Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1907-03-08


but as a Juror selected to determine
on a verdict l have a right. and as
matter OF personal privilege to de-
sire to state briefly some of the rea-
sens to dispose some Of my verdict in
the way OF my vote would indicate.
am thankful that like the senator from
Knox have no special interest in COR
porationS in Maine or in combinations
of men that will warp my Judgment
FROM the right SD far as my poor at
tempt can determine that right.
/ have in the past few weeks 1 have
read with great interest and consider
able labor and time, through the mis-
fortune of slightly impaired sight.
what has been called 1.-THE Lawson
Add" as it appeared in the papers.
had listened to the arguments of diff
ferent parties before the committee and
to the testimony with great interest.
will come to the point al once and will
say that 1 believe the one-twentieth
part of the claim of the parties who are
opposing this bill was founded on
claim of the parties who are opposing
this bill was founded on substantial
business Judgment, l am sure | should
vote No on the adoption of the ma
jority report. If l believed the Union
Water CompanyS fluctuations We're
lies or that the individual members
of that great corporation We're liars
or We're falsely and maliciously mis-
leading the members of this Senate,
would of course vote against this
proposition. l do believe that each
cubic yard of water released from the
lake and sent singing on its way to
the sea to turn the wheels of the var
ious and many industries on the An
droScOSgin river is worth more to the
State of Maine and to the people of
Maine than oceans confined within the
limits of that lake which may invite
forty dollar man with hundred dol
lar rod striving to kill twenty-five
cent fish. (Applause.)
l believe in the greatest good to the
greatest number and | would inquire
OF the senator what has produced this
great prosperity, this development of
the State of Maine, if it is not the wa
ter power. Often we hear ii said that
our future depends on the railroads.
1t does, in a measure. But should we
have railroads without the water
powers? Never, the water power is
the whole system Of our industries.
l have no fears that my conscience
will be bothered at any time and in
any place in the future, as l answer
before my God, that l vote for this
measure and to support this majority
report in the interests of the people.
] will confess in violation of a senti-
ment that pervades my town, that has
been developed and cultivated by
these briilian articles of the scenic
beauty of our lakes and forests. If
l believe that the Ranseiey lakes and
the lakes in question would not fill
and have not filled 10 the extreme
limit under the conditions under which
this water will be taken in the winter
months, by these heavy beds of snow
and the spring rains and that every
cubic yard of water would not be
turned to dollars and cents for the
benefit of our State, for the benefit of
our laboring people, for the enlarge
ment of our cities and the Gevelop-
ment of our populations and for the
comforts of their families, l am sure
| would vote against it.
For these reasons I am firmly con
WINGED, as a juror in this case ana
not as q pleader, that it is my duty
that l support this majority report.
Mr.. RICE of Franklin: Mr.. Presi-
dent, will not detain you but a mo-
ment. AS resident of Franklin
county and voicing the sentiment of
every man, woman and ctild. in that
county, l wish at this time to protest
for them in regard to this bill. That
section that is situated on what is a
Very fine part of the State of Maine
1t has the grI.Idest beauty of any part
Of Maina; and we as citizens of
Franklin county. enjoy its scenery
and admire every foot Of land and
every drop Of water in those lakes.
As far as the Union Water Com
pany Is concerned. we all know that
they are for the interests of the Union
Water Company. They are anxious to
declare a little larger dividend. AS
the senator from Franklin county /
have not been approached by any In
ion Water Power Company represent
atives or their attorneys but | have
been approached by the International
Pulp Company. by their attorneys and
their representatives.: and | think that
this is matter that interests
the International Pulp Company
as much as it does any other
concern. It is a matter which inter-
ests the county Of Franklin and | for
one am very anxious. and l hope that
this Senate will not support this bill.
Mr.. SEWALL Of SagadahoC-Mr. Pres
idcnt, VIC are glad to have the senator
from Hancock, the chairman of the COM
nlittee which reported The bill. address
us. II seemed at ono timc-in fact. i
seemed Until a very recent time, that this
important bill was 10 be brought in her
without AIRY sponsor. | am not SURE
even now that il can claim a legitimate
father
II there is any committee Of all our
committees, to which this question might
oIcrly have been referred, it is tn
committee OF interior waters: and when
tie reference was made to the commit
tee on lega! affairs it was whispered that
that very reference was made 50 that
it could not excite suspicion-so that it
could not be claimed that the reference
was made to committee which, from
its natural ,uake-llp would have a GER