Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-14

1T was believed ffOm this that the
Kcnnebec development had executive
approval and 1t is interesting to note
that the Governors opinions in Janu-
airy 1928. as made public. agreed with
the Commissions opinions Of 1921. In
March 1928, however. the executive
opinion had changed while that of the
Commission had not = The chief engi-
ncer of the Commission was strongly
urged to change his opinion at Ahe time
of the vote on the passage of the Ken
nc bcc Reservoir act over the veto.
The que stions before the Commits
sion have at times been difficult Their
opinions. however. have been given en-
tircly without bias for either the
power companies or any phase of poll
ties which was either opposed to or in
favor OF their plans. The out standing
factor in all their recommendations
has been solely a desire for he indus
trial and economic welfare of Maine.
This has been combined with a very
definite feeling that il the water power
question is not removed from politics
and if A stable State policy which will
eliminate fear of investment in Maine
power should not he adopted in the
near future. there will no longer he
need of urging it's development The
incentive for New England industry to
come to Maine will disappear when the
IL million horsepower already being
developed at Lake St. John and the
four or five million horsepower on the
st. Lawrence is available for the use of
central New England
THE Governor stated in his inter-
view on April 10th that it is better to
have no Commission at all than to
have one not in sympathy with the
poIicjeS which I heIcre' This NAV
be sufficient reason for abolishing
work believed by many to be of value
to the State. Some. however. may
agrte with the cstcs med editor Of the
Lewiston Journal who stated on April
10th. 1T was no time for the Governor
to fight out his own interesting poll
cics. 1t is time to build dams and flow
rivers.
In this interview Of April 10th the
Governor stated: The Commit sson has
always been and should be appointed
by the Governor This is strictly true
because all appointments are made by
the Governor. even the appointments
in the act to which he objects. How
ever unint eni ionally. this statement
conveys the impression that the Com
mission has always been nominated as
we'll as appointed by the Governor.
"In the law which created the Com
mission in 1919 introduced by the
present goNernor) only three nomina-
tons We're made by tho Governor,
while seven were made by the Prosi-
dent Of The senate. Speaker of the
House. and various state organizations.
There appears to have been lass neces-
sitv at that time for Commission in
entire sympathy with the views of the
executive.
been DESTROYS of usurping the func-
lions Of the executive az to plans or
the direction Of public opinion. The
Commission was directed by the Lcgis-
IL ture to Investigate the states water
ro sources and make recommended ions
concerning them. These Functions be-
came duty and il seems reasonable
to assume that tho Legislature desired
the unbiase opinion of the Commits
sion.
THE Governor also stated in the
April 1t0h interview concerning the
provision for appointments by the
Governor. the President of the senate
and the Speaker of the House: 1T
was evidently the purpose of those
whose views differed from mine to
get control of the Commission. While
I do not feel that the particular form
importance in connection with its work.
| il scnmS rc-rcttablc that the aSsump-
ton should be made that two gentle
men OF such character as the present
/ Speaker Of the House and President Of
the Senate, would not make fair and
/ impartial nominations. the direct i'm
plication being that they would permit
6ictation from interested parties in re-
gard to these appointments. On the
contrary. it seems to have been the
! opinion of thu joint committee On judi
ciary and interior waters that in so
providing for these appointments they
were ensuring an impartial and I'M
prciudiccd Commission. The law it.
self provides that no commissioner
| shall have any official or professional
| connection with or hold any interes in
| any private water power or water stor-
age company operating within the
| State
, III our Maine undevclopcd power is
an important resource. it is extremely
important that accurat" data on river
discharge and the location and amounts
OF available power and storage should
ho available. 1t will he interesting to
those who intend to use this data and
| to whom its accuracy is OF vital lm-
portance, to know how il is planned to
/
legislative authority in the past and
does not now That the Governor docs
not realize or is indifferent to the
value of this work seems evident from
the fact that he prohibited the publica-
tion Of the data obtained during the
mast two years. This decision was
made after receiving the unanimous
opinion of the Commission that its ex-
istence was justified only by its ability
to place accurate figures i'll the hands
OF engineers and bankers wishing To
, develop Maine power. 1t has been
difficult TO obtain properly trained en-
ginccrs for the river field WORK ana
through the courtesy and interest 81
pr. George Otis Smith OF the l. :.
Geological Survey. engineers from that
survey have been detailed for this
work. The Geological Survey has
stated tina should any change he made
in the Maine work. their cooperation.
engineer and various valuable instru-
mental equipment will be Withdrawn
for work in other states. They nave
also stated that the present hish de-
gree OF accuracy in this work has been
attained only during the existence OF
the Water Power Commission.
1T may not be OF great Importance
that the present bill should fail OF ap-
prevail. 1t would have been extreme
" difficult to carry on the river work
lone assuming no other work TO be
either desirable or necessary after the
appropriation was cut to $500 at the
Governors suggestion.
THE small salaries paid to the OBJ
servers at river stations amount 10
$1,000 a year and the field expenses OF
the engineer on river work alone 10
1000 more In addition are the neces-
sary expenditures for field euipmeant.
for office work and supplies and for the
engineer on the river work.
..In any evnnt. the reduction In the