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

different manner, by both Messrs.
Wyman and Shelton. The attempt
now being made by certain newspa-
pers that support the corporations to
confuse this issue, has as ono of its
purposes the saving Of the feelings
OF those Legislators who voted with
the corporations and then retreated
under fire by repeating their own bill.
The right to use tho water that 9TH
erwise would run to waste was not a
factor in our agreement for the Dead
River charter.
Over Confidence Of Corporations
Mr.. Wyman agreed to secure the
passage by the Legislature the fol-
lowing (Thursday) morning, of the
new bill and was so sure of the cor
poration's ability to carry it through
that he proposed to have the bill
"engrOssed" that very night. 1t then
was after midnight. The last step
beforesthe final passage of bill Is
it's "engrossing," and Mr.. Wyman
wanted the charter in shape to have
it passed promptly at the morning
session. Senator Brewster and my
self both suggested that to have a
bill "engrossed" before 1t even bad
been introduced" might be Con-
strued as interfering with Legisla-
tive prerogative. We cautioned
against undue haste and inquired if
the Legislators had been consulted.
The reply was in the negative, but
Messrs. Shelton and Wyman both
weres confident of their influence
with the Legislature, and stated that
the bill would be passed, That was
NTn
Immediately went to the printers
office and ordered the bill engrossed,
with the result that the first proofs
innocently enough had the word
"Wyman" printed at the top of the
page. showing that the printer had
taken his orders from Mr.. Wyman
personally. This printed name is
conclusive proof that the bill was ap-
proved in every detail by both
Messrs. Wyman and SHELTON, and
that it is the bill that Senator
Brewster and myself have cOnsis-
tently favored. and which we sought
to have passed in the closing hours
Of the Session. Not word or line
ever has been changed by any of the
parties who conferred regarding it.
| agreed to deliver message to
the Legislature explaining the new
dead RiveD charter. prepared it
Thursday morning. and after read
ing it to Senator Brewster. delivered
it about noon before the Senate and
House. Within an hour the water
power lobby re-appeared at the
pherG was charged with excitement.
Legislatures Dilemma
The Legislators did not take
kindly>to the Dead River charter for
they felt it placed them in an I'M
comfortable position. On the assur-
ance of the corporations that the
kennebec charter was good bill
and did not affect adversely the pub
lie interest, they had accepted the
first bill and passed it over the Gov
ernOr's veto. Now their faith in the
corporations was shaken, for they
found that MeSsrs. Shelton and Wy
man privately had agreed upon a
second bill in which the State was
to receive a million dollars rental,
under a lease of privileges that under
the first bill We're to be decided
away forever CONSERVATION pre-
vailed among those Legislators who
had backed the Kcnnebec bill, and
passed it so triumphantly over the
Governors veto. They did not know
what tOsdO. The scene in the Au-
gusta House that evening never will
he forgotten and feelings ran high.
Some Legislators in their distress
came to me and explained their
predicament. They asked for advice,
saying they could not face their con-
stituents at home if the new charter
passed. They We're desperate and
realized that explanations would be
demanded of them.
/ replied that there was principle
which should guide us all. and that
was first to determine what was best
for the state of Maine, then hold to
it, and let all other considerations
of eXpediency and face-saying be
disregarded. I explained that the
new bill was a lease, not Il deed,
that it gave theeState million dol
lars rental during the 40 year per-
iod. which rental could be increased
if a renewal of the lease We're
granted, that the timber on the land
leased was retained by the State
and that the bill provided that all
the dead wood should be 7 removed
so that beautiful lake and not a
great forest graveyard would he
created in the Dead River country.
The KCnnebec charter contains none
of those provisions. Had there been
4 few more cooler heads in and about
the Legislature. the Dead River
charter would now be law of the
State. AS a matter of fact. however.
Messrs. Wyman and SHELTON were so
upset by the turn of events that the
new charter never was formally
introduced" in either branch.
Repudiat alton
Up to this point in the negotia-
lions, I have every reason to believe
that Messrs. Wyman and SHELTON
were acting in good faith and were
DESTROYS of effecting a compromise
that would be fair to- all parties.
Whether they exceeded the authority
conferred upon them by their as
sociates, is of course a matter en-
tirely within their own knowledge.
At two o'clock on Friday afternoon.
April 9th, I received a formal letter
from Mr.. Wyman. in which he add
mitted that he had "assented to" the
Dead River charter but stated he had
withdrawn from the proposed ar
rangement. and did not want it
passed. His excuse was that in my
message. 1 expressed an opinion that
the Dead River charter established
a new policy for the State" which
was that water resources owned by
the people hereafter would be leased,
not decided away to private interests.