Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-01-31

the table House Doc. No. Is, relating
| to the West Branch Driving and Res
| ervoir Dam Company. entitled IAN
| Act additional to and amendatory Of
| Chapter 206 Of the Private and Spec
! ial Laws OF 1907 relating to the West
Branch Driving and Reservoir Dam
Company"
1 also move that this bill be referred
to the Committee on Judiciary. and for
this reason: there is now pending be-
fore the judiciary Committee a re-
solve providing for investigation Of
the states rights in the water powers
Of Maine. which If passed will estab-
lish the principle that no further rights
shall be granted without considering
the remaining rights that the state
has. Now this dam company obtained
very valuable rights from the State of
Maine some years ago, and it comes
here asking that it be given the power
TO generate and sell electricity. /
think probably the Legislature will
grant 1t that power, but l do believe
that all these questions should be set
tied by one committee. In the Senate
1 there is an attempt being made az
| the present time to refer the Tracey
Bill' so-called. to the Judiciary Com
| mittee. That is very important bill
dealing with complicated legal ques-
tons. and that committee is probably
the best committee to settle those
questions-either that committee or the
Legal Affairs: and, IL we are going to
adopt any consecutive policy for the
conservation of the water powers Of
the State, I believe the best way TO
do it is to have all these questions
referred to the same committee.
think the Senate referred this bill to
the Committee on Interior Waters. I
move therefore, Mr.. Speaker, that we
non-concur with the Senate in the ref
erence of this BILL and that we refer
it to the Committee on Judiciary.
Mr.. NEWCOMB Of Scarboro: Mr..
Speaker. I rise to second the motion of
Mr.. Baxter of Portland
THE SPEAKER: The Chair will
state the status Of the bill before the
House. House Bill IS was referred by
your Committee Of Reference to In
terror Waters. 1t is a Senate bill. The
Senate voted that the bill should go
to the Committee on Interior Waters
and the bill comes to the House for
concurrence. The gentleman from
Portland Mr.. Baxter moves, and the
molten has been seconded, that the
House non concur with the Senate, and
that the bill be sent to the Judiciary
Committee. Are you ready for the
question? Those in favor of the mo-
ton will say aye. and those opposed
no.
viva voce vote being taken, the
motion was carried.
Mr.. Harmon Of Stonington presented
the following order:
Ordered, that the State Highway
Commission furnish the Legislature
forthwith an itemized statement of all
expenditures incurred by it during the
PAST two years. which statement shall
, include particularly and in detail the
| amount expended in actual road con-
struction, exclusive OF surveys, inspec-
ton, salaries, etc. as we'll as a detailed
statement of all other expenditures.
The SPEAKER: The Chair is of the
opinion that this should be a concur
rent order.
On motion by Mr.. Harmon, the or
der was tabled pending passage.
The SPEAKER. The Chair will ap-
point Messrs. Emerson Of Lewiston and
Speirs of Westbrook to serve on the
committee created by the order passed
on Thursday last in regard to procur-
ing coat of arms for the Hall of the
House of Representatives
On motion by Mr.. Speirs of West
brook.
Adjourned until ten O'Clock tomorrow
morning.