Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1909-04-02
MAINE LEGISLATURE
CONTINUED From Page Four.)

y
poned in concurrence with the House. AS
a member of the committee 1 desire to
say that this matter has received our
careful attention and we believe it I'M
wise to place so much power in the hands
Of the railroad commissioners. At the
hearing it was brought out that we al
ready have a law nearly covering the
subject matter Of the proposed bill which
parties in this State have awaited them
selves of. To make the present law more
effective the committee has introduced
an amendment to the present statute
enabling any one shipper to petition to
the railroad commissioners for a hearing
to be held in the county where the COM
plant originates, IL requested The law
contemplated in this bill passes beyond
the powers of the Interstate Commerce
Commission. Believing the provisions of
the bill unfair, trust the bill will be in
definitely postponed, and when the vote
is taken 1 move that it be taken by the
yeas and nays.
Mr.. COLCORD of Walden: Mr.. Presi-
dent and gentlemen of the Senate as a
member of the railroad commission sup
post it's up to me to say a few words in
support of my position in this matter.
This bill came before us early in the ses-
sion. The gentleman from Houlton who
introduced it claimed on the floor Of the
House that we kept it in committee three
weeks for the purpose of killing it. We
thought he was to bring in a new draft
which would in some way be acceptable
to all parties. but he evidently did not
intend to, as he revised the bill after it
was reported and the present one is the
result
This reminds me of dog story. Little
Johnny had dog which wandered away
and was gone three weeks before he could
be found. When the boy was asked if he
was sure that it was the same old dog
he said: II think so. He don't look like
him. and he don't act quite as ugly, but
I think it mist be for he's just as full OF
feas."
This bill seems to have about all the
iTrtants of the old one. and appears to be
measure to annoy the railroads. While
Il was ia committee l inquired of every
Aroostook man that l could see if they
had ever tried to have their rates regu-
late. either under the present law or by
any concerted action through the Board of
Trade In no one case did find that they
had ever attempted to do so and it SEEM
ed to me then and now that it would be
time enough to come to the Legislature
when everything else failed
Now | want to say a few words in gen.
eral about the railroads of Mane-these
soulless corporations that are grinding the
life blood out of the people. From the
time this Legislature convened up to the
present we have been pounding them
about every day in some manner. re-
solve went through this House and Sen
ate early in the session against granting
any rebates to public service corporations,
which resolve buttoned up any further
extension of railroad building for some
time, and we have been at their throat
since. We have raised their taxes
100000. etc. Now let's see what these rail-
roads are really doing in Maine. 1 will
not mention anything about the money
they bring into the State by summer
travel or tho employment that comes
through their instrumentality, but with
the permission of this senate | will sub
init few figures.
Mr.. MULLEN of Penobscot: Mr. Pres
ident. 1 wish to say in behalf of the com
mttce that at the hearing it was not
shown that there was any complaint had
ever been made to the present commits
sioners in regard to any of the matters
that have been talked of here today or
complained of in this bill. No complaint
has ever been made by the shippers to
the present board of railroad commits
sioners that We have been acquainted
with or that we knew anything about.
That would in itself show that there had
not been very much trouble in that line.
The matter has been taken up by the
shippers through the present method as
was given them power to do in the stat
ute which the senator from Aroostooll
has read to you and explained very
plainly. l say, let the interstate law,
which has been talked of quite a little
this morning, be better stated. and let's
get acquainted with this matter a little
more. Let your shippers if they have
complaint, which no doubt they may
have, according to the instructions and
letters that have been read by the scna-
tor from Aroostook, and which l think
are all true-let them use the present
law and at least try your present COM
soutcly necessary to make all these
changes which this new bill calls for.
AS j say. let your commissioners be
tried at least once under your present
law and then we will see if this really is
as bad a case az the senator from Aroos-
took presents it. 1 hope you will vote for
the report of the committee.
Mr.. MILLIkEN of Aroostook: MI
President, 1 want the privilege of saying
few words in the way of n rejonder
and l would like the privilege of asking
a question or two l would like to ask
whether this bill. No. 7i2. was ever heard
before the committee: and l would like
to ask further what there is in this BILL
No. 742 that is unfair to the railroads or
to anybody. 1 would like to ask further
what power this gives the commissioners
that is beyond the powers they had be-
fore. or is beyond the powers of the In
terstate Commerce Commission. 1t seems
to me We are entitled to some answers
along these lines. I concur with most
that tho member of the committee has