Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-01-03

believe 1T to be a rule of human ma
ture to have more regard for what
costs one something than for that
which costs nothing. The state must
provide for the administration of such
law by proper officers. This law
should not apply to agricultural or
domestic servants.
You will have all of these theories
with accompanying bills presented for
your considerat ton, and I have made
these suggestions more to- call your
attention to it's general scope than to
direct any measure you may enact into
law. | believe it to be your duty to
pass such a workmen's compensation
law as will place our State abreast of
other states, for the protection of our
wage earners, and the insuring of
friendship and feeling of mutual in
terest and dependency between en-
ployee and employer
Public Utilities.
The question of reasonable regula-
ton and control of persons and cor
porations, furnishing public service of
different kinds to the people of our
State is one uppermost in the public
mind today. We are dependent for our
every day needs upon the transporta-
ton, telephone, telegraph. water. light,
and power companies. These ceusti-
tute the most important public service
concerns, and are mostly corporations.
Their charters have been granted by
the people through their representa-
tives in the Legislature or by the gen.
eral law. They have cost these COM
panies nothing excepting the asking
and some small fees. BY examination
of our savings banks report for the
year 1911 you will find that out of
$97, 705 409.0f total resources, that $49,-
$40, $500 are invested in railroad
stocks and bonds. in and out of our
State. Other financial institutions will
show a like ratio of Investment of the
peoples money in public service COM
panies. We have 225,S10 depositors in
our savings banks, with an average
deposit of $396.34 each. Which shows
that nearly one-third of our popula-
ton as interested in the ownership of
public service companies. through their
savings in the savings banks alone,
and doubtless in the same proportion
through deposits in trust companies,
insurance companies and other finan-
cial institutions. The savings of the
people in other states of the Union
will be found similarly invested, so it
is easy to demonstrate that the peo-
pie not only give charters but to a
large extent furnish the money with
which to establish and develop our
public service companies.
The people are also the patrons of
these companies and pay for the ser
vice they get from them which fur
nishes the funds for their operating ex-
penses, and interest on money invest
ed in them: but the people of our
State have very little to do with their
management and operation. The Off
GERS and agents of these companies
have practically free hand to do as
they please, Yet / do not claim that
under these conditions. our public SER
vice companies. in the main. have not
used the public reasonably well. We
hear very little complaint of disregard
of public rights, yet we hear some;
and there IS a good deal of discussion
about this subject. and notable un-
rest and dissatisfaction arising from
the fact that they are subjects to no
stricter control and regulation. In all
the private affairs of men we are ac-
customed to say that it takes two to
make a trade. Not so with the bust
ness of the public service company.
These companies as a rule make their
own prices and formulate the rules
which regulate their service and the
public can take it or leave it, as they
please, on these terms and conditions.
While our statute contemplates some
regulations in some cases in these
matters, and the common law undoub-
tedly clothes our court with such au-
thority, yet there is no easy and prae-
teal way for the average citizen to
get ut this question; and the public
seem to feel that such a means should
be provided. / believe that the time
mas come, both in the interest of the
public service companies, and the pub
lie to be served by them, when a pub
lie service commission or court should
be established for this purpose. Such
a court could do the work which is
now done by the railroad commits
sioners, and with the aid Of experts
and other assistants whom it should
be given authority to employ, would be
able to attend to the regulation and
control of all the public service bust
ness of the state. 1t may also be ves-
ted with authority in the matter of
the issue of stock and bonds of cor
porations, which would tend to give
confidence, and encourage the invest
mcnt of capital in new enterprises in
our State. l believe such a court can
in many ways be of great service to
our people, and / most earnestly rec
ommend its establishment, with proper
authority for the regulation and con-
troll of the public service business of
the State. Salaries should be provided
for the officers of such court, of suf-
ficient amount to secure the services of
the ablest and best men in the State
and 10 carry the workings of such
law into effect / have not sufficiently
examined the different statutes which
have been passed upon this subject by
various states. to recommend law
in detail but the so-ealled wisconsin
Law" which has been adopted by
many states | understand has proven
very satisfactory whenever adopted
and put into operation. 1t would I'M
doubleday need some modification to