maine iegis-
lature, can control that matter, in other
states and in foreign countries The meas
ure has been vigorously opposed by the
New England Telephone company. The
bill is as follows:
An act to amend chapter 207 OF the Pri-
vats and Special Laws OF the State OF
Maine for the year 1873, as heretofore
amended, relating to the Eastern Tele-
phone company.
BE 1t enacted by the Senate and House
OF Representatives m legislature assem-
nled, as follows:
Section l-Section 2 of said act as
amended by section 2 of chapter 3A of
49, lc
hereby amended by striking out the en-
tire section and inserting in place thereof
ths following:
Section 2-Said corporation is hereby
authorized TO construct, own, maintain
and operate lines of telegraph and tele-
phone throughout the state OF Maine ana
within ami between any or all of the
cities, towns and Islands thereof, and in
any part or parts thereof, commencing
and terminating at such points as they
may determine and to do all things that
may be necessary or convenient thereof |;
to erect poles and lay pipes. or other
conuults, for the supporting and contain
ing such wires and cables as 1t may de-
termine, upon, along, across, within, or
under any street, highway, public way,
bridge, line of railroad, or private land; {;
Co stretch wires or cables over, or lsy
them under, tide water. all in SUCH man
ner as not to unnecessarily incommode
or endanger the customary public use
thereof; first having obtained therefor
the consent required by law OF the mu-
nioipaI officers in case OF streets, high.
ways or public ways, ana the consent Of
the directors of any railroad along the
right OF way of which the same shall
pass; to place any wires and Gables upon
and within tine same and to collect tolls
and rsntals for this use thereof; with the
tai and shade trees Snd remove obstruc-
tions when necessary.
Section 2-SAid oharsee is further
amended by adding thereto two following
sections, numbers . and 10:
. Section 9--All acts dsne by, locations
and permissions granted to, and the
mortgage of its property ana franchises
made by said company, and all the pro-
visions of said mortgage are hereby ratl-
fed, approved and made valid.
Section 10-Thls corporation Is autho-
rized to exercise its powers, carry on its
business and do all acts pertaining there
10, in any other state or country.
Section S--This act shall take effect
when approved.
The Senate chamber was crowded this
morning when the matter came up, the
pending question being that OF concur
rsnos with the House in the passage OF
this bill reported by the minority OF the