Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1921-04-08


is sound. and. gentlemen. submit
that this proposition Il unsound.
Public ownership Of waterpower
1t would, bring business to Maine.
With the government of the power
in the hands Of the governing bodies
OF the State, subject to changes
every two years. outside capital
would hesitate before risking the
chance of being deprived of it's rights
by public officials who do not believe
as did those who went before them in
the government Of the State and its
utilities" (Applause.)
Bragdon of Westbrook spoke
against the resolve. He declared
that this bill is in the line Of the
question which has been before the
people for the past FIVE or more
years. Since that time business has
been more or less at standstill due
to the fact that promoters wont take
an interest until the question is set
tied once and for all.
i am opposed to this measure and
l stand here tonight as w. B. Brag-
don of Westbrook and appear for
no one else. l have not been asked
by any corporation to represent it
here tonight.
can the State invest a large
amount of money in this proposition
anu take a chance of selling the
power: / would be the last person
IN the world to oppose this measure
IL gam would come to the people by
so doing. L believe in ENCOURAGING
men who have money to invest to
come to Maine and invest It here. A
cafeful consideration should be had
OF TINS matter and the financial facts
understood before We pass this re-
solve (Applause)
Characterizing the resolve as vague
ana startling in it's danger, Maher of
augusta opposed it as a step toward
naturalization of industry and So
clailsm He challenged anyone in the
House to tell him of the scope of the
measure and stated that in the ORR
sinat Dill appeared the taxation pro-
VISION, which has been tacitly re-
pudiated by its author and which
failed to stand the test of the COM
mittee.
H' va" III" tdNdtiOn prOv1SlOp
reinoFed"' asked Maher. Are you
making two bites of the cherry"
lie called attention to the phrase
as the Legislature NAV authorize
ana not otherwise in connection
with The formation of districts and
the other acts in carryins out the
PROVISIONS OF the resolve and charged
mat IL was inserted for the pur-
pose OF undoine the ruling of the
supreme court that the transmission
Of electric current for power is not q
public purpose.
Mr.. Maher said that the control
ana sale OF water powers gives the
state the right to sell the land as we'll
as the water power. In referring 10
the taxation section as contained in
the amendment. Maher said that the
wording of the bill permits the State
to tax, through its agents, not only
the property directly benefited bv
the development of the powers. but
property which may at some future
time he so benefited.
One Of the supposed objects of
this resolve is for the purpose of
Maine, but remembeE, gentlemen
there is Federal law how in force
that may tell us to send the power
developed from our million dollar
storage reservoirs to any place in the
country where it may be needed.
This is the most important matter
in the history of Maine" said Maher
yes, the most important in the his
tory of the United States. for it is a
step toward a different form Of gov
eminent. the first step toward ma
tionalism. toward socialism"
~ Brewster of Portland said that the
provisions of the constitution are
broad enough to spend as much mon
ey as the Legislature sees At.
''1f you feel that it is wise and ex-
pedient to submit this proposition to
the people. a simple business propo-
sition. with the cards on the table, do
So said Brewster your action here
tonight is on one single proposition,
shall this matter be submitted TO the
people for decision
Cole of Eliot said that the people
settled the League of Nations contro-
The people comprehended the matter
of the League of Nations and they
settled it forever. 1t isn't for any Lee
gislature to settle this matter 1T is
for the people to settle it,
Maher of Augusta in two minutes
replied to Cole of Eliot and Brew
ster.
"The League of Nations was not
settled by/a referendum to the people,
but it was settled by such senators as
David I. Walsh and Henry Cabot
Lodge of Massachusetts, said Rep
Maher. when you take private prop
erty you are taking something that
wasn't thought of in the days of King
George prolonged applause).
McIlheron of Lewiston said that he
stool in the hall of the House to pro-
ct the property of the people, wheth-
or that property is owned by rich
corporation or by an individual.
"The constitution guarantees that
the property of man should be pro-
tected," said McIlheron.
The House by a vote of 81 to A re-
fused to accept the minority report
Ought to pass" and on motion by
Buzzell of Felfast, the majority re-
port Ought not to pass" was accept
ed.
HARRIS CLINGS