Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-28

Town any unfair motives In offering this
amendment. but that amendment takes
from the general law what has been
maintained and has been dear to the
hearts of all these local corporations for
years. 1t looks to me like a wicked ef.
fort to take the protection from these
companies that have been furnished pro-
ection. 1t strikes hard blow to all tha
local corporations in the State, corpora
lions owned in the town, principally eGec-
trio light corporations. / see no reason
why we should offer any injury TO these
corporations. They are mostly owned by
people within the towns. 1t is necessary
and desirable that our towns be lighted
and how are we to light them except by
these local corporations? Under the PRO-
lection of the laws OF Maine and on your
promise that this capital shall be protect
ed, we have organized these lighting
plants throughout the State; we have is
sued our stock TO pay for it, and to get
money enough to go on and build the
plants we have mortgaged our stock in
the way of issuing bonds. and these
bonds are in our savings banks. among
our citizens. have been bought by widow
and orphans. And now are we to take of
the protection from all these little pants
and allow these bonds to become worth
less? / think this amendment is unfair,
wrong. and should not be passed.
Mr.. DCNTON OF Belfalst-When came
to this Legislature I brought a petition
for the incorporation of a new electric
light company in the city OF Belfast and
I introduced a bill for that purpose which
wass referred to the committee on legal
affairs. Our present electric light COM
pany is owned in Boston. That petition
was based upon the fact that there were
serious complaints against that company.
that 1t was not serving the company as it
should: and that was the onfy ground
upon which it was introduced. The presi-
dent of that connpany came before the
Committee at the hearing and gave reas-
enable assurance that he would Improve
the service OF this company; and I told
my people that ii was the policy OF the
State of Maine to respect the vested
rights of these companies; and l moved
that the petition and bill be referred to
the next Legislature, in order to give that
company the right to serve the public as
it is bound to do, and say with shat
protection that is al the protection that
the public needs. Our city is not large
enough for two companies to do sue
cessful and profitable business. I say
that thn policy Of the State of Maine
should be respected. Why Should q ccm-
pany which has iE good faith invested its
money and IS rendering fair service, n hy-
should it DC driven out of business by
another company, and why should the
law allow another COMPANY to organize
in that place for the purpose of forcing
the first company to buy it out? This
amendment reverses the policy of tho
State of Maine which has always been
adhered to, and 7 am opposed to it on
principle: and this amendment should not
be adopted.
The question being on the adoption of
amendment "a"
The amendment was lost.
On motion of Mr.. Dyer of Buckhcld, tho
rules were then suspended, the bill re-
ceived its second and third readings and
was passed to be engrossed.
On motion of Mr.. FIaherty Of Portland.
bill relating to domestic animals was
token from the table.
Mr.. Marin of Bangor moved that the
House insist and ask for committee OF
The motion was lost.
On mption Of Mr. Stuart Of Belgrade.
the House then voted to rcccde and con-
CONTINUED OH Page Seven.)