Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-04-05
GEOGRAPHIC RECORD TO
COMPLETE THURSDAYS
SESSION IN SENATE.

iSt dGitU ti1lS Il HIS
rehension of their duties in thi:
ticular. 1t is true that this bill tina
been vetoed was before this Legis
lre, and think without any ques
passed both houses and went &
Governor. 1t went along contem-
Rne6usly with the utilities commits
4, both being in the Legislature al
same time, and both passed ans
cted about the same time. l don't
w which one went through first. one
reached the governor and beer
'roved. the utilities commission; the
er has been vetoed.
he Governor is absolutely correct
en- he says in his veto message that
utilities commission that has been
owed by this Legislature and APP
we'd by the Governor was organized
this very purpose of settling and
nlating and establishing The rates of
h passenger and freight service on
froads in this state.
low I can understand why no obiec-
was raised To this during the pro-
tss of these two measures. If the
yities commission had not become Il
7, there might he some reason for es-
Fishing mileage rates by a Special
t, and so both went on together. |
tnot see but that the reasoning of the
tsernor is correct, that there is no
for this bill now. It is taking away,
wou do anything, a part of the pow
iDf the commission.
Tow II seems to me, Mr.. President,
IT the commission established by this
nyislature, the utilities comissien. has
nat authority over this matter. more
On this privatei acts cireJimseiibed
lit is of trying ito regulate mileage|
silks.
n 5lic hearing the rates. tolls, charges, |
:. edules or joint rates shall be found
Z be unjust, unreasonable, insufficient
,unJustly discriminatory otherwise
: .yiolation Of the provisions of this act, |
commission shall have power to fix |
II order substituted therefor such rate |
/, rates. tolls, charges or schedules as
Ill be- just or reasonable. If upon
III public hearing it shall be found
1T any regulation. measurement.
axCtice,s act or service complained of
,;,lnjust, unreasonable, insufficient, or
=, .ustlys or otherwise i'll !,
!, 1ation of any of the provisions ell
g act or if it be found that any SER
is Inadequate or that any reasona-
~ servhe canot be obtained the COM
ID sion shall have power etc. /
pnsow y<}u cannot get a broader law
On that to regulate the affairs and
anrges and mileage of railroads, and
,ot should not attempt by any special
saislatf6n to restrict the power of your
omission. And | say the Governor
ltyolutely is right and should be sus-
fenCd in his views.
On The other hand, Mir. President. it ;
Gems to me. from legal standpoint, j
er.t there is a more serious objection
asoyerriding the Governors veto at
eS time than this, and the Governor ,
y seen it in his message. when he !,
oiled our attention TO the fact that
" act creating the public utilities
2 omission would go into effect Sep :
rclber next. and that the act to regu-
!. e mileage rates will not go into eff
ct until July. /,
usow think moment--you who are
dryers in the Senate Will bear me out
rthls--that frequently legislatures en-
z. legislation where one act seems to
q antagonistic to and opposed to an
'her: in other words. | have knownl
'ip or three different acts. covering
@ same thing practically, passed by
D. same legislature. and the only.
by you found out which was law used
isbe years ago TO find which one was
cned first, and then sey the one that
2.s signed last overruied or repealedi
t. first act. Now We have a referen-
sfm in which you have ninety days
.rore it becomes law after the Legis-
lure adjourns And IL this becomes
iv and you override the Governors
into, you have a utilities commission
1T goes into effect in September, and |.
s law would go into effect in July.
n6t think of it. One is antagonisticl
S. the other. You have attempted 10
p mileage rates by special act and
September anothe: act becomes d
an. September LIST. by which all lawst
consistent with it are repealed. and
rsay az a lawyer that you repeal this
ecial law, If you override the Gov
.mor's veto. by the act in September.
Nov Shall we put that up to the
lprts2 Should there DE doubt about
MS? Should this matter come into the
ibrts and be threshed cut as to wheth
rel am correct in my law or not as to
yis? 1t should not be SO. Surely,
iere is conflict between these two
tatutes, and | say from my point of
. wv, when the utilities commission!
mes into force September LIST, il re-
hls the prior act which goes into eff
FIT in July.
lBut there is something else. Mr.. !
resident, which seems to me a more
rious objection than this. | don't
ppose this Legislature wants to en-
; 4 legisla ton unless they can accomp-
yh something by it. The mere lum- |
ring up the statute book with useless
hatutes is of no consequence to us. !
as in the Legislature in 1909, and !
iiere caD.e before the Legislature. as
me of you remember, mileage bill
hich was meant to apply to the BIN
lr a. Aroostook Railroad. They is
aied a mileage book which was not
RnsfeTnble. The mans name who
INned it had to be written in the book
Nd he could not transfer it to his
&ighbbn And to avoid that we enact
a a law. At that time you bought L
sousand miles and you paid two cents
i mile. 1t was very satisfactory. and
ne only thing that wasn't satisfactory
kao that Won could not transfer il And