Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-03-29

| for it's future the Governor of the
| State whose duty and privilege 1t IS
always to stand by the institutions or
his own State. protect them, make
them successful, came before the
Legislature with a message. in which
| he advises the State to repudiate the
deficit Of its own state instltutloaa % ta
| learning, it's State university, ana 10
starve it for the future.
Every great state of importance In
the nation takes much pride In It's
state university. and have never
known a case where its governor was
so lost to state pride as to advocate
the destruction of its own institutions
of learning.
The Governor of Maine says in his
message, in so many words. that If
the University of Maine wishes to live
and pay it's debts, his advice is that the
alumni of that institution raise the
necessary funds to take care OF the
deficit to save the institution, that the
State needs it's funds for charities for
sectarian organizations.
L hope the Legislature of Maine will
realize that it is the first duty of the
State to take care of it's own institu-
lions and after duty has been per-
formed it is time to invest in private
enterprises and charities.
Much more startling. however. is the
Governors message on socialism. to
wit: the control and operation of the
water-powers of the State. If his
suggestions should be carried out
Maine goes over to socialism ana De-
comes a follower of DebS.
His message is socialism pure and
simple, and an attempt to obtain Gov
eminent ownership of public utilities
in Maine. Our people ought to have
had sufficient lesson from the past.
the railroads by the Government con-
troll during the war not to desire any
more of this stuff for thousand years.
All of the water-powers OF Maine
fVa G NV
private capital. Maine has some of
the best conducted and managed public
utilities operating water-poWer IN the
State Maine has also the best Or
ganized and equipped Utilities Com
mission of any State. Every public
service corporation, light. heat, water
power. every public utility is under the
charge of this Commission. The Com
mission acting for the people regu-
late the issue Of stocks and bonds,
make them valuable securities and pro-
tect the holders. They also regulate
all the fares, charges and service given
by these corporations to the public.
The people of Maine are given the
lowest rates under any arrangement,
either of Federal or State control and
legislation, and one-half cheaper than
could lie given by State ownership.
State ownership would not only bank
rupt the State but would ruin all
private enterprise in the way of public
utilities and make worthless all the
stocks and bonds now held by banks
and investors in Maine. l do not eX-
pect our Legislature to be carried
away by such Il message to submit to
the people any constitutional amend
mcnt along this line.
1t was said when l was in Maine a
short time ago to attend the funeral
of the late Governor that his successor
was to carry out the policies of the
deceased, but Governor parkhurst died
before he could put his policies into
Legislation. But my knowledge of the
late Governor is such that | know
above all things he loved the UNIVERSE
ty of Maine and would do everything
for its prosperity, that he stood
against all kinds of Government own
crship and socialism, and l know that
these two late messages of the present
people OF Maine of the great loss they
have suffered in the death of Governor
ParhhurSt."