Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-30

to read the discussion in the House and
| only know about IL through the news
| papers The Legislative record for that
| day has not been printed. | will refer
| to the one objection that was made. and
| that objection was that we have not the
| time to construct or draft public utii-
ties bill, and that objection was made by
the floor leader of the majority party i'll
the House. lie feared that the Lcgisa-
| ture had not the time. He questioned
whether the Legislature has time or not.
| submit that there Is no statute or pro-
| vision of the constitution that requires
| this Legislature to adjourn until II fin
ishes its work. and if the people expected
! the bill To be passed why not stay here
| and pass it if it takes until haying time?
| He said we are not competent to draft
| the bill. and he was afraid that some
| mistake would creep in. That is not IA
| consistent objection for that particular
| gentleman to make. for he was not at all
afraid that the Legislature could not draft
a bill for the kennebec Dam and Res
| ervoir Company. and in the matter OF Civ
| ing away valuable franchises he was not
| afraid the Legislature would make a mis-
| take. But in this matter he is afraid the
| Legislature would make a mistake. That
objection could be urged to any BILL and
| if any bill is passed anywhere by any
| Legislature it has to be passed under
| that objection.
| ! called your attention to what has been
| going on in the lobby and around this
| State House on this particular matter.
There are two classes of attorneys that
| have been here in regard to this
matter; attorneys representing pub
| lie corporations in the State af
fected by the bill, one class in
| cludes the ADLER ones and the
| ones you and most respect.
| They have come here honestly
| believing that the public utilities bill
world be passed and have offered their
| best services to the committee to as
sist in flaming a bill that would be
/ proper one. And having enough in
| terest in the matter, although not
| lawyer, | have arranged for. and have
| In my possession. copies of every piece
of legislation on this matter now pend
I ing III the Legislatures of the various
| states in this country,
| These lawyers. I say. representing
| public utilities, have been here and
| have offered their services. and that
| matter was lightly dismissed in the
| House with an appeal to prejudice and
| a suggestion that any bill that had
| the endorsement of these lawyers would
| be an improper bill.
| There has been another class of law
| yers here representing the public util-
| tiles who Judging by the results have
| been successful and hav" said, "Oh.
yes. a public utilities bill. but not now.
| Some bill, but not this bill" And they
| have sought to get into the minds of
| the people of this Legislature to put
| it off. and it Is already apparent that
| they will prevail.
| am not going to argue this any
| fur ther except to say that | supposed
| when the general convention assem-
| bled the other day. the Governor would
| urge some definite program In regard
| to this bill | was disappointed when
| nothing of the kind was. urged | hoped
! he would say to the members of this
| Legislature, You shall not adjourn I'M
| til YOU pass something of this kind
| We have just put resolve through
| for the State paper and l want to sug
| gest the first State advert semcnt for
| its pages, and that it be printed in
| large type: LOST. BY THIS AID
| MINISTRATION. DURING THE FIRST
| TIL REE MONTHS OF 1911. SOME
| WHERE AROUND THE STATE
| HOUSE. IN THE CITY OF AUGUSTA.
a GOLDEN OPPORTUNITY NO RE-
| WARD IS OFFERED. FOB IT NEVER
CAN BE RECOVERED"
| Mr.. STAPLES: Mr. President: I re-
| greet very much that the senator from
| Aroostook. who represents the Repub-
| lcan party. has seen fit to make a
| stump speech in the Senate of Maine.
| supposed that we were here to do
business and not to set tire pace for
| his, party two years from now. But
| accept that stump speech. Let il
| go forth to the people of the State
| of Maine. You have been here for
| three sessions of the Legislature and
| have just woke up to this great public
| utility question Why. in Heavens
name. why have not you and your
party thought of it before:
Mr.. MILLIkEN: Mr.. President
| Mr.. STAPLES: Mr.. President: / do
| not yield.
Mr.. MILL1KEN: Mr.. President: Can
| l ask a question.
| Mr.. STAPLES: No. Sir, not to me;
| not at this time.
am generally pretty courteous, but
when a gentleman comes into this Sem
ate at the closing days of the session
and makes party speech for the very
purpose of partisanship, who cares no
more about the utility question, than
| nothing at all,-the Republican party
to which you belong, and I regret that
l have to say as I will say now-I
Continued on Page Four.)
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