Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1911-03-20
REFERENDUM EXPECTED
If kennebec Dam G. Reservoir Co.
Charter Passes Legislature.

The referendum amendment to the
state constitution will. Il necessary.
b" invoked To prevent the acquisition
without adequate compensation To the
STATE Of the great water powers at
the HoadWatcrs of the Kcnnebec by
The (snnebee Dam s; Reservoir TO.
II is fy ne means certain that this
charter will be granted by the Legs-
latPre, but in the event that the Leg
islatare does see fit To grant the pro-
posed charter prominent members Of
both parties declare that they stand
ready ia go To whatever expense is
necessary To get the 10000 names re
quired To refer the bill To tie peo-
pie
Men With political ambitions We're
quick 10 So the opportunity that such
u situation offered and their cant
paisu is to 10 based upon the ny
potlwsis that the people are against
this water power charter. Some ii the
senators ami representatives, who
are suspected of being in favor of the
charter ara already hearing from
home in no uncertain tones and they
are likely IL hear even more in the
immediate future.
rhe newspaper publicity given the
attempt 10 get this charter with such
broad provisions for the development
of :, great hvdro- electric power at the
hcGdW,ttt rs of the kenncbeC and sim
liar publicity given for 4 proposed
charter With still broader provisions
for the development of another great
electric power in the Dead river region
have reused the people as they have
seldom been aroused in this state
Letters and kilograms received by the
members urge them to go slow. to
postpone definite action for at least
two Years. 10 grant no charter this
year. which gives the right to flow
pubic lots or carries unrestricted
eminent domain rights. Various or
Gani2ltions in thu State have also
passed resolutions of similar tenor.
TIL legislators are being told that If
they do not heed these warnings the
people will step in, through the peo-
pies veto clause of the constitution
and kill the proposition dcader thar
julius Caesar.
Demorraaic leaders have already be
epl to pond"r upon the question Of
thu policy Of laying the dominant
party open to such rcbukc. for il is
aCkuoWltdgcd that Whatever action
is taken. ii viii be charged tn tho
part> in power. and that the rcpudia
ti"a by the people OF any act by the
Legislature would be fairly considered
a rcbukc Of the party. The sugges-
tiun that tn" party, through some of
its leaders. is pledged to pass the
k"nnehec Dam X Reservoir Co. char
majority nj the leaders. who declare
that no cutcri" of men was ever Civ
on authority to pledge the Democracy
to any such scheme.
Nearly every financial institution
in Maine has money invested in some
f"" of electric light and power devel-
npmcnt and they claim that the grant
of such Il charter as the Kenmcbpc
Dam u Reservoir Co. is seeking. and
with such powerful financial backing
would do deprociate the value of these
securities that the Maine Institutions
would suffer materially. Ii is further
pointed out that many thousands OK
hard won dollars have been invested
by Maine people in Maine projects OF
a similar nature and that amy marked
! deDreciation nf the value of their Sc
! curitieS. such as would be likely to
result from the granting of this
i charter. would mean hardship, if not
. financial ruin. to those individual in
vest