Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1905-02-10

! ed i'm his opening of the case that ha
simply wanted the amendment propos-
| ed SO that il the decision Of the cour,
is against the company il NAV nlocate
lis lines
| Mr.. Weeks then went on to saw:
| The right OF cminen, domain in
| municipalities is only granted after ac-
| ;!on by the municipal officers. on prom
| err petitions presented to them. who
| will hold hearings and determine on
| their oaths whether the right of emil
| nent domain shall be given This whole
| matter is grave question of publ,
| policy and TIL" committee must decide
whether it is Just to give this company
Il rambling right to stretch its wires
| over the fields 81 other people whether
Il shall give power superior to that OF
people"
In answer to a question by Scnat, r
| Potte" of the committee. Mr. Weeks
,aid he believed the wires should be
street, he'd along the highways and not
| nn the farms ana property Of citizens
who object to the company.
This bill said NJ. Weeks. 'is Il
snccimen Of commercial buccanecring."
md should not be endorsed by thu
| committee"
Hon. s s. H.'own of Waterville was,
| the next speaker. He referred to the
law suit which ne had instituted for
| farmer in Benton to prevent the Sc
| basticOok company from sitting poles
and stretching wires across his land.
| Mr.. Brown told the story of the hear
| inS before AsSociat" Justice Spear of
| the supreme court at which Mr. Hca III
made the proposition that the matt cr
| DC referred 20 he law court without
| nearing. This WIS agreed to and the
"ase is now po.l.linS IN that court.
He then Went on to ague that ever
| under the great over of eminent do
main the taking Of private property
| for the use OF any corporation should
only be given for the purpose of i'm
proving or advancing the interests of
communities ard adding to the public
! convenience.
| The law does not contemplate" said
Mr.. Brown. That company shall 'Dc
given tho power to tx .rcisa the right OF
eminent domain. according to its own
rdpaice. to the Injury of private inter
! estS. There IS no public necessity for
this company Nobody in Clinton wants
| the power generated 3y this company.
! lobody in Br.ltnn wants it. In fat [. thu
company has made IL year contract
| to furnish every owner of its power 10
| the HollingSw"rth e. Whitney Co and
| therefore none % its mower can be pur-
| chased by ANYBODY else. The Holiings-
worth & Whitney 60. is q private en-
terprse. 1t is engaged in the manu-
lecture Of pulp and paper. We can't go
! t. that company and hire light or pow
| II. 1t is not a public service corpora
| ton. We cant go 20 it and ask any
| benefit. The S"baSticook co. has leased
all its power to the WinslOw concern
| ana the rest Of the public is shut out
| There is no public necessity to be
consumed by the passage Of this bill"
continued Mr.. Brown. There is no
| public demand Tor il. Tic farmers of
| I'enton do NOT want Il roaming conn
| mission given this company to go on
other peoples lands. Thu farmers Of
Hentor want this company to keep off
their farms. They want il to follow tho
| rrovisions Of Chapter 81 Of the Revised
| Statutes that prohibits the establish
n:-nt Of an electric plant in a town
where one exists without the consent Of
| the latter"
George Hainns of Benton told the
c"inmittce that The placing Of poles on
his farm greatly injured his property
Hon. II. NJ. Heath of augusta appear
| ID in favor of the bill He claimed that
The company originally intended TO
| supply the Benton Pulp co. in the town
| Of Benton but when that arrangement
| fell through the company entered into
m agreement w:.h the HOllingsworth
g Whitney Co.
This great industrial enterprise"
said Mr.. Heath" is greed. for ALI thr
| rover that can be transmitted to it
| from Benton and WinsIov or from the
| surrounding country. They will trade
fer it. and this company is the life
Flood Of those towns. We propose. as
soon as our generators are ready for
Use. t" supply light and power to any
purpose in tn" town "f Benton This
hill steps upon no p'Iblic rights. The
company will "Xpend 800 6lO in the es-
Establishment Of its plant. 1t has a
':"ublc function under its charter. 10
furnish either light or power. In addi-
ton to the money expended by the Sc
hiSticOOk 90 the HOilngeWOrth &
Whitney Co. has expended from s75 OOG
| to Si0nnOO in order to secure it's power
in the town Of Benton from the Sebasti-
cock Co."
Mr.. Heath contan lrI that the com
panE desired til" amendment in The
charter for IhA purpose Of perfectiny
the enterprise ana charging its capaci-
y, subject to the action Of the court
IN the case no y pending. He believed
that the amendment would not in any
way interfere with the rights of priv
ate citizens. while Al the same time it
would serve the public welfare.
4 large delegation of wholesale and
retail dealers appeared H. support OF
numerous petitions oc who iesale houses
Of TIE State asking for legislation &c