Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-06-26

| and assistant clerk, with actual travel
] ing expenses on official business. The
! act itself makes such commission a
new court with the right to use such
means and measures as are necessary
, for the conduct of it's business, the
same as is praetised today In sub
stance by any and all courts we have
now, whether It's cost be more or less.
Z ne second objection raised agains,
this act is that il tends to "perpetuate
monopoly and discourage COMPETE
ton" But every sentence of the act, as
] read It, IS . blow ut monopoly, and in
tendeJ IT, encourage and aid all fair
and honest competition.
The third objection iss that the chief
executive proposes to appoint three
lawyers to constitute the commission
Upon the last two objections let us
look further at the act itself. 1t is time
tine public had a little more knowledge
bout chs measure and / take this op-
pnrtunity before this cultured anu edu-
Gated audience, and these young stu
dents. who are now going out to take
. Il hand In the affairs of the State. to
call their attention briefly to this most
important piece OF legislation.
BY its provisions, no member of the
commission Or empluye under it. shall
have any professional or official con-
nectiUn, IT relation with, or hold any
stock, or security, in ally public utility
operat ting within the state Of Maine;
nor shall he render any professional
services for or against any such public
i utility. nor shall he be IL me mber of "A
firm which shall render any such ser
vice. No commissioner shall hold any
other Office of profit or trust Under the
government of the United States or
this State. nor shall he serve on or uu-
der any committee Of any political
party | believe it was the purpose of
the last Legislature to create i nom
partisan, unpreJudiced court by TINS
act. This court would be empowered by
the terms of the act to employ experts
of all kinds in making their inVestiGa-
tions. IT il given the power to inquire
into the mana cement of all public utili-
ties within the State. and made II their
duty To keep themselves informed rs to
the manner in which such business Is
conducted. 1t will have a right to de-
mand of any public utility all neccssa-
ry information to enable it to perform
its duties, 10 inspect the accounts and
records, and take copies thereof. of
pull lie service companies. but not to d.
vulGe the same tn others. Also. 80 is
sue subpoena for the attendance III
persons and papers upon its hearings.
as has our supreme judicial court; TO
investigate the negligence or Violations
of laws by any pubic service COM
pany. All to be done on it's own Volt
ton, or upon the petitions of the citl-
Zens; and 1t is made the duty OF the at
torney general and county attorney to
aid this commission in all its inNestiga-
tons and proceedings for the enforce
ment of the laws of the State, ard tue
protection of the people hereunder. Ii
applies b the steam railroads, street
railroads, express companies, telephone,
telegraph, water. electric and gas coll-
panies. to the regulation of all their
rates and charges, and the character
and efficiency of their service 1t goes
further than this, and provides Tor the
regulation IF the issue of all stock
bonds, notes and other securities repre-
sentins the property in SAID pubic ser
vice corporations, 1t is given the con-
trol o. the leasing and consolidation oil
one public service company with an
other. also of connecting service over
different lines of connecting railroaus,
telegr;. ph and telephone companies. DO
these provisions strike you as INTEND
ing to perpetaate monopoly anu MS
courage competition De you THINK sucs.
an act needs the services OF lawyers iof
its administration? If Your own riShts,
either as q public service company, el
as one being served by pubic service
company, were to be determined uhuei
this act. would you like to try such
Questions before court composed oil
lawyers, or n court made up OF farm
ers. merchants, blacksmiths. druggists,
doctors, or managers OF corporations
WHY rs IL that we have lawyers lor
the Judges Of the courts already estap-
lishedp How is il that Englisn LAWS
have been interpreted and administered
in the past among the EnSnsh spear
ing people wherever established why
have we the mast advanced CIVILIZATION
the world has ever known in EnSEha'
America and Canada Is 1t because
our laws have been Interpreted ana ad-
minis tered by iaymen or by men VINO
have Leen trained from youth to the
study and practice of law?
The act in question contains - pages.
1t is rounded upon the most advanced
and progressive principles wliieh nave
been thought out and established uhdet
the system of English. Jurisprudence
THROUGHOUT the world, wherever estae-
iished.
Now, appeal to you, as ehiieh'eneo
men and women, to attend upon Tue
inheritance of this subject. 1t Will p'o-
badly engress the attention OF the peo-
pie of Maine in the very near iutuie.
II is a great and important measure
as much perhaps as any ever passeu ny
n Maine Legislature. | WISH you u
remember that it was passed by Les
islature, after most thorough can
yass. on the stump and IN the press
during the last election; that IL was
investigated before committee oi INC
+ legislature wherein every business III
terest of Maine was represented anu
heard. that n committee oil the ~huie'
in both branches of the Legislature us.
cussed it, section by section, peiole 1t
was enacted Why it is before the peo-
ple at this time for further discussion,
is Somewhat of mystery. 1t Is s"iu
that some selfish interests, when op-
nosed It before the Legislature an" VIZ
defeated after the fullest ana 1dlrcs'