Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-02

mas said in regard to this matter.
| believe that sooner or later we must
| deal with this question of rates-that
we cannot do it by direct legislative
| action and that it must be done through
a commission. I shall oppose this
| amendment because 1 do not believe
our present railroad commission can
deal adequately with this subject In
saying this. I am casting no reelection
uEon that body, for they were not ap-
pointed with this service in mind Their
work is to deal largely with the physi-
cal characteristics of a railroad, for
which purpose I have no question but
what they are adequately equipped. 1
don't believe that they could deal with
this question properly and fear would
not make things better than they are
Inc question of rates is a very diff
cult and important one. ! am willing
to go on record as being in favor of
a public utilities commission in some
form or other, whether in the form of
the railroad commission or by any
other name, to be appointed and made
up with this service in mind. We cam
not do that until we have better
chance for this purpose. l think that
we had better leave our law in Maine
a: it is. 1t seems that even now there
| is right of appeal to this body, but
it seems that that right of appeal is
| rarely exercised, which must be, l
think, partly at least. for the reason
| that the shippers feel that it is not
adequate and think they will not be
| bettered. The railroad commission, as
it now stands, it seems to me. are
tn no
| the shippers will be. but / am not say
ing they will act fairly What is more
natural than that they should be actu-
ated ty the motives of the party that
| is nearest to Them
The presidents: The matter I'M
der consideration is House Document
No. 661. IAN Act to enlarge the powers
and duties Of the railroad commission
ers and regulating the fares and tolls
of common carriers" This bill accom-
panied a report Of the committee on
railroads and expresses "ought not to
pass" In the House this bill, House
Document G61, was substituted for the
report "cught not to pass Suisse
nuently House Amendment A, which
| is House Document No. 742. was adopt
ed Then in the House, the bill and
amendment We're indefinitely postponed.
In the Senate, the senator from Aroos-
took, Mr.. Mllilien, has moved that the
bill be substituted for the report. The
senator from Franklin, Mr. Emery,
has moved that the bill be indefinitely
postponed. The motion of the senator
from Franklin, Mr.. Emery, that the
bill and amendment be Indefinitely
postponed is the pending question, and
| upon that, the senator from Franklin.
Mr.. Emery, at the time of making the
| motion asked that the yeas and nays
be ordered.
The question being put. the yeas and
nays We're ordered, and the vote being
had resulted as follows: Those voting
yea We're: Messrs. Baxter, Boynton,
Colcord, Eaton. Emery, Gowell. Hamil-
ton, Hill, Looney, Macomber, Minott,
Mullen. Osgood. Reynolds, Shaw, Smith,
Staples, Walker, Warren, Wheeler
! (20).
Those voting Nay were Messrs Doni-
gan, Hastings. Howcs, Irving Kellogg.
Lowe. Miliken, 60.
So the motion to indefinitely postpone
prevailed.
On motion by Mr. Hastings of Oxford,
\ Senate Document No. 403. can Act to
amend Section SO of Chapter of the
Revised Statutes, relating to the right to
take land for parks, squares and public
| libraries" was taken from the table;
on his further motion the same was
passed to be engrossed.
On further motion by the same Sena-
tor, House Document No. $40, AN Act
to abolish the Office of Auditor of State
printing" was taken from the table,
and on his further motion, the bill was
indefinitely postponed.
On motion by Mr. Baxter of Cumber-
land. House Document No 546, AN Act
to consolidate and revise the laws relat-
ing to State printing and binding" was
taken from the table: and on further
motion by the same Senator the Sem
ate voted to concur with the House in
the indefinite poStpOnement of the bill
On motion by Mr.. Eaton of Washing
ton, Senate Document No. 325, "Resolve/
providing for an amendmert to the Con-
stiution empowering the Governor to re-
move sheriffs" was taken from the ia
BILE. and on further motion by the same
Senator, the vote whereby the bill was
passed to be cngroSscd was reconsid-
cred; and the Senate voted to non-concur
in the adoption of House Amendment
a. On his further motion, the bill was
referred to the next Legislature.
The PRESIDENT: AN Act to incor-
porate the Chcrrytield and Beddington
Telephone Company" This bill was re-
ferred to the Committee on Tclegraphs
and Telephones. Through an error, the
Committee on Telcgraphs and Tcle-
phones, and the Committee on Mercan-
tile Affairs and INSURANCE. having the
same clerk. it was reported back to the
House Fought to pass" by the Commit
tee on Mercantile Affairs and Insurance;
so the records do not show any reference
of it to the committee which recognizes
it. 1t is, therefore, irregular. and to
correct this rregularity. it has been ar
ranged or suggested that this bill be in
definitely postponed, and the House has
indefinitely postponed it, and another
bill has been introduced bearing the
same title and in the same language and
has passed the House without reference
to committee, under suspension of the
rules.
The reference of House Document No
h sa1, = III, II