Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-07-20
HE is DISGUSTED.
New Yorker Denounces Our
Maine Corporation Laws.
Was Asked $4,000 for Trolley
Franchise and Quickly Refused.
Criticises Maine Law and Says Il Is a
Bunco Game.

Lewiston, Me-, July ID. c. Haynes
of New York, who represents the firm
of Munro, Rogers & Haynes of that city,
and who has been here for "a few days
on business connected with the propos-
ed electric road from Brunswick to
HarIswen, is a very indignant man and
severely cr;ticises Maine corporation
| laws and the methods pursued in secur-
| Saturday, he said:
THE road from Brunswick to Harps-
| we'll will not be built this year nor next.
at least, not by our firm or through our
| assistance. ! have been on here three
times to consult with the people inter-
| ested in regard to the road, but it has
ended as ! feared il would when |
heard about the charter.
My firm was willing to take one-half
of the bonds necessary to build the road
and see that it was put through 1t
was square and straight business
proposition that | made at the meeting
where the meeting was discussed. l Of
fered, in behalf of my firm, to take one
half of the bonds if the people here
would take the other half. The zeal
could easily have been made and the
road built this summer had it not been
for the fact that q charter was held by
several gentlemen who declined to al
lowed anything to be done until they
were paid $4,000 l very promptly in
formed them that my partners could
not agree to anything of the kind.
Here is the whole trouble in a nut
shell. Your State laws are wrong.
don't blame the people who take adj
vantage of them, but l do blame the
system; it is all wrong. l east no re-
Elections on the parties who have the
charter to which I have referred, but
do beg to suggest where the State
laws may lead the people of Maine.
What, for instance" continued Mr..
Haynes, lis to prevent the organiza tion
of a movement to capture every avail
able railroad route in Maine? Any band
of men in or out of the State might
go into it merely as Adventures. Sup
pose they go before the Legislature for
a special charter to organize under the
general law it is just the same. With
out inquiry as to their intentions or
their financial ability the Legislature
promptly grants the request. These men
would hold the charter, but they may
not have a dollar in the whole world,
and may never have had the slightest
intention of even trying to build road.
When man comes along who is willing
and able to build the line he would be
ordered to throw up his hands and de-
liver the cash for the charter.
ut is liable to be simply a bunco
game from start to finish. The needs
of the public suffer and actual business
men are helpless to do anything, simply
because the Legislature has placed the
legal power in the hands of those who
may stand like SO many dogs in the
manager and block the way.
Much needed roads. that would be a
great benefit. could thus be kept bacK
simply because the authorized parties
have granted charter to men who never
| intended to build. and could not do SO
! even if they wanted to. AS rule many
OF these would be in the game for what
| they can make. 1t is a terrible evil, ana
| one that yo;3r people should stop. You
| can never get any of your needed electric
| roads built as long as this condition OF
| affairs exists.
| "Of course | am not familiar with your
| la VS. and | am not quite certain whether
| this power to grant charters IS Vestc III
! the Legislature or the railroad commits
| SlOUctS, tl IA DtlIi, i'il tiiI7
| that does not change the situation in the
least. Some enc has this power and the
charters are granted 1t is an evil that
needs correcting before your state can
make much further progress in railroad
| building.
| mo charter should ever be granted un-
! til the parties show that they mean bust
ness; and then. if the road is not built at
once and in operation within a given time,
the charter should be revoked. The idea
of giving some one the power to block
the building of a road indefinitely is 50
would seem that the mere calling atten-
ton to it would secure reversal OF the
| law"