Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1917-04-09

state Of Maine to regulate motor We
hicles which are used as common car
r!ers. The motor vehicle has its use
and 1t also has its abuse, and the 60
called automobile or buss has been
used In a way that Is abusive to inter-
osts which the Legislature should pro-
tect.
Let me give you BRIEFLY a little To-
,al illustration. I, as you all know. live
IN the town OF Yarmouth, and the Cum
Nerland County Power & Light Co. op-
crate its electric line between the civ
Il Portland and that town and opera,e
., Of course, Mr.. President, during the
entire year. Beginning the first of June
n whereabouts. there comes into COM
uetiton with the Cumberland County
Power & Light Co. between Portland
md Yarmouth the operation Of a line
Il jtney buses so-called, which car
~ perhaps so passengers. and run
aoout on the same schedule as the cleo
'rlc cars of the Cumberland County
power & Light Company. They make
heir schedules so as to run just a lit
'le in advance Of the electric car so
mat they may pick up all the passen-
gers which happen to be waiting at the
moment for the car and they terminate
heir service into Yarmouth at the
waiting room OF the Cumberland Coun-
- Power & Light Co. I have seen. Mr.,
Pre eident. myself the jitney buss stop
10 front of the waiting room of the
Power K Light Company, take every
eugle passenger there waiting for a
ar and turn about and go to Port
r.pi and When tho p1art ric
- has absolutely no passengers Now
rofUrning they also return just a lit
'ie IN advance Of the electric car so
l- - pick up what passengers they
can hctween Yarmouth and Portland.
r. occurs TO me that the Cumberland
county Power & Light Company paw
'ner taxes In Yarmouth. The iitnev
huss company pays nothing. 4 large
number Of employees on the system
live IN Yarmouth and contribute to the
.ocal ana industrial life of the town,
while the jitney bus company has no
urn who lives there.
fiut that is by no means all. AS soon
as me frost begins to touch the ground.
p" i.tnoy buss Is gone. The cream of
''Ne transportation OF passengers, the
cream at Yarmouth and Portland has
been taken. Now. then, it becomes ne
cessarv for the electric company to OPP
crate their cars all through the winter,
and without any exaggeration at all
during the latter part of December,
January and February. at a loss. Is
that fair proposition? Are they not
entitled to some regulation for this
competltion?
And that is exactly what this bill
provides for, Mr.. President. There may
he certain conditions different from
these which have outlined here condi-
tons existing in other parts Of the
state. but generally speaking-and 1t Is
a general proposition that the Senate
IS asked to deal whit Is a private
competition which should not be al
lowed
Mr.. GILLIN: Mr.. President, may I
ask the distinguished senator from
Cumberland before what committee
this was heard.
Mr.. DAVIES: It was hear. before
the public utilities committee I don't
happen TO be a member Of it but it was
advertised very freely and the report
~ the hearing was probably in every
raper in the State Of Maine that saw
Various people appeared in favor Of 1t
and various people appeared against it..
and the committee sent 1t In on a unan-
imous report or new draft.
Mr.. GILLIN: Has this ever been
printed?
Mr.. DAVIES: II has to be printed to
10 in the form that 1t Is before yon
now
Mr. G1LLIN: Is It printed so that
anybody has ever seen it? Can you find
e IN any Of your files, this bill that I
hold in M hand?
Mr.. DAVIES: It has to be printed to
Nn on Its passage to he enacted. Just
moment and will look it up for you.
Mr.. G1LLIN: You need not bother
looking for 1t. Has It been printed, Mr.
Socretarvo
The SECRETARY: The new draft
has not been printed.
Mr.. GILLrN: That is as said 1t. and
the new draft has never been before
any committee of this Legislature. and
his hill that 7 hold in my hand has
never been printed.
Mr.. DAVIES: Just a minute. Mr.
President. I don't see how the bill
romes ir this form if it has never been
printed
Ny. GTLLIN: This is a new draft.
Mr. DAVIES: How can the bill be on
IFS passage to be enacted and not be In
Hrinto
Nr. CTLLTN: don't know.
The PRESIDENTS: It has to have
printed copv to he enacted.
Mr.. GTLLIN: No copy has even been
'rint"d or distributed or put in any