Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-19

Mr.. MtliNfsA lHbNt iti1t 1S Tue tlfSt
rule. that the chairman of this committee
of the whole decide the questions on
points Of order and that his decision shall
govern us,
Motion agreed to.
Mr. MOREY; | now move. Mr.. Chair
man. that We have n right to return TO
sections that may be passed over in the
discussion.
The CHAIRMAN: The senator from
Aroostook has a motion before the COM
mittec, that the amendments be taken up
by sections.
Motion agreed to-
Nh M0REY: l move that we have II
right to return to sections after discus
sion.
TIE CHAIRMAN: 1t is moved and sec
ondcd that after Il discussion of any
section We have Il right to return to that
section.
MI MoREY: Or to any intervening
section.
Motion agreed to
Orders of the Day.
Nj. HERSEY of Aroostook MIR. Chair
man, before taking up the several sec
lions of this bill that have a proposed
amendment attached. / wish on behalf
of the subcommittee who drafted this
bill. to make a preliminary statement
that we may better understand the work
before us. And the first is that we are
here at the present time in this Senate
engaged in the work of carrying out our
party platform according to our pledges
Both the Republican and the Democratic
parties had in their platform plank
at the last election pledgins themselves
to a public utilities bill At that cleo
ton. adopting that platform, the Pro-
eressive party in the State of Maine to-
day was part of those two parties,
and | understand, since that, the Pro-
grcssive party stands for the same thing,
a public utilities measure, at this Lcgis-
lature. So far We are all agreed. The
Governor in his message laid before the
Legislature this public measure as an
administrative measure. which he asked
TO have passed enacted and adopted.
Early in the session the committee Oh
the Governors message maue a report
to this Legislature, recommending that
that part of the Governors message adj
vocatinG and recommending pubic
dtttl1ttS I'M W Ifltiitu III Il sPIllal COIii-
mttee to be appointed by the President
of the Senate and the Speaker of the
House. There was some dissatisfaction
expressed at that report on the ground
that the Speaker and the President might
appoint someone on that committee In
favor-so the newspapers said of course
lin favor of interests in Maine that
seek under this measure immunity and
protection.
In the interests of peace and har-
mony, that this measure might not
fall between those who isagreed about
special committee. this Legislature
voted that this matter be referred to
the two legal committees of the Legis-
latur. the Judiciary and the legal az
fairs. and this mill was so referred.
TO offer a basis for action I present.
ed to The Senate BILL as foundation
TN which To work In the House the
gentleman rom South Paris, Mr.
Wheeler presented also a public util-
tiles bill and | believe that he was ae-
tuated by the same motive that | was,
h. give to this Legislature founda-
ton basis. onl9Shich to take action
These bills We're offered as a basis to
draft a bill that would meet the wants
of the people of our State. Those two
legal committees met, some - lawyers
and OF course we could not draft bill
in sGch a committee as that. But we
coulG hold public meetings and get all
the information we could from the
great public, as to what the public
wanted OF didn't want in bill And we
had two public hearings upon this mat
Ter, one in the House Of Representa-
tiVes, I think, the other in the Senate
at which the public were invited. which
had been advertised thoroughly in
which every one was requested to give
his opinion and to present his views
upon what a public utilities bill should
he Well a few appeared before us and
took a part in that delibera ton in pub
lie. A great many persons appeared
or n great many attorneys represent
ing great, large and powerful interests
in the state Of Maine. But a great
many OF those attorneys were silent.
and looked on and said nothing. al
though they had in thenr pockets
great many propositions which they
wanted put into the bill, 20 help build
of course, q good bill. The suggestions
NNiN NtiS bdiitli VI any lltiIt 10 tUt
COMMITTEES. But this occurred when
YOU asked one Of these gentlemen who
seemed interested in utilities: why
didn't you say something al the public
meeting Well, you are going to have
a Subcommittee, aren't YOU" Yes =
And you viii have meeting some
where? Yes Il (the attorney
would like to sit down with your sub
committee and help you draft bill
Now have made a great study of
this matter, the attorney would say
Il have been through everything: /
think ! can be a help to your commit
tee. | would like to sit down and help
you IN this matter and ] am willing to
give you my services to make a good
public utilities bill that will meet ev-
erything. Another one would come to
you '>ndtsay; Here is an amendment"
here IS i proposition" Here IS part
OF tli's bill We would like to have put
into it.'-shove il into your hands
We will wait and sec your commit
tee and talk 1t over with you
Well tb" big committee of 20 law
yers met aud appointed suh-comnit-
tee To draft hill. because you couldn't
do it ia any other way, and that sub