Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-07

ton probable and feasible and the
State should be warranted IN carry
ing it out. The State can't get
dollar in debt anyway unless the Leg
islature appropriates money and
that money would be secured. i
would go the limit to protect the
water power owners
Maj. George c. Danforth, engineer
Of the Maine Water Power Commits
sion, discussed water power develop
ments by the government in Canada
and elsewhere and expressed the
opinion that the desire OF the COM
mission was to see the elimination OF
those politics which had prevented
water power development in Maine.
He did not deem it fair to discuss
these measures which would add TO
the. duties of the commission.
Charles L. Flagg of the water pow
err commission. discussed at length
the efforts Of the. commission, us
hopes and aims and then Senator
Eaton OF oxford, spectator. in
nuired whether the gentleman was IN
favor OF the Brewster resolve. TO
which Mr.. Flagg replied that he did
not think he ought to give an opinion.
Senator Buzzell suggested that II
was by securing such opinions that
the committee must make up It's
mind. Il think, Mr.. Flagg." said me-
that you ought to give up your opln-
ion." The opinion was not forth-
coming: instead there was long
hypothetical answer of what II thus
and so were SO he might endorse.
Senator Buzzell-"Does that ans
wer your question, Senator Eaton:
Senator Eaton-'It seems to me
that he ought to be able to answer
by yes or not
Mr.. Flagg, after further questions
nv Senators Hinckley and BuZZeii'
finally said that as he understood the
resolve, if he understood it correctly
he thought that he favored 1t:
Il believe in the CONSTITUTIONS
amendment and l believe III the e'a'c
building reservoirs" said Hiram
Kicker Of Poland Spring. gesturlns
with both arms and his flowing beard
at the same time.
Mr.. Kicker. who is member of the
Maine Water Power Commission. in
sisted that if the State and the power
owners had got together a dozen years
ago that with the price of coal TO the
public in the last seven years one
third of the cost of development could
have been saved. I'VE have now but
four natural resources left. agricul-
ture. resorts. manufacturing interests
and the development of our power,
said he.
Mr.. Kicker urged the retention of the
Maine Water Power Commission,
whether the reservoirs are built or not.
.'It is profitable investment. even at
SIS. 900 a year for the next 10 years.
co, available great
amount of information" said he.
The Opposition
Col. William B. Shelton OF Lewiston
opened tho case for the opponents of
the mea sure.
This is matter OF great import
ancc to the corporations engaged in tho
development and utilization of water
powers in the state Of Maine" said Col.
SHELTON.
I'VE all agree that study of the
water power proposition should he
made" continued Col. SHELTON. The
primary Gesire is to get development
of the water powers Of the State. and
it is not so much a question who do2n
it or how it is done, whether by private
ownership or not. The idea is TO get
an increasing water power.
WV. bo-ttVI iiidtS III al HTS
sage said that the end to be sought is
the full utilization Of Names water
powers and the present water power
commission apparently had the same
view when it said in it's report The
commission wishes to state that the
Discrimination to develop water power
is the lack of definite policy
I'VE accept an established stable
policy If we are to have a deve opment
of those water powers
Mt has been frequently stated that
there should be some policy as regards
the water power situation. In 1909
the agitation resulted in the creation
Of water power commission to inves-
1igatc conditions and bill was offered
in the Legislature of 1911 and rejected
looking to the control Of river basins.
Bills have been offered and rejected
since that time and the last LegisIa-
tune rejected a proposition of this ma
ture looking to proposed constitu
tional amendment covering this very
matter. The measure was rejected in
the House by vote of 81 to A and in
the Senate by vote Of IS to 10.
with the resolve rejected by the
last Legislature by almost two to one
vote and with the various propositions
would seem that the State had adopted
n policy.
Not a person engaged in manufac-
turing. not person engaged in the de-
velopment of water power. or anyone
who has suffered an injustice from
water power COMPANY has appeared
here in favor of the resolve introduced
by Senator Brewster.
IF the Legislature submits this
constitutional amendment to the people
and they adopt it, no fixed policy will
be settled" insisted Mr.. Shelton. Does
anybody presume TO tell what policy
will be adopted after the amendment
is passed? 1t will open the door to the
New York act. the act we are dis
cussing today. or any other bill.
do not think. as some people tell
YOU that You will have settled the
matter when YOU lravc adopted the
amendment" continued Mr.. Shelton.
I'VE not only have this enabling act