Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-22

lot Of harm to interfere at The lrescn, time
and under those conditions as an outside
disiAterested Ine.nbor OF the House il o.
ours to me-. Mr. Speaker, that am Obliged
10 vote Tor the majority report and shan
- 10.
MIR. TRIMH!.E OF Calais: Mr. Speaker.
intended to have nothing 10 say in regard
to this Bin but since ! have been drawn
into it slightly by the remarks o. the gen
tleman from Monlton l will simply verify
his statements and say 10 the House that
l did appear before The committee by re-
qrtsi OF the International Commission 10
oppose The measure. Their request was
that this legislature take no action in this
matter at this time but lay it over until
the next Legislature, and in the meantime
heir report which will be In irrational in
lis scope would be at our disposal. We
all know that this Commission was appoint
ed 10 take of just such questions
this. For the past few years there have
been difficulties in various ways in regard
TO the numbering interests on that river,
and feeling ran high at times. and il
looked II serious results might follow.
For that reason this Commission was APP
pointed. They have been at work, they
have looked at the matter from all points
and views and have taken into considera-
ton one fact which up to now has been
overlooked by the gentlemen who have
spoken, which is this: that there are more
logs than those from the State Of Maine
being driven that river. This is
treaty river, it is an International river
and it is boundary river. We perhaps
as Legislature in Maine have the right
TO legislate regarding our own waters and our
own logs in this river, but they are manufac-
turing not only logs OF the State of Maine
but also logs from the Province OF Quebec
consequently in accordance with their request
| trust that the motion made by the gentle
man from Auburn will not prevail.
Mr.. TRAFTON of Fort Fairfield: Mr.
Speaker, did not intend to mix up in
this debate. It has interested me only
as one of the citizens of Maine
have before me this railroad map
which all the members have in the
report of the railroad commissioners,
and by referring to that YOU will see
that that portion of the st. John
river affected by this charter. if |
understand the scope of the charter.
Is entirely within the State of Maine,
this International Boundary Commits
sion, or whatever the name of that
commission may be, should want us
to wait before we grant Il charter af-
fecting 4 river and locality Which
| is entirely within the limits of the
State Of Maine. That portion of the
ST. John river affected by this char
ter, which as l understand extends
I from the mouth of the Allagash up
about 20 miles, is entirely within the
State of Maine. Now | understand
that the present condition on that
| Upper st. John river is very bad in
deed 50 far as getting these logs down
| is concerned. and for one | can see
no reason Why thai portion of the
st. John river should not be driven
in the same way as tn. other por-
lions are now driven and in the sam.
way as the kennchec and the Pen
orsCot and tn Androscoggin arc be-
ing driven. In fact, as I understand
from lumEermcn, that is the way, it
is acknowledged, and the proper way
to drive rivers
Mr.. STRICKLAND of Bangor: Mr..
| Speaker the letter which has been
Referred to by the gentlemen here
happen 10 have from the chairman
ol The American Commission, and in
that he says, While personally | am
not very much interested either for
or against. at the present time | feel
that the Legislature should not take
ahS action IN the matter. that the
- John River Commission are at
present trying to work out "A So
luton OF the problem up there.
and We should not be hampered by any
more legislation From all the informa
ton We have before us any legislation
granted by either Maine or the Canadian
Legislature is not likely without being
ratified by the two governments" Now
Mr.. Speaker. under those circumstance
cannot see why we should pass any leg
islation which would in any way hamper
the work Of our American representatives