Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-08-26

terms as favorable as Massachusetts
and New York. All l ask the people
of Maine to do, is to do just what the
people Of those two states have al
ready done; that is. protect themselves
by passing such laws and c0nstitu-
tional amendments as arc needed to
make the situation absolutely safe.
The second policy that has been es
tablishcd is, that whenever the State
Legislature grants a franchise to q
corporation to develop storag" reser-
voirs in the lake regions of Maine,
clause is attached to the charter
which says that should the State ever
desire to take back the franchise and
the rights in our public lakes the
State may do so without paying the
corporation for the franchise that was
given it. In other words, if the State
gives away franchise, it ought not to
be asked to pay anything for it, if
later the public interest requires that
the franchise shall be recalled Of
course, if developments have been
made if dams have been built and
money expended. the State would pay
an honest price for whatever was TAX
en-, as it will never deprive any person
of property without adequate compcn-
sation therefor. Too many valuable
franchises have been given away in
the past by the State and oftcn-tlmcs
a franchise is the one element or
value. I have always favored private
development, and during my public
service Of 16 years have aided in the
passage of every bill that would en-
courage water power development. AS
Governor. / favored and signed every
bill that came before me- but ] did in
sist that the two clauses referred to
should be put into every charter;
First-That power should not De
taken out of Maine, and
Second-That a franchise given to
corporation could be taken back by the
state without the States paving for H.
want to encourage individuals
and corporations to build dams de-
velop water powers and bring ne"
Industries into Maine. The State
will always protect people who IN
vest money within its borders, and
no one need fear that tho people or
Maine will take any advantage or
private owners; their rights Will De
we'll safeguarded.
The third point, that has not been
decided, is the Storage Reservoir
plan previously referred to. AS n
matter of fact, if the State constructs
storage reservoirs. which is as far as
| 7 believe it ought to go at the present
time it will help every water power
| owner on the rivers of the State.
These water power owners cannot
| afford to build these dams them
selves, on account of the divided
ownership of the water powers, but
| the State can step in and build the
! dams, sell the water to the power
| owners at a fair price, and thus en-
courage them to bring industries into
Maine.
Forests
| Maine is primarily a forest State.
We have great areas of forest land,
and | have always been interested in
the forestry problem. | want the
State of Maine to begin to buy up
waste and burned over cumberland
| to be used for reforestation, so that
| in the years to come we may have
| forest resources that will provide
such forest products as are required
by our State. have advocated this
now for three sessions but like many
! good projects it takes long time to