Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1920-06-12

powers ought to be reserved for tho
use and benefit of Maine people. that
no public right in these powers
should be surrendered 10 foreie, ~,
private interests. that the property
rights OF those who have invested
largely IN development of water
powers within our State should be
scrupulously protected and that the
Iurther development of water nover
should be encouraged for the purnose
OF furnishing light and power at rea-
sonaple rates not only TO industry
anu Ior domestic use in cities and
towns but also along country roads
ana upon the farms. But is tbere
any positive program of legislative
actlon which can be relied upon to
produce these results? Frankly. |
nave none TO propose. The financial
obstacles in the way of State own.
ership make such a course for tho
present absolutely out of the oues-
ton, whatever merit it might other
wise have. But in the meantira
while studying the whole problem
olllgently, we can safely follow the
course that has been for ten wears
our established policy; hold on the
rights in water powers that we now
possess and refuse to authorize
transmission outside the State of
hydro-electric power generated in
Maine.
Acting under authority of the last
Legislature, the Public Utilities
commission has prepared and placed
peiore you an admirable and ex-
haustlVe report upon the wafer now
er resources of Maine. This renor,
furnished the facts which n,nst
serve as the raw material for ar,,
Constructive water power program
l. recommend that you provide for
iurther study looking toward the
oe'eiopment of such program. Sucb
study should consider the nros-
pectlve use of Maine water nowers
as one of the features of the whole
proao program of business and in
oustrlaI expansion during the period
0I reconstruction. This study misbt
well be entrusted to a comrissio,,
which would consider all tho snao;a,
problems of readjustment and nor.
ioini service analogous to that
winch was so splendidly rendered nv
the Committee on Public Safety dur
ing the war"
Acting upon my recommendation
the Legislature authorized the an
polhtment OF a commission which
is now engaged in a study of tho
whole water power problem. ! hone
That out of their report will grow
constructive program for water now,
er development.
answering your question Z. do
oeileVe that the question of the tax-
ation OF storage reservoirs and water
powers now owned by private cor-
porations should be Thoroughly in
Festlgated and they should be made
10 pay their full share of the burden
OF taxation. Moreover, the Stata
Assessors are following this exact
program at my suggestion and with
my full support
your questions s and 9 are based
l tnlnk' upon a misunderstanding of
the present law. Competition with
an existing hydro electric COMPANY
is possible under the present law
whenever in the judgment of tho
Public Utilities Commission such
competition will be for the best in
terest of the public In my opinion
the present law is equitable.
| have tried to make my position
clear in response to each of your in
quiries. May 1 suggest that there
are still many other questions about
which the people might like to know
the attitude Of the candidates.
For example, you might ask each
candidate whether if nominated and
elected. he would favor legislation
to bring the Workmen's Compensa-
ton Act up to the full standard re-
commended in my address to the
Legislature in January, 1919.
The people might like to know