Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1910-02-03
Col. Peaks Re- appointment.

candidate for e-appolhtiiieHl 10 TIC
Craftsmanship of the board of railroad
commissioners CT tie state OF Maine.
He has every reason to expect his
claims for consideration to be favor
ably received. He has been a member
of the board Is years and during that
time has shown a devotion to duty,
broad understanding of the duties de-
yolving upon him and disposition to
be fair and honest in the administra-
ton of his office which entitle him to
the confidence in him that is being ex-
pressed everywhere.
When he came upon the board the
| era Of electric railroad development
had not yet begun. Such law as there
was relating to steam railroads was
adequate to the time and conditions,
but every year saw necessity for radi-
cal change or broad Interpretation
of the existing law to meet the con-
stantly changing conditions. During
the period the railroad mileage Of the
State has been increased by the Guild
ing of all of the great Aroostook system
north of Houlton; the whole Of the
Washington County Railroad the
system from Rumford to the Range
legs; and the Somerset line has been
extended to Moosehead Lake. Scarcely
mile of the old" roads, as they ex-
listed when he took up the duties of his
office, has not been changed. ThOus-
ands of decisions have been rendered,
in some cases where both parties had
entered upon contest with the avowed
intention of carrying the fight to the
highest tribunal in the state before
acknowledging defeat, yet only II have
found their way to the docket of the
supreme judicial court And what of
those? In each and every case the
decision of the board of railroad COM
mssioners was sustained. 1t is a truly
remarkable record, and no small part
of the credit is due Col. Peaks, Tor ne
is the lawyer of the board.
As to the street railway, suburban
and interurban trolley lines, the law
governing their construction, and the
Interpretation of that law, have all
come into being since Col. Peaks came
upon the board. The work has been
stupendous. There were no preccdents
to follow. AS the years passed the de-
cisions of the board of necessity be-
came the precedents. 1t was virgin
soil on which the explorer became not
only a pathfinder, but of necessity left
trail for others that was at once
plain, fair and broad enough to stand
the test of time.
The attorneys whose practice has
called them before this court are I'M
reserved in their praise of the fairness,
honesty and -partisanship of the
chairman. The board has always been
free from the faintest suspicion of po-
litical activity and will doubtless; re-
main so.
A prominent Bangor attorney, has
said, although / am Democrat ana
not supposed to have very much to
ton which is above party affilation
and that the disappointment of Col.
Peaks would give satisfaction to every
one who has the true interests of the
State at heart" An attorney of this
city who has had many cases before the
board has said that he believes Col
Peaks has never made a decision he
did not believe to be absolutely right
Another attorney of this city, who act
ed for the municipality in the adjust
ment of matters in relation to Rines
hill crossing, has said that in the re-
cent hearing Mr. Peaks long experi-
ence and keen judgment were invaiu-
able in procuring an adjustment of the
intricate problem involved.
One of the ablest lawyers of the
state and former judge of the SUI
preme judicial court has said of the |
present chairman of the commission |
that he has, learning. ability and Ia |
tegrity. He is fair minded and is not |
afraid to decide a case in accordance |
with the law, without regard to any |
clamor that may be raised on one side |
or the other"
Such testimonials are finding their |
way to his office unsolicited. He has |
the support of hundreds who are |
familiar with his conduct in office. |
They believe that he has served the |
people long and faithfully and is en-
titled to favorable consideration in the
matter of selecting a man to continue
the work he has so ably begun.