Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-08
Water Power Bill
XContinued from Page One)

the measure, that being the POSSIBLE
1ty of interference with rights of en-
inent domain of private corporations.
but this is taken care of by the act
constituting these rights of the State
as paramount public USES" said Mr..
Brewster. This paragraph has been
passed upon by~former Chief Justice
Whitehouse and has been pronounced
adequate to the needs for which it
was drawn.
No discussion of water powers can
be had without reference to timber
lands said the speaker There can
be no question as 10 the title in these
, lands at the present time. regardless
of the manner of their acquisition. but
this entire question should be It lesson
to Maine in preserving what rights
she has left in her waterpowers
1t is true that Maine has Il negligi-
BILE ownership in waterpowers despite
the fact that there are 400. 600 horse
power of developed power and the es-
timated enormous quantity of 1900
600 undeveloped horsepower. We must
remember, however. that the regula-
ton OF the stream flow is big factor
in water power and the question we
are now facing is whether the State
shall assume control OF such regula-
ton
Rep. Brewster. continuing. said that
il the development of the waterpowers
was as good on the other rivers as 1t
is onthe AndFoscoggin, there would be
no anxiety.
The only question is whether the
State shall let private companies de-
velop these powers and pass away her
bifthfight. The only great assets and
resources of the State are in the north
crn basins. The question for the next
% years is whether these powers will
go the way of the timberlands. You
must always bear in mind that the lie
velopment of industry in our State rests
in the waterpoWers. 1t is perfectly
safe for you to submit this proposition
TO the people. During the last six
years there has been a great interest
in the matter of the State controlling
the waterpowerS. 1t is not Il PROPOSE
ton that has been hastily developed.
and the people are watching US AS
certain as the sun rises and sets, so
certain must Maine in the future take
her place as leader because of her In
dustrial resources" (Applause)
Cole of Eliot championed the accept
ance of the minority report, ought to
pass" He said that the matter has
reached such a stage that it would be
folly for this Legislature to adjourn
without taking action of this matter.
Lack of confidence means a lack of
prosperity said Cole.
''Since 1909 the State has been lack
ing in confidence. Nothing that creates
has been brought into this State during
the last 10 years. The policy of this
Legislature has been to hamper in
dustry and hold it back. The thing
for us to do is to establish confidence.
Until we do that we cannot hope to
advance. You vote against this prop
osition tonight and you will have two,
more years of unrest. Let the people
settle it and then settle down to a
definite policy. The sooner the matter
goes to the people the sooner it is set
tied the soonr w will have prosperity"
Hinckley of South Portland made
solve.
1--WE must face the proposition OF
public ownership and of the State
of Maine going into the water power
business. The entire question has
simmered down to that and nothing
more" said he. ''The people of
Maine are being fooled and misled
by propaganda and are being in
trigued by the mysterious benefits
promised them in event that Maine
takes over the waterpowers and op-
crates them.
private enterprises make indi-
vidual giants and public ownership
makes politicians. Public ownership.
which has never been successful, re-
moves individual initiative and de-
velops pygmies instead OF business
giants. I do not believe this Legis-