Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1903-03-28

| railroads. before they can acquire a
| charter. are obliged like any privat:
! Individual to go before the board OF
| railroad commissioners and state their
| case and obtain their chart II.
And also. before they can operate in
any Place they are obliged to
| go to the selectmen of the town
| just the same as any individual 10 o5tain
the right to operate in that town or he
tween whatever towns they wish to oper-
ate
| Mr.. Speaker, we fail to see how they
prevent in any way the development of
any system which has been inaugurated
and which is in operation at the present
time. We do not think there will be any
disposition On their part to do it, and we
Cain see no reason why there should be
any.
Mr.. Speaker. ard gentlemen of the
! House. had this bill come before you in
I the form in which it was first presented
| should have opposed it on the fioor of
have before YOU at the present time has
to- my mind and to the minds of the com
mittee no opposition at all so far as | have
been able to ascertain. | hope that the
unanimous report of the committee which
was rendered after perfectly fair and
impartial hearing. after We took into con-
Slderation every possible objection, will
not he turned down ny the members of
this House.
Mr. DAVIS: ] am glad to hear the con-
teSSlOn from the gentleman that he op-
posed a part of the bill in it's original form
want to ask him two questions: What
guarantee does he have if they take out
these charters for these small feeders
along their line OF which he speaks what
guarantee has he that they will use them
or build?
Mr. Clarke: AS | understand it. no
person can take out a charter to obstruct
the building of railways for any length
Of time. and | do not believe that the
Maine Central or the Boston & Maine Or
any other railway will take advantage Of
this bill / cannot see for their interests.
ard l do not believe the members can see
how it will be for their interests to do
anything so foolish.
Mr. DAVIS: / want to ask another
question: What guarantee have You that
their road, in view of their past history,
rates of the electric lines, supposiliS they
,, had those feelers-what guarantee have
you that they will not adopt their reguia.
tariff rates. in view of their past history?
Mr.. CLARKE: / say even if they run
line right on to one of their lines where
there "Ta:: no electric railway, cannot see
why it should not operate to the adVan-
tage of the State if they put that line in.
What difference would 1t make whether
they built an electric railway on one end
of their own system or a steam road?
The only difference is that the cost of
building an electric road is lower. and they
would not build now where they might II
inns Jaw Is PASSED..
Mr.. DAVIS: Mr.. Speaker. / am glad to
know all the foundation that presumption
has. and | wish to say further that | do
not have any doubt that the good sense of
| TIE people Of the State of Maine will See
| to it that no such chances as that are
| taken in the development of the country
| towns of this State.
/ Mr. speaker | want to correct state
| ment which | made few moments ago,
| as | supposed officially, in regard To the
oppoSition-or rather in regard to the Not
| erS and the vote of the Out-of-theS
stockholders of the Lewiston. Brunswick
| & Bath Road. that they advanced tho
rates at the Bath meeting. I was in.
! formed by one OF the stockholders of the
| road that that was the case. | am since
| Informed and believe ii to be true. that
! this was not "A vote; it was matter of in
i dividual converse ton. and ! do not wish
| to place the stockholders from outside the
State in any false position.
| Mr.. KELLEY OF Lewiston: Mr.. Speak
{ er, this has developed into quite an i'm
| portant matter, and do not believe that
| the members Of the House should or want
to vote on it at this time without giving
! it further thought, and | therefore make
| the motion at this time that We adjourn,
until tomorrow morning at 10 o'clock
| division being had. the motion was
| agreed to by vote of IS to AZ.