The Somerset reporter. [volume] (Skowhegan, Me.) 1868-1909, 1902-03-13
Kennebec Water District.

The Waieryille Mail reiolces over vic
tory for the people Of that city and sur.
rounding towns compost, < the Kenne.
bee Water District IN what It styles the
most important and far-reaching decision
that the supreme court Of Maine has
given in many years.
We are particularly Interested IN thi.
matter lot only because Of Its genera
importance but because. 1t affects the
interests Of Somerset town. Fairfield.
and because the law Incorporating the
kennebec Water District had it, origin
Ia the fertile brain Of Somerset man. h
native OF the town Of CornYille aud who
studied law 10 Skowhegan and was ad-
mitted to the bar in Somerset court.
Harvey D. Eaton, Esq, Of Wateryillc.
We are gratitied to be able to chronicle
80 significant victory for Mr.. Eaton.
We can do it 10 no better way than by
quoting the Waterville Mail, as follows:
The movement that resulted In the
passage OF the law was UNIQUE Ia the his
tory OF Maine, and grew out Of the be-
lief that certain public utilities should be
under municipal ownership and coptro.
rather than In the hands Of private Ipdj-
viduals. The decision Of the courf y
sweeping, sustaining the law At every
point. Mention Of this case Ia not com
plete without reference to the gentleman
who inaugurated the whole movement
VINO drew the law and did his share In
defending 1t In court. To Harvey d.
Eaton, Esq, belongs the credit for the
most noteworthy law passed In Maine
since the passage Of the law forbiddinD
municipalities to increase their debt be-
yond sum constituting five per cent OF
their valuation. In the problem that
confronted Mr.. Eaton there were a
host of difficulties but they were all met
successfully. The general public NAV
fall to appreciate Mr.. Eatons remark
able achievement from legal stand
point, but the courts and the bar of
Maine will not. AS marking the trj-
umph Of legal skill alone, the decision
OF the court must be extremely crafty
ing to Mr.. Eaton. But 1t must also be
SAID that those who are familiar with the
Wat District movement know very
well that 1t was for no such triumph,
dear as that may be, that Mr.. Eaton
took steps to enable the inhabitants of
Waterville and Fairfield to get the own.
ership and control OF system of water
works. He had in mind the welfare OF
the community of which he was one. and
his interest In the case has never ceased
to be sustained by that consideration.
AS we understand the matter. all tina,
now remains for the inhabitants OF the
District Is to avail themselves by the
proper steps of the splendid opportunity
that the skilful labor of Mr.. Eaton and
the broad decision Of the supreme court
have placed within their grasp. Nor i;
1t Waterville alone that is to take ad
vantage of the opportunity suggested by
the decision of the supreme court. As /,
limited by the article reprinted in Thurs
days Evening Mail from a Portland
paper, the important municipalities al
over Maine are practically certain to fol
low Waterville and Fairfield's lead. auc
that, too, not only in the matter of waite,
privileges, but of many others as well
The principles involved cover the gain
ing OF control of all sorts of recognized
public utilities"