Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-05

increased, and so has it's rolling stock,
its bridges and it's station houses.
Turn the street railroads over to
enemies that have fought them for 10
years." said Mr.. Heath, pass this revo-
lutionary bill transferring the control of
the electric lines to the steam railroads
and the social fabric of this State will
he shaken from one end to the other
say that the rights of the scattered
stockholders of the street railroads,
should be preserved by this committee.
IF the Maine Central Railroad peo-
pie want to get control of any par
ticular street railroad system in Maine
let them come here in an Open-handed
and square manner and ask for the
privilege, and not attempt to obtain the
endorsement of plan that is subversive
of the whole street railway system
of the State that has been built up in
spite Of the opposition of these very
people.
Il submit that the time has not come
for this Legislature to recommend such
a piece Of legislation as has been re-
jected by the legislature of Massachu-
sets. Is Maine so rich that it can
afford to suspend the growth and de-
velopment of the State? Are our coun-
try towns so prosperous that they do
not care for communication with the
outside world? submit that the steam
railroads should be satisfied with their
6 per cent. income and refrain from at
tempting to arrest or retard the de-
velopment of the street railroads.
with all due respect to the temper
ance people of the State, who are now
crowding the State House by the hum
dreds. l submit that the problem Is
fraught with more danger to the State
| of Maine than resubmission would be-"
Mr. Heath spoke for more than an
hour and his able speech was listened
| to with great interest by the gentlemen
present.
The case was closed by Mr.. Carter,
who briefly explained some of the OBJ
| jections raised by Mr.. Heath.
| A running discussion ensued between
| the two attorneys that proved mighty
| interesting to the auditors, Mr.. Heath
contending that the bill would retard
| and stop the growth Of electric sys-
| tens. while Mr.. Carter insisted that
| the growth would not be stopped but
| would be developed along other lines.
| Hugh r. Chaplin, Esq, of Bangor,
appeared in favor of the bill to author
ize extensions of the Bangor e, Aroos-
took Railroad in the counties of Aroos-
took. Piscataquis and Penobscot.
Mr.. Heath appeared in favor of the
act relative to the AroOstook Valley
Railroad. and the act allowing this
company to purchase or lease the
property and franchises of the Presque
Isle Electric Light Co.
These various matters were tabled
until Thursday morning.
The committee on banks and banking
heard the bill making it legal for saw
ings banks to invest in the bond of
street railroad companies. Frederick
Hale of Portland, and l.. c. Cornish of
Augusta, appeared in favor of the
measure.
The committee voted ought to pass
on the bill requiring the savings banks
to accumulate a reserve fund of 10 per
cent. instead of per cent. as at pres
ent. Ought to pass was voted on the
bill providing for each savings bank to
publish its list OF unclaimed deposits
at its own discretion.
The same action was taken on the
bills to extend the charter of the Halo
we'll Trust Co., the Bluehill Trust &
Banking Co., and Incorporating the
City Trust Co. of Bangor.
The committee on judiciary has voted
ought tC pass" on the bill amending
the Old Town city charter, on the act
relating to the Hillside Water Com
pany, on the act relating to the Green
vile Water Company. on the act re-
lating to the clerks records in Lincoln
county, on the act relating to the
amendment of the Auburn city charter,
on the act relating to the Auburn free
library. The committee voted "leave to
withdraw" on the act in relation to the
drainage of summer resortssand also on
the bill relating to the descent of per-
sonal property. The committee voted
to report Ought to pass in new draft"
on the bill relating TO fuel yards, the