Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-05-05

were determined to kill both bills
and the lobby now recognized that
this was inevitable. To the Legis-
lators that seemed the only way
out of their dilemma. 1t was inter-
esting to see how eager some men,
bers who had openly advocated the
Kennebec bill now were to kill 1t.
Several were anxious to have the
but the privilege of introducing it,
repeal very fittingly fell to Senator
II. G. Allen Of York County, one Of
the few staunch and consistent op-
pOnents of the bill from the begin
ming. Although Senator Brewster
and myself had done our best fofE
the State, the Legislature. was not
quite broad minded enough to accept
the Best trade ever offered a Maine
Senate and House. Thus ended botlss
storage charters. -
The Dead River charter was faiS~
to all parties and would have en-
couraged the development Of inSz
dustry. From the time 1t left our.
hands on Wednesday evening andas
was ordered printed by Mr.. Wyman.'
until now, neither Senator Brewster =
nor myself have CROSSED T or /.
dotted an T. in it. Moreover. we did :
all we could to secure its passage. 80
Lobby of Out Of State Interests
Dominates
For "a hours after my message
was delivered. Mr. Wyman and his I
associates labored feverishly with
the Legislature to induce it to adopt
the Dead River Charter. This proves
that they favored It, and their ex-Ri
cuse for repudiating their definite
agreement with Senator Brewster
and myself, was an eleventh hour >
evasion that did not occur to them
until they realized that the men
who actually were in control, and
who live Qpt of the State had with .
drawn their support and ordered a 9
retreat. 1t was complete and
humiliating backdown. 90
The disappointed corporate inter-
ests having lost the control of the
Kennebcc River that once was in
their grasp, now are trying to ex-
plain what happened. They are
constantly talking about the So q
called ''water power rights" Of the
second charter. This is an after
thought. devised to sooth thosec
Legislators who still smart under the
treatment the corporations gave
them. 1t is an excuse to let them
down gently. and is dust to confuse
the people. The Lobbyists and news-a
papers affiliated with them seek to.
make it appear that the rental was
based upon these rights. whereas, as
has been stated, Mr.. Wyman him.
self said the power rights were of.
no consequence. and the matter was
never discussed beyond that point.
T. There is an interesting sidelight ins'
connection with the appearance at
the hearing before the Legislative
committee of George c. Danforth,
Chief Engineer of the Maine Water
Power Commission. On being ques-,
corporations, Mr.. Danforth stated.
that in his opinion. the Kennebec
Reservoir Bill did not conflict with
the public interest, and he believed
it should be passed. The duty of q
State official Is to protect the inter-,
ests Of all the people. and / regretted
that the representative of Com
mission. for the creation of which I
was responsible, should have conn.,
pletely failed to grasp the full mean
ing of the Kennebec Charter. ''s
The Commission was established to :
protect the Peoples rights. and Mr..
Danforth might have been of real
assistance to all parties in this
crisis. Since the adjournment of
the Legislature, II newspaper re-
ports are correct. he has travelled
about the State addressing gather
ings and informing those present
that a serious mistake had been
made by the repeal of the Remedies
Charter fA'
Planning for Future Drive
Certain newspapers affiliated with
the Central Maine Power Co, and
other corporate interests now rallyiz
to their support. and the state IL
flooded with propaganda, alleging
that the first bill would have been of
great benefit to our Industries. In
other words. during the Legislative
session. the Lobby backed the Ken
nebec bill and carried it through.
Now some of the leading newspapers
are backing it and have entered up
on a deliberate policy of creating
public sentiment so that the water
power companies may obtain the
same or similar bill at the next,
Legislative session. This is all a
part of the general scheme of GER
tain private interests to secure con-
troll of all the water resources Of
Tue State. LII my OpiHlOH, HoWeNcF,
the more publicity the newspapers
give this issue the more our citizens
will understand what the water
power people really are attempting
to do.
1t is doubtful if Maine Legis-
lature ever again will pass a bill like
the Kennebec Storage Charter. but
should this be done, the people of
Maine will invoke the referendum
and prevent such a charter becoming
the law of Maine.
Public sentiment has crystalized.
LEASES not DEEDS will be granted
in the future. The people of Maine
are prepared to insist that a fair
rental be paid by all corpora tons
that hereafter ask for the right to
develop State-owned natural re-
sources.
(Signed) PERCIVAL p. BANTER,
Governor of Maine.