Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-04-05

storage basins on the
Saco river, similar to the one pro-
posed, the Cumberland County Pow
err and Light Company would have
this storage basin itself.
If there is no profit in 1t. the scheme
would have led the people into los,
ing proposition.
No person on that committee, 80
far as I gould see. had any objection
to the construction Of storage basins
for the purpose Of facilitating fur
Their development Of water powers.
but every person, except one. was OPP
posed to the construction Of storage
basins by the state.
Along with this bill was an act to
provide for the issuing OF bonds by
the state to pay for this storage
basin. The, same men on the COM
mittee who were opposed to the con-
struction Of the basin were opposed
to the bond issue, and the same man
who was in favor Of the construction
of the basin was in favor Of the bond
issue.
On page 1880 of the legislative rec
ord of 1919, the following reports will
be found:
Majority report of the committee
on judiciary, on an act for the de-
velopment Of water storage upon the
Saco river and for other public pur-
poses (senate No. 221) that the same
ought not to pass.
Signed,
Dearth
Conary
Dcering
Murchie
Chaplin
Buzzell
Maher
Davies
Barnes
Minority report of the same COM
mittee. on the same bill, that the
same be referred to the next legisla-
ture.
Signed,
Baxter.
ION motion Of Mr.. Deering of York,
the majority report was accepted"
Majority report Of the same COM
mittee on resolve, amending the Con-
stitution so as to provide for a bond
issue for the development of water
storage upon the Saco river in the
state of Maine. that the same ought
not to pass.
Signed,
Davies
Decring
Maher
Murchie
Dearth
Buzzell
Chaplin
Conary
Barnes
minority report Of the same COM
mittce, on the same resolve, that the
same be referred TO the next legisla-
ture.
(Signed) Baxter. )
ION motion of Mr.. Deering Of York,
the majority report was accepted"
l notice in more recent argument
by the group of men who believe in
state ownership that they advocate
the storage of water without en-
croaching upon the rights of private
property owners. This sentence is
contained in the declaration OF prin-
ciples by the leader Of that group of
men himself. For the love of truth,
tell us where in the state Of Maine
YOU can overflow 80 miles Of terri
tory without encroaching upon pri-
vate property? What does this SEN
tence, contained in letter written to
John A. Peters, on July %, 1921,
mean: III Constitutional Amend
ment is necessary, and / believe it to
be, it should. include the right of
eminent domain, and if there should
be a water power in the territory to
be condemned, it would be necessary
for the state to have the right to
take it,"
IL it is not intended to encroach
upon the rights Of others, why is it
necessary to have the right of en-
inent domain, and why should power
to condemn water powers be given. It
further says that the state Of Maine
cannot allow its plans to be subject
TO the whims of an individual. So
II some person in that vicinity had a
water power and had the whim that
ne would like to keep it, the state
would take it just the same.
On the second page of this letter
10 Judge Peters, appears the follow
ing: Il ask only to do what other
states, such as Massachusetts, and
New York are doing" Not one per
son in 10000 in Maine know. what
Massachusetts, and New York are do
ing, and that being so, not one person
IN 10000 in Maine knows what thi.
group OF men proposes to do.
l therefore respectfully call the at.
tention OF the people to tho, princi-
pies contained in the statement Of
my position in the first part of thi.
argument, which is as clear, concise
ana dennite as the English language
can make it, and I respectfully call
the attention of the taxpayers Of the
state to the ideas Of the other marty
You will have an opportunity ia
choose on the 18th day of June
whether or not in this uncertain ne
Iloo or the states history, you wish
10 embark upon the indefinite and
speculative journey Of state owner
snip OF water powers and state con.
S"uctlon OF water storage basins.
VASSALBORO