Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-20

Go, as they want the water company
to do. cover the entire territory which
is somewhere about 30 miles OF streets,
with their lights. | guess it would cost
us something. Now aud TO that what
power they might sell to blacksmith
shops, carriage manufactures and ga
RACES. and What would the total re-
suit be Isn't that mighty nice pay
ing proposition? That is the very ques-
ton the committee asked them. and
they admitted it was; and stated fur
Their it wouldn't be fair to believe he
would invest money in something that
wouldn't pay
/ am satisfied the committee used lis
fair and square and with great court
csy / am willing to state further they
did hot draw this bill themselves; but
il was handed down to them by the at
torncy representing this Fort Kent
Electric Company: but as other
committees. having a lot of business on
hanG. they naturally lost track oe ar
guments made by both proponent and
opposition, and therefore thought they
would let this slip by and take a
chance on my defending it in the
House
Now this has placed me in an ,un-
pleasant position. | had no intention of
taking part in the deliberations of this
House; but / must stand for my rights.
When they come down here to this
House and attempt TO mislead you by
even the title of this bill, isn't it only
fair to assume that they are attempt
ing to mislead and misguide the rest
of our people up in that village? Why
don't they ask for an extension of the
charter, if they want an extension, and
not ask something which grants them
absolutely the same thing. only under
a different title2 If this company had
been in good faith. While they Were one
full year without any opposition what
ever, why didn't they begin their power
at Wallagrass where they claim they
have got a power now?
/ move, gentlemen, that this bill be
indefinitely postponed. and / hope my
motion VIII be sustained.
Mr.. THOMBS ef Lincoln: Mr. Speak
er, and gentlemen of the House, as a
member of the legal affairs committee,
and having heard the arguments pro
and con in this matter | think per-
haps IT would not be out of place for
me to attempt to enlighten the House
somewhat upon the condition of af-
fairs as they We're found to exist in
Fort Kent by the committee. The gem
tlen,an. in his closing remarks, has
narrowed the issue very materially
here. and the question raised under his
motion is whether or not the recon-
mendation of the committee allowing
the Fort Kent Electric Company to do
a lighting business in Fort Kent should
be accepted or rejected
This matter came to the committee
very early in the session. We appoint
ed a day for hearing. and, if l remem-
her correctly, at that time the gem
tler1an from Fort Kent appeared be-
fore the committee and Informed us
that he was not prepared at that time
10 take the matter up and asked for a
continuance, which WIS granted him
by the committee. 4 little later the
n1atter came on for hearing, and there
was a very full and fair hearing. the
committee considered. for both parties.
Now | do not believe, this morning
that the House is interested in all the
details concerning this matter. | as
sure you that the committee consider
gentleman tAfr Cyr) stated, that the
village corporation did have a
right to do a lighting business in
the town of Fort Kent. If | re-
member correctly. the charter Of
this village corporation was granted
somewhere back in 1907. and ii was a
so-called omnibus charter. carrying a
great many rights like providing water,
electric lights, and various other
things. If l remember correctly, moth
ing was done, even in the way of or
ganiZation under this charter, until
1911 or Whereabouts. At that time they
did organize. and made contract for
water. do not consider that the wa
ter proposition has anything TO do with
this proposition. Up to the time that
the Legislature met, this year. so far
as | knoW-and if | am not correct i'll
my statement the gentleman will cor
rect me--the- committee We're not in
formed that the village corporation
had ever taken any steps toward pro-
viding a lighting system for the town.
In view of this fact it was quite se-
riOus question with the committee as
to where its duty laid. and while con-
sidefing the matter 1t was suggested
by one member of the committee that
perhaps il might not be out of place
to refer this whole matter to the peo-
pie of Fort Kent themselves; let them
settle it up there, and then accept their
recommendation, if 1t was reasonable
one in the opinion of the committee,
and recommend il to the Legislature,
If | mistake not, the gentleman from
Fort Kent, and his attorneys, agreed
to this proposition, and the matter
was held in allegiance until a meeting
could be held by them, and the result
of that meeting was made known to
the committee. | think the gentleman
returned to his home and interested
himself in seeing that a meeting was
called for this purpose and that his
side of the case was properly presented
to the meeting. Now the committee
thought that was Il fair proposition.
st was agreed by all the parties,
think, that the Fort Kent people did
want electricity, and the committee did
not know any fairer way than to all
low the people themselves to say who
they wished to furnish it. They did
hold public meeting of their village
corporation, properly called ] assume
at least no objection is made to that