Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-21
hat can be accomplished by electric

transmit electrical power into the
city Of Portland from the Presump-
scot River. Falls only four miles dis
tant. These experts were paid hand
| somely for rendering this valuable
opinion Any man who alleges that
electricity within a period of ten
years will not be used for purposes
as vet unthought off, is not entitled
to hearing. for with electricity ali
things are possible. Will this Legis-
lature be responsible for giving away
not only the present but also the fu-
ture value that lies in the great stor-
age development that We are con-
sidering? What will the sons and
daughters and the grandeOns ana
granddaughter OF Maine say II they
look back to the year 1928 as the
year in which the States great stor-
age systems were placed definitely
under the control of private inter-
ests. Let the people of Maine look
ahead even as the corporations are
doing. I am astonished that scarce
ly a single voice has been raised in
protest in this Legislature against
the passage Of this bill. ! shall not
allow this matter to leave my hands
without paying well deserved
tribute to those few farsighted and
courageous men who. have stood
bravely against the onslaught of cor
porate interests. These men ever
| will be re rendered for their fearless
| action.
This message constitutes the turn
| ing point in the water power question
in the State Of Maine. II you grant
| this franchise in my opinion you
| definitely and deliberately abandon
the rights Of the people in the water
resources of this State. Should this
bill become a law ! predict that the
water power question never again
will be brought forward during the
lives Of any Of the members of this
| Legislature. The granting OF this
franchise means that private cor
! porate control of the water resources
State and that the water power is
! sue has passed into oblivion. The
! fight for the peoples rights in
Names water resources will be re-
membered as lost cause. 1t how
ever will not be forgotten that the
! people of Maine were deprived Of
their last remaining natural inherit
tanee by an Act of the S1st Legisia-
| turc.
The first agitation in behalf Of the
rights of the people in water storage
and water powers began in the year
1909. 1t was actively revived in
| 1917. and from that time until now it
| has been q live issue. Gradually the
people of the State have awakened to
| it's Importance. 1t has been and is
being discussed by our citizens in
the homes. the shops and on the
streets. The people are beginning to
appreciate the fact that they have
certain rights in the States water
resources. If you Legislators will
| give the people the opportunity to
express themselves I believe their an
swer will be sent back to you in no
/ uncertain terms.
| The S1st Legislature of the State
| of Maine holds the key to the future.
| for it and it only now has the power
| to allow the people Of the State to
vote on this vital issue. Unless this
or some succeeding Legislature pass
es a resolve submitting to the people
/ a constitutional amendment that al
lows the State to create water stor-
age reservoirs. the people never will
| be able to avail themselves of what
rightfully belongs to them.
There is Resolve now pending
| before this Legislature that provides
| for the submission Of a constitutional
amendment to the voters of the State.
! For seven years j have consistently
advocated such a Resolve and / am
deeply interested to have this LeEis-
| latuIe pass it. The people of Maine
| should be allowed, to vote on this
question and to decide it for them
selves. The language of the con-
stitutional amendment referred to
has been passed upon by several rep
resentatives Of the industries of the
! state. as well as by citizens who
| have no direct financial interest in
! them. and has met with their ap-
| prevail
! / realize that the industries of the
! state have developed our resources
I and give employment to thousands OF
! our citizens. These industries by
building up communities. have rend-
ereo real service to the State and
they should be given every proper
ehcouraSement The State. however.
always has treated them literally
mas given them almost everything
that they have asked for. and mos
vi them have been very profitable
Ihese industries, however. during tba
past seven years have stood firmly
AGAINST the rights of the people and
nave refused to allow the people to
nave anything to say on the water
po"er question At the present Sos
SION OF the Legislature the LOBBYISTS
Oh private interests have been ,pd,,I,
active and diligent in WORKING e.
those they represent and in NV
opinion these lobbyists are larraIy
responsible for the spirit of conf,ict
,lat now and then crops out in these
nails. They will not hesitate -
throw this Legislature into controo
.ersy with the Governor. If in tho COW
!usion ana distrust created thereby
me! can carry through thi. fran
chIse that means millions to them
~, consistently have maintained
mat the people own the lakes ora
..orase reservoirs of the State IT,
'ines past the people owned
.a'uahie water power locations ca
sreat areas of timberIands r.,
',.he TO time these have 49,
ahenated and nothing now remo;,
nut the rights to water storo~e WI,
'he Sist Legislature at this cr;tioa,
moment sacrifice these rights whan
.he whole nation is awakened 70 thX
Importance Of the fuel SUNNY fnr
water is fuel translatable into ferr,.
OF heat and power.
consider it fortunate that This
issue is presented at this time for
our CITIZENS are more likely to under.
stand 1t, now that the need Of boat
ana power daily is brought home to
every householder and eyerv In
custry. The shortage of coal has
taught more than one lesson.
The passage OF this charter bv this
Legislature would be nothing less
than betrayal Of the trust imposed
upon this Legislature by the people
Of the state. The plea of private
corporations that the public will be |
benefited by the s'davaJoppoao.u 81 |