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

! ton against this bill in my town; and
l think we ought to look after the in
| tercsts of the common people i hops
| the bill will be indefinitely postponed.
| Mr.. WALDRON of Dexter: Mr.
| Speaker. under the present law by Civ
! ing company three days notice they
| must remove their wires before a
| building can be moved. At the hearins
| it developed that i'll certain instances
| parties had moved buildings under the
| present law where the expense of cut
| ting the wires and moving the poles
was a great deal more than the value
| Of the buildings moved. That seemed ia
| be Il hardship on the company. The bill
| simply leaves the matter with the lnu-
| nicipa1 officers of the several towns 81
! that after a hearing if in their JUDI,
nent it is deemed right they may an
portion the expense as they may think
it advisable. 1t is simply matter o.
referring the equities of the case to the
municipal officers Of the town. In that
light the committee think that it ought
to pass. 1t seems to lne that there is
nothing inequitablc or wrong about it.
Mr.. DECKER of Weld: Mr.. Speaker,
if anyone will read this bill carefully
they will come to the conclusion that
everything about it is in favor of the
telegraph and telephone companies.
hope every man will read carefully the
latter part of tho bill before he votes in
its favor. Everything is in favor Of the
companies. and if those who move
buildings ;njure the wires or anything
there is a penalty put on here of five
hundred dollars fine or Imprisonment
for the term of three years.
Tho question being on the motion 20
Indefinitely postpone the bill.
The motion was agreed to.
On molten OF Mr.. Davis OF Poland.
majority and minority reports on bill
in relation to duties OF telegraph COM
panies. was taken from the table.
Mr.. Gordon Of Wells. moved that the
bill be indefinitely postponed
Mr.. MILLIKF,N of Island Falls: 1t
seems to me that this is a reasona bic
bill. 1t has been passed by the Senate.
l see no reason why a company should
not keep its Office open during the hours
mentioned in the bill. If there is place
where an office is not kept open it
seems 10 me the bill is proper one. ana
] hope at this time it will not be indeii-
nitely postponed.
Mr. BROWN Of Auburn: In my city
we have telegraph office that is not
kept OCen, and We cannot send a teie-
gram unless we go to Lewiston. We
feel in view Of the privileges that are
granted to these great corporations.
building up the gigantic monopolies
that they are building. that it is time
the people Of the State of Maine re-
ceived from them some little respect. I
nm nd H. fol 11crn from
a certain gentleman in the State to
table that bill. I don't know for what
purpose. am vel! acquainted with the
gentleman from Poland (Mr. Davis)
and don't know as he knows for what
purpose. IT seems to me there are rights
and privileges which belong to the side
Of the state Of Maine. l hope that this
bill will not be Indefinitely postponed.
The question being on the motion to
indefinitely postpone the bill,
The motion was lost.
Mr. Gordon of Wells. moved that the
bill be tabled for printing.
The motion was lost.
On motion of Mr. Brown of Auburn.
the rules were then suspended, the bin
passed to be engrossed.
On motion Of Mr.. Weld Of Old Town,
bill, relating to telegraph, telephone,
gas and electric companies, was taken
from the table.
The pending question is the adoption
of House amendment "a" and second
reading.
Mr.. Weld moved the adoption Of tho
Mr.. DYER of BuckGcld: / object to
the amendment The present law which
this amendment will change provides
that no corporation shall have author
ity without special act Of the Legisla-