Oxford Democrat., 1921-11-15

| states taking over the QeVeaOped
powers or Of developing those that
are now undeveioped but that he ia
vors development OF storage reser-
votrs in the state on q business basis
in such a way as to benefit the power
owners and users as we'll as the pub
lie generally and the state.
/ understand that the Governor
| thinks some amendment to the con-
stitution is necessary in order to car
| ~ out the storage reservoir plan.
This would necessarily include the
Right Of Eminent Domain and would
give the right TO condemn whatever
was in the proposed storage basin
| and, of course, there might be q po-
tential water power in that basin and
| in that sense 1t could be condemned
and taken by the state but 1t would
be wiped out and the taking would
be incidental to the development Of
q reservoir and not TO the develop
ment or use Of power.
l understand that the Governor al
so has in mind the possibility Of the
state being authorized to make use OF
any power that was incidentally de-
veloped at a storage dam so that It
would not run 70 waste. That, too,
would be Incidental to the storage
business. The Governor says he
would not advocate the States dis
trfbuting the power thus developed
but simply selling 1t as by-product
to some public utility company. This.
however, I understand he does not
regard as vital, his principal idea be-
ing the development Of valuable res
ervoirs which would be great bene-
| fit to the state.
In this connection ! am sending
you copy OF letter the Governor
wrote me on July 18th which gives
in more detail this policy that have
| outlined and you will see from this
letter that your understanding Of his
policy is not correct, II you under
| stand 1t to be as outlined in what
you call his announced program OF
last winter.
I notice you say that some Of the
members Of your Association are in
| heated state Of mind over this mat
ter and are outspoken in their opin-
ion that II a member of the National
House is seeking information upon
which to determine his position in
such a matter he should consult with
the manufacturers who have an
opinion with reference to the best
course to be followed"
FL were trying to make up my
| mind what attitude to take about wa
ter powers and the state should GER
tainly consult with the manufacturers
of Maine and their agents, who are
high class and intelligent men and
are specialists in their own business
but even in that case I should feel
perfectly free also to consult with the
Governor Of the state, especially
Governor who has made q particular
study OF the case and who, 80 far
as can see, Is actrrated by disinter-
ested motives, having in mind only
the public welfare.
I notice with some surprise that
you suggest that should make pub
lie statement OF the reason for
meeting which occurred in Portland
not long since at which the Governor
and some others were present, in
cluding myself.
There was nothing at all secret
about the meeting and / am quite
willing to give the reason for the
gathering, 80 far as there was any,
especially as it was entirely at my
suggestion that it took place and II
there is any odium attached to meet
ing with the Governor and talking
over these questions interesting the
state, l should be glad to have the
odium attached exclusively to myself
where 1t belongs.
The following is the reason for
the gathering; last Commencement
at Bowdoin l met the Governor ac-
cidentally and happened to touch up
on this water power business. I told
him admired his backbone and
financial judgment as displayed last
winter during the legislative session
but that was bitterly opposed to the
condemnation. development or use by
the state Of the water powers wheth'
er developed or undeveloped. I dis
sogered that he and were very
un,ch of the same opinion. He did
not tell me that he was opposing that
but he told me that he had not and
did not favor that and only favored
the project Of developing the storage
reservoirs. told him that was
mighty glad to hear that as l had
heard some people intimate that he
was in favor and was advocating the
states taking over the water powers
but as he was not thought 1t should
be known more publically. We did
not have time to talk out the matter
and l told him that l would try to
see him again at Augusta. When /
was at home during the Congression-
al recess l tried several times to get
the Governor at Augusta by tele-
phone. One evening the telephone
people connected me with him at
Portland by mistake and talked and
the Governor suggested that II | was
going to be in Portland at any time
we could meet there. told him that
I had talked over this matter OF the
water power situation with Senator
Hale, Representative White and Mr..
E. w. wheeler Of Brunswick. 1t 30
happened that I had not talked 1t
over with any Of the rest Of the dele
CATION from Maine. AS knew these
gentlemen were much interested l
suggested to the Governor that they
come down too. He said that would
be fine and to come and lunch with
him at the Cumberland Club. We
did this and I might state, as an
other reason for the gathering which
look upon now with great pleasure,
Is the fact that he gave us mighty
good luncheon. We talked miscel-
hneously about matters Of general
interest and /, myself, brought up the
water power matter and We ex-
changed Views.
So far as I could see, no one pres
ent, including the Governor, favored
any authority by the state to con-
denim, operate or use water powers,
developed or undeveloped, except pos
sibfy at the dam as the merest Incl
dent to the storage reservoir and that
was not vital and I doubt II the Gov
ernor would insist on It. am sure
he would not unless 1t was seen tc
be a good business proposition with
out detriment to anybody.
hope that nobody will think that
the meeting was in the interest OF
anybody's candidacy for Office. There
was not the slightest approach to
such an idea. It was even suggested
believe, that several Of Us might
be later running for the same ofice
It Is apparent from. the above that
there was no attempt made to frame