Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1913-03-22

| oevses, apparatus, materials or prop
erty for containing, holding or carry
ing conductors used or to be used for
the transmission of electricity for
! light. heat or power.
| Now it is a fact that in this State,
as has been ascertained, there are
quite few plants which would come
within that definition as it stands, but
who do not furnish current to the pub
lie at AL, plants which are construct
ed as q separate corporation IS, pure
~ for the purpose of supplying current
to some one mill or factory; perhaps
the owners of the mill or factory are
the same as the owners of the electric
plant, they may be. Now there is no
reason whatever for including such a
plant as that in our definition or max
ing them public utility. Consequent
~ on the suggestion of parties who
are interested in the matter, the COM
mittee Believed that there would be no
objection whatever to attaching the
words, or adding the words for public
use" 50 that an electric plant becomes
public utility only when ii is an cleo
tric plant becomes a public utility only
when it is an electric plant which sup
plies electricity for public use, if I
make myself clear; and the commit
tee recommends, and I move the adop
ton of House Amendment &C."
The motion was seconded.
The CHAIRMAN: The question is on
the adoption or rejection of House
Amendment &C." TIE gentleman from
South Portland Mr.. Sanbnrn, moves
that House Amendment &C" be adopt
ed. Is that the pleasure of the commit
tee.
A viva vuce vote being taken,
The motion was agreed to. and
Amendment "C'' was adopted
The CHAIRMAN: The Chair now
lays before the committee Amendment
'.E. - being House Document No 564.
Mr.. SANBORN of South Portland:
Mr.. Chairman, Amendment e" ! be-
lieve, was offered by the gentleman
from Portland. Mr. Kehoe and he may
desire to be heard III support of it.
Mr.. KEHOE of Portland: After my
experience in Amendment -" | do
not think ii will make any difference.
/ think this is intended to be, as Che
common expression is, steam railroad
ed through this body, and will have
nothing further to say in this matter.
Mr. SANBORN of South Portland:
notwithstanding the remarks of my
genial friend from Portland. | think
II is entirely due to the members of
the eommitte to have the position of
the subcommittee explained on this
as on all parts, that they may adopt
the views of the committee or not, as
they see fit.
Now / will say that Amendment 'E"
is an amendment to Section in the
18th line. which is a part of the para
graph defining water company. which
later on is made a public utility, and
which defines as a water company
every corporation, etc, owning, con-
trolling, operating or managing any
water works for compensation within
this State" Now the amendment
proposed provides that the provisions
of this act shall not apply to any wa
ter company owned or operated by any
municipality. village corporation or
water district. 1t is well known
fact that the public, besides being
served by private corporations, is i'm
several notable instances in the State
of Maine served by municipal corpo-
rations in the matter of their water
service or their light service; it may
be. as it is in some cases, the city it
self owning and operating the water
works; it may be. as is the case of the
section from which | come-Portland
and South Portland-that the water
supply is owned and operated by a
Distrct-not the city, but District
and a corporation by itself; and how
ever we may differ as to the merits of
that matter we have certainly had a
significant instance, this winter of the
disposition of that Portland Water
District to arrogate to itself an abso
lutte determination of a feature of its
service which had vitality to do with
the interests of the public. Now they
may in this particular case be correct;
but it is thought by many of our good
friends in Cumberland county that they
We're wholly incorrect. Now is there
any reason why a Water District
should not be subjected to the control
of this commission, and the rights of
the public, when served by a water dis
trict or a city furnishing it's water sup
ply, should not be protected by their
having the right to appeal to this pub
lie utilities commission? If a public
service district IS always correct. and
is always in and of itself amply serv-
ing the public and serving it's inter-
ests, it will have nothing to fear from
men of the commission, and if ii is
not acting in the true interests of the
public | submit To the members of
this committee as "A fair proposition
that they ougl to be subject to the
authority of the Public Utilities Com
mission. | therefore move the rejec-
ton of House Amendment "E."
Mr.. PLUMMER of Lisbon: Mr..
Chairman, ii seems to me that the
amendment. taken as a whole is adj
Visable, at least so far as relates to ii
municipality or village corporation;
and certainly in SO far as municipal
tiles or village corporations supply
ing water To their own inhabitants, |
think it is customary for towns and
village corporations to have water
commissioners, or a water commission
of its own. and it certainly has with
in its own jurisdiction. or within it's
own power, the control of the rates
to be charged by its own municipal
ity or its own corporations | will
therefore move, Mr.. Chairman. if it