Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1922-12-30
Interest Manifest
Continued from PAGE Qnel

Continued from Page One)
State departments. Hearings spread
ing over a period of several months
have been held, but so far no init
nation has come from any member
of the committee as to what its rec
concentrations will be. There are
plenty others who are willing to
speculate on some of the high
spots" of the committees plans but
it is generally admitted that it is
merely speculation and that no def
mite information is yet available.
Certain of the forecasts of what
the committee will recommend have
caused some amusement among
members Of the State House Fam
lily" while others seem very likely.
But a newspaper guess is as good as
any other. so reader does not af-
feet surprise when he notes the pre-
diction that the committee will ad-
vocate the combining of the offices
Of Bank Commissioner and Insur-
ance Commissioner into one; the
making of a single department Of
Shore Fisheries. Inland Fisheries
and Game. and the Forest Commits
sioner, with a single head; the plac-
ing OF the Water Storage Commits
sion work back with the Public
Utilities Commission; and other
such drastic measures.
Committee on Banks
Another unknown quantity" Is
the report of the special committee
on banks and banking to be
presented. recommendations for
changes in many laws affecting the
savings banks. trust companies and
loan and building associations were
made at the recent hearings before
the committee of which Senator Ru-
pert p. Baxter of Bath is chairman.
= 1t is limited that the greatest
Change be recommended in the saw
inbs bank investment law. At the
hearing on savings banks, Bank
Commissioner Fred 4. Lawrence
presented eleven investment recon-
mendations. including the admission
of bonds of the Dominion of Canada;
of railroad equipment obligations
when there is a margin Of at least
20 per cent between the amount
outstanding and the cost OF stan
dard equipment by which it is Sc
cured; and the admission of receiv-
crs' certificates under proper safe
guards. A negative recommended
ton of broad scope was that to re-
move from the list of eligible securl-
ties all stocks or to limit the amount
held to a very small proportion of
the deposits.
Water Power Issue
The water power question IS look
cd upon TO be one of the big features
Of the coming session. This problem
has been a growing one since in 1917
as a member of the House of Rep
resentatives. Percival P. Baxter. now
Governor, made the first move by
introducing bill providing that the
State acquire all undeveloped powers
and develop Them The fight that
session was bitter and the measure
went down to defeat.
Two years later in the same capa-
city, Governor Baxter presented
similar bill, somewhat modified. This
too, was defeated, but Baxter sue
ceeded in getting through a measure
which called for the appointment of
a water power commission to investi-
gate such resources. In 1921, as
senator Gov. Baxter introduced a
new water power ownership and con-
troll bill, but the. death Of Gov. Park
hurst came early in February called
Baxter to the executive chair and he
was not in a position to fight the bill
through in the Legislature. 1t was
again defeated.
1t is said that although Governor
Baxter. will not offer an administra-
ton water power Bill. such bill will
be presented and will have the in
dorsement of the Governor. This bill.
it is understood. will be presented
by Senator Ralph o. Brewster of
Portland, who will have charge of it
in the legislative session. MIR.
Brewster, then member of the
House, led the fight for the water
power bill of 1921. '-
This years bill will provide for a
constitutional amendment giving the
State the right TO create and finance
water storage districts. build dams
and establish reservoirs. so as to in
sure ample water at all seasons for
industries of the State
The Primaries
With both parties advocating the
submission to the people of a pro-
position for the repeal of direct
primaries, some change in this law
seems inevitable
There are those who favor the sub
stitution of the old time convention,
while others favor the double, system
of convention and primary, which
provides in addition to the convention
candidates. that anyone not nominal
ed by the convention may get out
primary nomination papers and run
in that way. Another proposition
is that in case where there is only
one nomination for an Office. that
name would not be placed on the
primary ballot at all.
That such propositions as these
would prove Of great benefit to the
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