The Republican journal., 1921-04-07
CO.,. PERClvAL P. BAXTER
81 III rs WAlER.POWER &
TAXATION AMENDMENTS
To NAME LEGISLATURE

special IioSSdSo proposing Il cOnSIltu-
tional amendment, was sent to the
legislature by Governor Baxter. The
proposed amendment gives the State
authority to take over, control and
water powers.
The message follows:
March II, 1921.
To the Senate and House of Repre-
sentatives of the Eightieth Legis-
lature -
In 1919 l drafted and introduced
the Act which became Chapter 1872 of
the Laws of 1919 and which is en-
titled AN Act to Create the Maine
Water Power Commission" Under
the provisions of this law, Sections
and 5, the Commission is instructed
thoroly to investigate the Water
Power resources within the State of
Maine, and report upon what
rights remain to the State in the
storage reservoirs and basins, and in
the developed and undeveloped water
powers within the State" Sections
and s of this law provide that "if
| the Commission is of the opinion that
the State itself should acquire and
develop these storage reservoirs and
basins and undeveloped water pow
ers, the Commission shall report a
plan for the same, and shall pre-
sent a comprehensive and practicable
plan whereby the State may be con-
served, used and developed for the
benefit of the people of Maine"
At the same session of the Leg
isature I drafted and introduced
House Order dated February 9th,
1919, which propounded certain Wa
ter power questions to the Justices
of the Supreme Judicial court, and
the Justices in their answers to these
questions gave their opinion that an
amendment to the State Constitution
was necessary if the State is to de-
velop the storage reservoirs and I'M
developed water powers within the
State.
The Water Power Commission in
its first annual report says: ct has
seemed impracticable, if not legally
impossible, for the Commission to
work out satisfactory plan for
State control of storage reservoirs
unless by some proper amendment
to the Constitution, and sit is our
intention to submit this plan driver
1afi liCfr CN tn
tire should the necessary Constitu-
tional amendment he presented
The Commission also says that: "The
interests of the State are greater
than those of any person, or corpor-
alton, within it.
From this it will be seen that tho
Commission has prepared definite
plan for submission to the Legisla-
ture, and in letter addressed to
me, under date of March IL, 1921,
the Commission writes: eve believe
that the Constitution of Maine
should be amended in regard to res
erVOirs and water powers.
l have prepared and herewith sub
your consideration.
This amendment will give the peo-
pie of Maine the opportunity to de-
eide for themselves whether or not
the State shall have the power to
control and develop water storage
basins, and undeveloped water pow
ers. If the State today we're to
adopt new constitution the people
would dOubtieo reserve to them
selves the right to control and de-
velop water powers and storage res
ervoirs, the possibilities of which
were unknown in 1920 when our
present Constitution was adopted.
The people should be allowed to vote
upon this question after ample OPP
portunity has been given for thoro
discussion so that intelligent action
may be taken.
This amendment has incorporated
in it only those features which seem
t. me to be needed as the basis for
future constructive legislation. 1t
Is generally accepted that cOnserva-
ton" of our water resources is nee
essary in order to stop the present
economic waste Of the states water
resources, and the only question in
volved is by whom, how and when
this conservation is to be done.
The storage and control of waters
is the foundation OF conservation
and the next step is their develop
ment and Improvement Should the
State take these preliminary steps
1t must have the power to use and
sell its developed and improved Wa
ter resources, and in addition there
to it should have the right to con-
meet the various electrical systems
turnout the state, so that a surplus
of power in one section can be used
in another where there is scarcity.
The amendment submitted here
with in my opinion fulfill present
day requirements. The grave respon-
sibility of submitting to the people
of the State a comprehensive water
power constitutional amendment
rests both upon the Legislature and
upon myself and should such an
amendment fail to meet the needs
of the situation we both would be
remise in our duty to those who sent
us here.
The opponents of any and all forms
of state control and development will