Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-03-15

eineer and Mr. Wilson replied that he
| would want to know more about what
| the commission would do in regard to
| the work.
Hiram w. Kicker
Hiram w Kicker of Poland Springs
| said there is well settled conviction
| in the minds of the people that the
state has a certain control of its water
powers, and there is no way in which
| the problem can be settled except to
have commission determine what the
! undevelopod lowers are and get through
( the supreme court definite expression
Of the peoples lega; fights. The pub
( lie utilities commission, he added, is
doing splendid work; but its members
| arc already oyerburdened, and water
power development would be a subject
new to them. He emphatically favored
the creation of separate commission
DO you believe" asked Rep. Barnes
Of the committee. that Maine bust
ness men favor having the state, in the
near future, go into the business of
generating and selling power"
/ If necessary to have our natural re-
sources properly developed-yes." Mr.
Kicker responded.
Cyrus c. Babb
! Cyrus c. Babb of Augusta. engineer
ing expert said that in New York
Pennsylvania, California and other
states in which there are large unde-
veloped resources, special commissions
have been appointed to investigate and
look after them. In California there are
no fewer than three water power COM
missions; and he thought that one in
Maine would be a splendid ADVERTISE
ment for the state, if nothing more.
Speaking of giving such a commission
supervision over the construction of
dams, as provided in the Baxter bill,
he held that a thorough investigation
of the construction of dams in their
earlier stages is desirable for the pub
lie safety and pointed out that provi-
sion for such supervision has been made
in other StateS-in some instances after
| the people have been aroused to the
necessity by great catastrophes.
In answer to a question by Attorney
Gillin of the committee, Mr.. Babb said
that he believes in private develop
ment of water powers and hence dis
approves the provisions of the Dutton
bill.
You believe a commission should
the purpose of having private capital
come in ard develop them?" Mr.. GillIn
persisted.
"Wcll, l believe in a thorough engi-
neering survey" was the response.
"If you don't believe in public owner
ship said Attorney +. l.. Dutton OF
Augusta, why do you believe in going
to the expense of survey and blue
prints-just for the benefit of private
capital?"
We'll. development of our resources
will be for the benefit of the people,
whether this development is by the
State or by private interests"
Mr.. Babb," asked Attorney Edward
F. Merrill of Skowhegan, you were
engineer Of the old water storage COM
mission. were you not?"
Yes"
"And wouldn't mind being engineer
Of a new one?"
Mr.. Babb. flushing slightly declared
that he wasn't candidate for the job
and wouldn't accept it anyway.
II am soon to leave on an extended
trip to South Carolina he began,
when Chairman Davies cut him short.
THAT question was wholly irrelevant
to the ISSUE" he declared. I'VE have
too much real business on hand to in
dulge in personalities"
w. S. Wyman, vice president Of the
Central Maine Power Co. rose to cor
rect statement by Attorney Scott
Wilson that it takes Is tons of coal to
produce one horsepower This is true
in small plants. he said but in great
plants it can be done with six or Geven
tons.
Opponents Case
Charles b. Carter Of Lewiston, at
torney for the opponents. opened their
case with a review Of the policy of this
State regarding development of re-
sources within our borders. He regret
ted the agitation tending toward
drastic LEGISLATION. antagonistic to thsi
General policy of the State" and re-
ferred to some measures presented as
Revolutionary leeislation"
1T practically straneles further de-
Nelopment." he declared with vieor.
FOR it frishters the investors from
our Maine projects" Pointing to the
benefits coming to the State from in
Vestnent-trehle nropulotion and treble
NalU'ton of taxable nronertv" he tool,
m the evidences Of doubt amone the
n"onle pc to the integrity of the power
GONNA MES
He then presented as coming from
a turist. Maine citizen and man
never connected with anv Of the inter
esrs nov represented before vo,,." t, q
opinion handed down hv former Chief
Justice Lnci'ins A, Emery Of the SUI
preme judicial court
Justice Emery's Opinion
In the course of the opinion as read
Justice Emery said
The incident question embodied in
the request may be in other words cor
rectly stated thus: Can the Legisla-
ture authorize the riparian owners
water powers to be taken from him
under the law of eminent domain for
the purpose of furnishing hydraulic or
electric power to factories or other
private industrial plants?
Il think this question has been ans
wered authoritatively and decisively in
the negative by our court in Brown v
Gerald, 100 Maine ISL. In that case
the Legislature had assumed to au-
thorize the defendant under the law
of eminent domain to take land upon
which to erect and maintain poles and
univ Of