Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-02-28

for services Us page at the organiza-
ton of the 18th Legislature.
l. Resolve in .avor of the cooperative
survey of the boundary line between
1.-THE State of Maine and the State. of
New Hampshire.
Resolve in favor of recording and
other officers OF the House of Repre-
sentatives of the 18th Legislature for
services at the organization of the
House of Representatives of the 7Stn
Legislature.
Resolve appropriating the sum OF
$500 for a coat of arms OF the state OF
Maine for the Senate chamber.
Orders Of the Day.
On motion by Mr. Baxter of Portland.
Senate Document, No. 100, An Act TO
Iamend Chapter 4l9 Of the Private ana
Special Laws Of 1897, as amended by
CHAPTER 155 of the Private and Special
Laws of 1889 and by Chapter Jos OF the
Private and Special Laws of 1901 ana
by Chapter 3s7 OF the Private and Spe-
tcial Laws of 1907. entitled An Act TO
INCORPORATE the Fenobscot East Branch
Log Driving Company, was taken
>
Mr. RAXTER: This bill, Mr.. Speak
er and gentlemen of the House, relates
to the Penobscot East Branch Log
Driving Company, which asks for an
amendment to its charter. This COM
pany was Incorporated in 1897, and the
Legislature has amended its charter
three t!mes-in 1899, 1901 and 1901
This is log driving company, as its
4 Ia, n
dams, erect piers and booms, and to
transact such other business as Is
proper for such a company
The bill in itself is in my opinion of
but minor Importance. except as re-
CARDS the principles which it involves,
and. having these in mind. l think II
should have our careful consideration
1t marks what I hope will lie the divid-
ing line between the policy of the past
and that of the future.
When tabled the bill stated that L
would endeavor to outline this morn
ing certain principles which 1t seemed
to me 3his House might well adopt III
dealing with these various water pow
or. reservoir and loS-driving bllls.
1t will give you an idea OF the
amount of legislation before US when
?
committees relating to these questions.
They are in three classes: First, the
electric bills; second. the reservoir bills;
and. third, the log-driving, log-drving
dam and boom bills All these compa-
MES are here asking either for new
charters or for amendments to their
existing charters, ard l should like to
discuss briefly what seems to me to be
q
First if we take up the electric light
and power bills that are before us. it
should be necessary for me to state to
this House that ] am not opposed to
the proper and legitimate development
of our electric powers by private enter
prise but for fear that some of YOU
may have been purposely misinformed,
7 want to state here and now that | be-
lieve in the private development of
these powers and that | want to en-
courage that in every way and that L
want to encourage the development by
private capital of the resources of the
State of Maine.
We should remember that in 1909 this
Legislature passed an act which pre-
vented the transmission of electric cur
rent outside of the State on the prin-
ciple that this is one of the State
greatest natural assets and should be
kept within the State for the benefit of
our own people. Gov. Milliken at that
time was a member of the Legislature
and did everything in his power to help
the passage of this law, for he also be-
lieved that this great asset should be
kept for the benefit of cur own people.
and he worked with that end in view and
also for the preservation of the lakes
of Maine. which was quite an issue at
that time.
Some of the water power companies
have maintained that this act is I'M
constitutional. BE that as it may, none
OF them have cared to test the consti-
tutiC nality Of this act, and it has been
accepted as the established policy of
the State. But | do not think that they
have entirely given up this question,
for have it on direct information that,
had it not been for the agitation which
has commenced here, some of the large
electric companies would have had al
ready prepared bills granting to them
special rights to transmit electric cur
rent out of this state for their own
purposes, and plausible arguments had
been prepared tC support them.
In order, however, that we may make
this policy q definite one, | suggest
that the following amendment be plac-
cd on all electric power charters which
come before us, either as new charters
altogether or as amendments to old
charters. and l will read the proposed
amendment to you, which, by the way
has already been accepted by two OF
the companies that have presented
their bills to US The proposed clause
is as follows:
But it shall be unlawful for said
corporation to transmit electric cur
rent fer sale or use beyond the limits
of this State, or to contract with any
person. firm or corporation for the
! transmission or sale of electric cur
rent beyond the limits of this State,
and said corporation shall not be per-
mitted to acquire in any manner the
franchises Of, or consolidate with, or
transfer or lease its property. rights
and franchise to any other corpora
ton. firm or persons now transmitting
or having the right to transmit cleo
trio current beyond the confines of the
! State. without express authority of the
/ LeeiSlature''