Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-02
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| ton Of his client on bin which * IN
/ for consideration and t. state. In. oh.
| jectiOns which his client has. if he o,,.
/ poses the bill and To try and make us
! see the reaSDna bleness OF th0Se. Vbiec
/ tionS from the ppint of view of his
! client. whoever III" client may be II
! is not reasonable or honest for any
/ such attorney or lobbyist to come 10
! you and advance 10 yol reasons which
/ are not his reasons or those Of his
clients. but reasons which he thinks
/ may appeal To- you Now. there haze
/ been reasons advanced against this bin
! which arr not the real. honest obiec-
| tionS of tn" railroads.
The real objections ON the part of
| the railroads | think are two: First. it
may be that some Of them object II 4,
! though | do not say that any do, BE-
cause they do not want effectiv, regl-
/ lation of rates, ana thu present regua-
/ ton is not effective. The proposed
/ amendment offered by the railroad
! committee does not give effective regu-
1 lation. | think there is not much need
! Of argument about that But il may
be that some of the railroads opposed
this, because they DO not want effective
regulation. If SO. the safe answer to
that argument is that that reason for
opposing is the most effective argu-
ment for the passage of the bill. ii the
| reason exists.
TIL" other argument against the pas
| sage Of this bill is an honest one, ard
| is. | believe. the real objection of MANI
Of the railroad interests. 1t is this
| objection. that they do not want amy
| legislation passed by this Legislature
| that is hostile to railroads. They do
| not want anything done here that WEI
| affect investments in railroads, lh'F
| do not want the State Of Maine TO say
| by any act OF this Legislature. that
| wants to discourage investments III
railroads in this state or To- impair the
value OF investments already made. No
| body wants the Legislature to d" tha',
| don't want it: You don't want H. l
| can understand the honest obJectloh
| of any attorney for raIfoau "h'
| thinks the effect of this blH Noulu pe
| that. But. submit to you, gentlemen
| that is not in any sense whatever u''
| effect of this bill. but that 1t Is pre-
| cisely to avoid passing any leSlSlalI'h
| towards the regulation of rates ny Hal
| of this Legislature or towards attehP'-
ing to say by a vote of the Legislature
! what the railroads shall charge, 'h''
| this bill is intended. II is simply say
| ing To people who think they nave :"
grievance that the Legislature al lhi9
| State wants to do even justice between
YOU and the railroad, Just as II wants
to do even Justice through the coul'S
between YOU and any other per'""
without ejudice-Simpy as a hdt'e'
of justice-to give you Il 1uli "Pl'"
tunity to have your case hedlu arr
decided That is the principle "i rts"-
Iation of public utilities that mas p'r''
adopted in the country through Us
Inter- state Commerce COMMISSION ''''
the laws carrying that commission u,
to effect. 1t is the same piiH''P'
adopted in the state OF New 1"ih
You all know. 1t is the only eHe''N,
form in which You are gong l" 81 .
chance to vote for that principe -
this session. Some of us may pehe',
that sometime. further ON. Sohle'h','7
NAV be done with q commission. hls''
er salaried perhaps, more broadly 'N
pert, which shall be appointed to tah''
under its control all the public utiiiiFS
of the State; but. | submit /" yon' yen,
tlemen. that this is one step prt''HvH
in that direction. and that ~ II Wy
only thing along that line tha, s''"'
any chance of passing here at tillS So
sion; and when YOU vote for or asd'''7'
the principle contained in the Dill w"
vote for or against that bill.
/ have tried to show that some supe'
vision of the rates of public service wa
porations is necessary and that there az
only two ways of doing il, one by di't''
regulation by the Legislature, ana 'h'
other by entrusting that regulation ~
some certain commission. | have tfleu w
show that the present method OF ies"
lating the railroad rates is entlreN Ia
Sufficient to accomplish the purpose ''N
| have tried to show that the bill is re'is'
orable and fair and merely carries nv
effect the powers that the commission d.
ready have. l have tried to sho" '""'
there is need of it in some sections-
what is felt to he urgent need OF soii'e
thing of this kind. I have tried to sho"
that this bill, so far as from being HOS,
tile to railroads, is going to remove a.
orce large part Of the agitation that ca
lists; and in short, that this empooie'
the principle of the regulation of puphe
utilities by commission and is the oi'H
form in which you will have an oppor'"-
nifty to vote for anything effective aio"s
that line at this session.
MIR. Emery of Franklin: Mr.. Presiae"''
move that the bill he indefinitely posi-