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

these remarks simply that my con-
stituents may know and the people of
the State of Maine may know that l
have fought for the people and for the
rights that God gave to them when
he made this beautiful State of Maine,
the grandest state on the face of the
earth for six months at least in the
year. l have travelled all over this
land, I have travelled in foreign lands,
l have seen some of the finest scenery
there is in the world, and yet there is no
spot on the face of the earth that is
equal to the State of Maine with her
lakes, her forests and her rivers-no
place SO beautiful for summer home
as in the State of Maine.
Born in the State of Ohio. am not a
native of Maine. My children were
born here and have gone out into the
world to seek their fortunes. I am now
a resident Of this State, and while am
a resident I will stand by the State of
Maine and her beautiful waters that
God has placed here in our midst. Cen
tlemen, I am willing to leave this mat
ter in your hands. I speak not for the
motion nor against the motion. / leave
it for the members of the House of
Representatives to settle this matter
as they deem right. (Applause)
Mr.. JACOBS Of Athens: Mr.. Speak
or. the remarks of the gentleman from
Bridgton seems to throw some light on
the action of the committee. / am not
aware that there was any division in
the committee On this matter. l
learned from the gentleman from
Bridgton that the committee stood six
to four. That is something 1 did not
know anything about. l thought it
was settled when this committee after
sitting in judgment from o'clock I'M
til II at midnight and listening to the
evidence and, arguments. and I think
their decision was wise one that this
bill ought not to pass.
Mr.. SCATES of Westbrook: Mr..
Speaker, I want to say to my friend
from Bridgton and to every member of
this House that the citizens of West
brook and the people along the banks
Of the Presurnpscot river do not want,
never have and never will draw the
waters of Sebago lake below their ma
tural level. We do not want to draw
them down to their natural level. Now
what more do you want? Talk about
Bridgton-Sebago lake could dry up
and blow away and in 10 days Bridgton
would never know the difference. She
don't depend upon SebagO lake for her
existence, but how would it be with
the city of Westbrook with her 5000
people? Westbrook would be wiped
from the face of the earth. l wish to
say further that I have no interest in
the personal fortunes Of any manufac-
turers only so far as they pertain to the
interests of the city of Westbrook.
Mr.. LEIGHTON of Westbrook:
want it fairly understood that l have
not been round in this lobby this win
ter: l have kept my mouth entirely
shut. | understood the committee was
a unit on this question Of the bench
mark. l am on the committee but
did not understand that there were
four against me on that committee.
am not here lobbying for any corpora
ton. 1 work for one of the most hon
orable corpora tons on the face of Gods
earth or in the State of Maine. Ard
what would Cumberland county he
without the water of those lakes? We
depend ON those. 1875 of US in the S. d
Warren Co. and the resi- up along the
QUILL w W ltil olIt VI llie
best WOODEN mills, one of the best pulp
| mills, Sacarappa with one of the best
silk mills, one of the best electric light
plants that belongs to the city of Port
land, and where would these work;
have been if it had not been for this
river company? These people of
Bridgton would have mad nothing.
stand here az a representative of 22OO
people who work Cor living. We can
not afford to burn coal and compete in
the markets. No one in the State of
| Maine can compete with the South
and the West by burning COAL 1t
| would double the cost of the horse
power. We ask nothing but common
right.
| Mr.. FLAHERTY of Portland: Mr..
| Speaker, while listening to this dis
| cussion here I think the paramount
| issue would be the advantage this
| bench mark would be to the city of
Portland. We have letters here from
| the chief engineer of our fire depart
! mcnt in Portland saying that at times
| the water is inadequate to meet the
demands if a conflagration should
occur in Portland, and L know the
people of Portland \think that this
bench mark if established would pro-
would be no disadvantages; and the
principal thing is to protect Portland
The question being on receding and
lconcurring with the Senate,
| The motion was agreed to.
On motion Of Mr.. Peacock of Luz
bee, the rules were suspended and
that gentleman presented the follow
ing order:
Ordered, That the Clerk be and he
is hereby instructed to make up the
payroll and mileage of Varney S
Putnam of Danforth in full to the enc
Of the session.
The order received a passage.