Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-23

have no steamers coming to Port
land. The United States Govern
ment, at an expense of $4,000, has
put in quarantine station. and the
time will come in a few years when
we will see an American line of
steamers running from Portland. but
it is down at the east end Of the city,
and, if we cannot get this Portland
railroad to help US out and give us
connections, passenger lines are out
of the question. It was only a few
years ago that they used to run
trains right across the city, but that
has been discontinued. 1t has been
the policy to do everything to help
the Grand Trunk Railroad, the only
road that has helped Maine. There
fore, L would like to see this bill
amended in some way-I do not
know just how-so that they can be
looked after and helped out. AS
every steamer coming into Portland
will leave $4,000, that goes all over
the State of Maine. I think over
two hundred steamers left there last
year, so you see it is quite a PROPOSE
ton. Now it looks as though we
should try and protect this road in
stead of trying to protect road, the
common stock of which is owned in
New York and Philadelphia and the
preferred stock owned in Maine
Therefore, I would like to table this
and see if we cannot make some
amendment, so that we may protect
or see if the Portland railroad will
protect. the Grand Trunk Railroad
in some way.
Mr.. HINCKLEY Of South Port
land: Mr.. Speaker. although dis
senting with the gentleman from
Portland (Mr. Rounds) in his rea-
soning, 1 concur with him in his
conclusion.
The SPEAKER: The gentleman
from South Portland (Mr. Hinckley)
will bear with the Chair in remind
ing him that the motion is not de-
batable.
Mr.. HINCKLEY: I shall make a
motion to indefinitely postpone, and
I wish to argue the question.
Now Mr.. Speaker, for many years
bills along this line have been IN
troduced in this Legislature, and
this Legislature, I believe, has
shown good judgment in indefinitely
postponing similar bills; and l WISH
to call your attention to just rev
things in connection with it.
The bill provides in Section one
that "the Public Utilities COMMISSION
shall have jurisdiction over every
person, firm or corporation operatlns
any motor vehicle upon any pupllc
street or highway for the carrying OF
messengers for hire and in such man.
ner as to afford a means OF trans
portation similar to that offered by
street railways, and commonly known
as jitney or jitney bus. operating reg
ularly over routes between points
within this State"
Sec. 2. Said commission is hereby
authorized to make from time to time
rules and regulations governing the
operation of said motor vehicles,
which shall include provisions con-
corning the route of operation. Sche-
dule to be operated and maintained
rates of fare to be charged for the
carriage of passengers, the saIe-
guarding of passengers and other per-
sons using the streets and highways
filing of bonds or insurance policies
to pay judgments recovered, due 10
negligence, and such other reasonable
regulations as may be deemed neces-
sary for the safety or convenience OF
the public
1t seems to me all that is necessary
to call the attention of this House 70
is this one thing, that this Legisla-
turc is asked to pass an act providing
that q iitney bus, which operates as
n common carrier, shall insure or file
a bond, and that is provision that
is not required of any other trans
portation company in the State OF
Maine; and I see no reason, Mr..
Speaker and gentlemen, why, if a
person owns a jitney and desires to
operate that iitney between your
town and my town, or any other
towns in the State of Maine, they
have not a right to do it. Under the
law at the present time any town or
city has right to enact an ordinance
to protect it's people in every respect.
The cities in the State Of Maine.
many of them, and probably some of
the towns-I am not certain of this
have enacted such ordinances. The
city of Portland has an ordinance
which provides who shall operate and
how they shall operate. 1t seems to
me this is sufficient. But to give the
Public Utilities Commission power
%I,o -
the charge. to determine that they
shall give bonds or that they shall in
sure with some company, is unfair.
unjust, and unreasonable. It simp-
" means Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen,
that this bill is aimed to accomplish
one specific purpose and nothing else.
and that is the end of the jitney. We
do not know what the future may
bring forth. 1t may be that the lit
ney will be needed for transportation
purposes. 1t may be that it is now
needed in some localities, and I be-
lieve it is; and think it would be a
great mistake to enact this law,
which is similar as I suggested in the
beginning to laws that have been op-
posed in past Legislatures and have
been indefinitely postponed.
The SPEAKER: The motion before
the House having precedence is the
motion to lay upon the table. That
motion is not debatable. All those in
favor of the motion of the gentleman
from Portland, Mr. Rounds, to lay
upon the table
Mr.. ROUNDS: Mr.. Speaker, I with
draw that motion.
NJ. IJTYNTnN ne Oakland. Mr.