Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-05
THE LEGlsL ATTIRE.
Resubmission Debate Opened
in the House.
General Bridge Bill Reassigned for
Next Week by Senate.
Important Hearing Before Railroad
Committee, Yesterday Afternoon.

important Hearing Before Railroad
Committee, Yesterday Afternoon.
Il
Yesterday, the resubmission debate
opened in the House. The attendance
was very large, many ladies and gentle
men from out of the city being present.
The debate began at 11.05 o'clock, Mr..
Kelleyaof Lewiston, being the first
speaker. He spoke to his motion to
substitute the minority report of the
committee on temperance in favor of
resubmission for the minority report in
opposition therto, and for so minutes
held the closet attention of his audi
ence.
He was followed by Mills of Stoning-
ton, who supported the ma jOrity report
At the conclusion of his Commute
speech the House decided that when it
adjourn it be to meet at o'clock, to-
day.
Then Smith Of Hartland made a brief
speech on the same side of the cues
ton and the House adjourned at 1875
until O'Clock, this morning. Speeches
will be made by Davis of Waterville,
and SWEET of Portland, in favor of re-
submission and by Perkins of Wilton,
and Libby of Mechanic Falls, against
the resolve.
There wasn't a new measure intro
duced in the House, yesterday. The
time of the members was therefore oc-
cupied in the consideration of routine
business and the resubmission question.
The House agreed with the Senate In
shutting off the Introduction of private
and special business after March 6.
Only two new matters were presented
in the Senate. One was petition pray
ing fer close time on fishing for trout
through the ice in Billings pond, Blue
hill until Feb. /, 1906. The other was
the remonstrance Of s. S. Ireland and
80 others of Dexter, against the Dirigo
Electric Light Co.
The special assignment for the day
was the consideration of the two re-
ports of the committee on ways and
bridges in relation to the ownership
and maintenance of highway bridges.
On motion of Senator Stetson the re-
ports were taken from the table and
Wednesday of next week assigned for
their consideration.
The bill to amend the charter of the
Baskaheban Dam Co. was passed to a
third reading under a suspension Of the
rules.
The adverse report of the commit on
public buildings on the resolve in favor
of the preservation of Fort William
Henry at Pemaquid was accepted in
the Senate, yesterday. Today, the vote
was recOnsidered, and the matter was
tabled on motion of Senator Burns of
Cumberland.
At the session of the railroad commit
tee, yesterday afternoon, Hon. Seth M.
Garter of Auburn. appeared in favor OF
the bill to authorize steam railroads to
own street railways and to build and
construct the same. Mr.. Carter said
that although propositions have in the
past been made to buy street railways
the bill was not presented with that OBJ
ject in view. So far as any pending Of
fers are concerned. No offers are now
being considered by the steam roads.
but they may be made in the future
at is fact said Mr.. Carter, that the
steam roads now have no authority to
purchase or build a street railway, and
if in your judgment you are satisfied
that public. convenience warrants the
passa GO of the bill we should be glad to
have you do So
Mr.. Carter said that it might be pos
sble for the Maine Central to purchase
the street railway between Gardiner
and Augusta or between Bangor and
Old Town so as to use the street rail-
way tracks and systems for the trans
portation of passengers and the steam
railroad tracks for the carrying of
freight. He said that they might be
considered feeders.
Hon. H. NJ. Heath spoke in opposition
to the measure. He began by saying
that the passage of this bill would be
the beginning of the end of street rail-
road building and the extension of the
electrc railroad IN the State of Maine.
Mr.. Heath then sketched the history of
street railroad construction in the State
during the past - years and forcibly
argued that the men who now come
here and ask for this bill are the men
who for Is long years have fought the
building of street railroads. They
say" said Mr. Heath. that they now
think the street railroads as feeders
would help them, and they want to con-
through the years. fought street rail-
>road construction at every stage. l be-
lieve, If this question had been dis
cussed in the Papers during the past
year that this Legislature would not
now be considering the surrender of the
peoples railroads. 1t is claimed that
the present bill is in the interest of the
public good. In what way? Will the
rnt aS Of fore IN fhp nlpntrip .-t,i nb
in every instance started at rate far
below the steam railroad prices, remain
ms they now are when the corporate in
terests represented by the steam roads
own and control the street railways?
when the Lewiston, Brunswick &
Bath Road, the Augusta, Hallowell &
Gardiner line. the Portsmouth, Kittery
& York Railway and the Bangor, Orono
& Old Town Railroad We're built the
fares for passenger transportation We're