Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1914-08-08
GOV. HAINES IS
The ORIGINAL
PROGRESSIVE
He Fought for Two-Cent Mile
age 20 Years Ago in the
Maine Legislature-Also for
Annual Valuation of Property
In State

William r. Haines, Governor of
Maine, has a very suqare jaw. 1t is
the jaw of a fighter, not perhaps of
the pugiistic sort, but the kind of a
fighter that will stick to a principle
and keep sticking. no matter how
much opposition there is. so long as
the sponsor knows, that the question is
righteous one.
Since he has the. jaw Of a fighter
and the stickto- itivensss required of
fighter, it is no more than natural
that he should always be in the thick
of the fray, Governor Haines has been
fighting for a public utilities commits
sion. Many who are unfamiliar with
his past career do not know that a
quarter of century ago. he was TAX
ing the preliminary steps that led UP
to this great measure.
Governor Haines at the last session
of the Legislature vetoed one act
dealing with the issuance of mileage
books, and another one still awaits his
signature. From this, it has been
said that the Governor was opposed to
a two-eent mileage rate, or, at least,
would not work for it.
This is not so, as anyone who has
studied the two bills presented at the
last session OF the Legislature well
knows. There was nothing in these
measures that mentioned a two-cent
rate; the bills said the rate for the 500
mile mileage books should be the same
as for the 1000 mile books. This might
have been two cents or it might have
been any other sum.
Why, If 1t had not been for Governor
Haines, Maine would never have had a
twe-cent mileage rate at ALL He was
the man who first proposed two-cent
mileage and, because of his strenuous
efforts in favor Of the reform, the de-
sired rate was granted by the Maine
Central railroad.
There are Thousands of people In this
State who do not know that Is years
ago, the Maine Legislature saw one OF
the greatest fights in it's history. Gov
ernor Haines-in those days he did not
even think he would ever be the chief
executive of the State-was elected to
the Maine Senate and served .n 1889
and 1891. He had no sooner made his
appearance in the upper branch Of the
Great and General court of Maine than
he presented a bill for the regulation
OF mileage rates. The proposition was
so advanced and unheard OF In those
days, that it was badly beaten in 1889
Nothing daunted, Governor Haines re-
newed the fight when he returned In
1891 and SO strenuous was his struggle
and so many did he rally to his sup
port, that the railroads were glad to
come to terms. The bill was not pass
cd. but the steam roads were glad to
make q change, for they saw what
was coming. Two-cent mileage books
were issued. the first ever seen in the
State, and 1t was all because OF the
efforts of William T. Haines that this
much desired reform was brought
about A look at the legislative rec.
ords Of those days will tell how bitter
was the fight that the present Govern
or then fought and by what close
margin the measure was finally de-
feated through the efforts of the lobby.
But the fight for the regulation of
fares on railroads was not the only
one that Governor Haines waged In
those memorable days. 1t was he who
fathered and carried through the con-
stitutional amendment for an educa-
tional requirement for suffrage. He al
so fought for and won victory in the
passage Of the present efficient law
providing for the registration Of yot-
ers in the cities. The fight for this
measure was waged In the halls OF two
legislatures before II was finally sue
cessful.
Twenty-Five years ago. the assess
ment for State taxes was made once
In ten years. Mr.. Haines saw the injus-
| hce and ineouitability of this system.