Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-03

something may come up that will pre-
cipitate a heated and perhaps lengthy
hearing.
The Committee on Commerce will
wrestle with q bill. Tuesday, relating
TO the taxation of vessel property.
Every year measure of some sort re-
garding this matter comes up for con-
sideration but it is some years since
any change in the system has been
made.
Tuesday afternoon the Committee on
Salaries will consider the bill to in
crease the Governors salary. 1t is
now $4,000 year, and the bill provides
| that it shall be $4,000. Should the bill
be favorably acted upon it cannot
take effect until 1905, as the constitu-
| ton provides that the Governors sal
| airy shall not be increa sed or diminished
during the term for which he shall
| have been elected. Therefore, Cover
nor Hill will not profit by the proposed
| increase. but his successor will.
Wednesday, the Judiciary Com
rAittee will consider the act to amend
| the Old Town city charter and the Au-
burn city charter; to extend the rights
powers and privileges of the Greenville
| Water Co.; to regulate the drainage OF
| structures built on the shores of in
terror waters of Maine; relating to
| claims against the estate of deceased
| persons.
The same day the committee on le-
gal affairs will hear the matter of re-
| pealing the revised statutes so as tC
provide for the election of railroad
commissioners by the people.
The act to incorporate the Penobscot
| Power Co. will also be considered al
this session of the committee. This
| Will bring number of Bangor gentle
| men to Augusta, for the scheme is
meeting with intense opposition. The
bill was fully described at the time o.
its Introduction, and it contemplate
| the acquisition of the Bangor water
! works by the right of eminent domain
1t also provides for furnishing ligh
and power in any city or town il
Maine. The scope of the bill is of far
reaching Importance, should it NEE
the approval of the Legislature, which
is hardly a possibility, as it looks from
| the outside.
The most important measure to come
before the railroad committee. Wednes-
day afternoon. is the bill to allow steam
railroad companies to own stock and tC
build and operate street railways
| This bill will be supported by Hon
Seth NJ. Carter of Auburn, and will be
opposed by Hon. II. NJ. Heath of Au-
gusta. Some of the heaviest owners
i'll street railway property in the State
are in favor of the scheme. Amos
| Terra III Mr. ~ !, nd Of ar CT
way owners, however will bitterly fight
| the measure, as they claim it would
mean the ultimate humiliation of the
| street railways and the removal of all
| competition. Under the provisions of
| the bill, its opponents claim, the steam
| roads would be able to buy up the
| control of the street lines and cause
| great injury to the minority stock
holders and even to the bondholders.
| By purcha sing 81 per cent of the street
| railroad property of the State, which it
is claimed stands the companies now
in existence a total of $1O.OOe.O 900, the
steam roads would be enabled to die
tate rates much higher than are now
| in vogue. All these objections and
more. too. will be advanced by Mr..
Heath at Wednesdays hearing
The committee on ways and bridges
| and the committee on banks and bank
| ing, Wednesday, will hear several mat
| tiers.
Thursday afternoon, the judiciary
| committee will consider several mat
| tiers of more or less Importance.
The committee on legal affairs will
| hear the advocates for an act to au-
| fhnriya hn
ter Power Co., to generate, use, trans
nit and sell electricity and other mat
| ters of like interest
The committee on taxation will con-
tinue it's consideration of the act re-
| lating to the assessment of the COM
mon school fund.
Several matters will come before the
Committee on Inland Fisheries and
Came Thursday, but they are mostly
| of local and not of general Importance.
| The Committee on Interior waters
will be busy, Thursday, as several i'm
portant measures will be heard at that
time.
The Committees on Public Charities
and State Beneficiaries, Military and
Education will meet Thursday, and on
Friday the Judiciary will have several
hearings, including the act to extend
the time during which the tolls grant
ed to the Bangor Bridge Co. shall con-
tinue.
1t is not expected that the Committee
on Interior Waters will report on the
West Branch bill before next week.
and perhaps not then. Ever since the
hearing closed. last Thursday after
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