Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-29

16-In 1899 in the House the election
Of United States senators by popular
vote was reported inexpedient; report
was accepted and the question not dis
cussed.
I'm 1901 in House, no action taken
and the matter not discussed.
1S-In 1908 in Senate, Joint resolu-
ton petitioning Congress to call a
convention to provide by amendment
for the election of United States SEN
ators by the people; referred to the
committee on Judiciary; Committee
reported In three forms and on mo-
ton OF Mr. Wing of Androscoggin, the
senate accepted Report C. of the Com
mittee, which was that the same
ought not to pass"
1s-In 1905 the question did not arise
in the Senate.
2o-In 1899 I introduced in the House
a resolution calling for the Committee
on Railroads, Telegraphs and Ex-
presses to report as to the number
of passes issued by the railroad to
persons not In the employ of such cor
porations.
s2l-On motion of Mr. Chase of PORT
land order was laid on the table.
22-Mr. Maeomber of Augusta sug-
gested that it would be impossible IN
require such information from the
railroads.
70 AT that time I took occasion to
say; The railroad corporations of this
STATE are public corporations and il
Is properly within the province of this
Legislature to require this informa-
tion.''
zf-Asain on February 14th when this
resolve was taken from the table 7
took occasion to say:
25-"The order which has met 49,
taken from the table, asks, in effect
eidt the railroad corporations of this
State snail furnish this Legislature with
tran ,,aa.ion as TO the amount of free
iran, transportation furnished by them in the
year 1873. Our position, at the time of
the introduction of the order was all
soluteiy correct; and 1t is within the
i pomrr OF o., .nis Legislature to demand like
Information of any public corporation in
TINS state This order does not call for
.le names OF any party holding railroad
passes. but does ask for the gross
amount. that is. how many annual
passes how many trip passes and how
many special passes were issued by the
railroad corporations of this State in the
year 1898 The information called for in
:
pefore this House, and had a vital hear
ing on some measures which this House
VIII be asked to pass upon; but not de-
slrlng TO take the time of this body, or
impose duties on the committee which
can bring no results-because we know
1t is fact that, while it is in the mower
OF this Legislature to demand this in
formation owing to defect in our law,
when we have railroad officials before
our committee, the committee cannot
oblige them to testify, not having the
power to punish for contempt-with this
explanation and for this reason ASH
permission to withdraw this order. and
In withdrawing it l serve notice that. at
the hearing before our committee on orr
SO called mileage bill, this information
will be called for, and If refused by Off
Gals of railroad corporations. conclu-
sions must be drawn" But the Legisla-
ture would not pass the resolve.
26-In 1901, the Committee on Salaries
reported Ought not to pass" on a bill to
increase the pay of the members of the
Maine Legislature and to prohibit the
use of railroad passes or other free
transportation on any railroad in the
State by members of the Legislature.
21-I signed the minority report that
the bill Ought to pass" and moved to
substitute the minority report for that
of the majority.
en- from the table and at that time
TOOK occasion to make an extended
speech in favor of increasing the salary
Of the Legislators and for the abolition
OF free passes, going into the matter ex-
haustively
2-The question then came on the SUBJ
stitution of the minority report for the
majority report; 49, including myself.
voted in favor of the motion and 9s vot-
ed against the motion.
30-In 1905 the matter came up in the
Senate but the Senate voted to indefin-
itely postpone the resolve
31-In 1901 / voted in favor of provid
ing funds for State roads and improve
ments therefor
52-In the Senate OF 1905 supported
an Act providing penalties for non
feasance of duty by sheriffs, deputy
sheriffs and county attorneys.
S3-In 1901 I fought against the mono
poly of the New England Telephone
Company and voted in favor of granting
rights to the Vinalhaven and Rockland
Company restoring to them rights denied
them In 1899. and took the same action
relative to the bill to incorporate the
Androscoggin Telephone Co. as against
the Poland Telephone Co., giving to the
people of Mechanic Falls the right to
establish their own telephone lines.
34-In 1901 as a member of the House,
as you we'll know fought for the two
cetn mileage bill compelling the railroad
corporation to issue mileage books good
to bearer.
SS-As you will remember, while
member of the House in 1899, intro
duced bill calling for ar increased
rate of taxation on railroads in this
State and on March 9Th, in connection
with that bill, took occasion to warn
the Republican party saying:
Snow, gentlemen, you know that
this matter of taxation of all corpora
tons has long needed the attention of
the Republican party, and you know that
the corporations of this State elude and
evade taxation, and l have cited you to
specific instance. You know that a
combination OF common carriers stiles
competition and evades taxation. You
know that the Republican party. as the
party in power for many years. is to
III Tn,. hi