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

From this it was apparent that the
corporate interests believed that they
could save their charter by control
ling a few thousand votes at q
special election in 1929. The cost of
doing this meant nothing to them
put they were afraid OF a vote in
1924. when over 100000 voters would
go to the polls and vote on the refer
endum L had started. l wanted the
people as a whole to take time to
think this matter over so they could
vote intelligently upon it. / feared
the corporate propaganda and want
ed a large vote which no interests
could handle. An added reason for
postponing the referendum until 1924
was that the people of the State
thereby would be saved the heavy
expense of a special election, not
less than $4,000.
IL should not be overlooked that
mad the Legislature wished to con-
suit the people upon this important
matter. 1T might have put a refer
endum clause on the original bill.
1nls would have settled the matter
without referendum by either the
~ tiC wi pOt Inc
legislature however did not care to
consult the people, it's decision to
pass the Kennebec bill was arrived
at early in the session and its first
thought of the people was after my
referendum was well underway.
Inc result was that both referen-
dum petitions were placed in. circula
tlon. During all this activity l was
considering the matter carefully
Alter consulting with my brother.
Councillor r. ii. Baxter. I thought
some compromise might be effected
wherein the States interests would
De protected and private develop
mcnt encouraged.
The Inside History
Inc history of these negotiations
makes interesting reading for Maine
people. The first of my referendum
petitions were distributed March Goth.
On FRIDAY, March 80, invited Mr..
William b. Skeoon of Lewiston to
come to Augusta, he being the regis
tered lobbyist, or Legislative agent"
OF the principal individuals who COM
prlsed the kennebec group of water
power owners interested ir the pro-
posed charter. Mr.. Shelton, Councillor
baNter. and myself talked over the
matter, but apparently to no purpose.
without making plans for another
conference we parted. Mot being dis
coufaScd, the next day. Sunday, April
ISL, l telephoned Hon. f.. w. Wheeler
Oh brunswick. a man of wide eXper-
ltnce in public affairs, entirely i'm
partial and not interested in water
powers. and Mr.. SHELTON. At my in
vItaticn they both came to Augusta
ana discussed the situation with
Councillor Baxter and myself. / told
MI. SHELTON that | would favor grant
ing MS companies Il charter if they
would accept conserVatively worded
constitutional amendment allowing
the state to develop water storage
ana also would pay 4 fair price on a
lease for the Dead River water rights.
Mr. Skelton agreed to report this Of
Ter to his principals, both those with
in and without the State. Monday.
ApSll 2nd and Tuesday, April 3rd
passed without my hearing from Mr..
SHELTON. | thought the matter had
been abandoned but meanwhile |
TOOK Senator Brewster into my conf
deEce and told him all that had oc-
CURED.
New Charter Agreed Upon
Inc attempt to effect a compromise
appeared to have failed. On Tuesday
evening Mr.. Walter S. Wyman. treas
urer and general manager of the Cen
tral Maine Power Company, himself
one of the confessional Tres in the Or
l2lnal bill, met Senator Brewster and
asked him to find out my views as TO
what would be a fair rental. and be-
fore seven o'clock "Wednesday morn
ing, April 4th, the telephone at the
Blame House rang and Mr.. Shelton
talked from Lewiston with my broth
er and said he was coming to Angus
tn with full authority to negotiate.
ON the afternoon OF that day Mr.
shelton. Councillor Baxter, Senator
Brewster and myself went over the
details and Mr.. Shelton definitely
stated that his corporations would
not oppose a constitutional amend
ment and would pay a fair price for
Il lease of the water rights. He stated
also that he had communicated with
all of his companies and was their
accredited representative at our con-
ference. After this the only question
1T issue was the amount OF money to
nc paid the state as rental: Every
thing else had been agreed upon.
Later in the day Mr.. Shelton came
to the Governors Office and stated
that he had discussed all the details
with his corporations in Maine and
those in Boston, that they all under
stood and had agreed to them but as
an afterthought wanted the consti-
tutional amendment. eliminated from
the agreement. Senator Brewster
and myself conferred about this and
concluded that as the amendment
was not really an issue at that time
we would waive it. As n result the
price of $4,000 per year was estab-
lished as rental for the privileges
leased. The bargain was made and
the matter closed.
Water Power
Senator Brewster and Mr.. Shelton
retired to Mr.. Wyman's Office to draft
the bill as agreed upon. About 80
that evening, they returned to the
Blaine House accompanied by Mr..
Wyman and bringing with them a
typewriter copy of the new charter.
according to agreement. Councillor
Baxter and Secretary Chadbourne
In, foll n t,~xr