Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-02-08

Commission, otherwise known as the
Tracey bill.
This bill. which has been SUBJ
mitted to the past five Legislatures,
creates commission to be known
as the Peoples Rights and Water
Power Commission of the State of
Maine, to consist of five men, an ex-
perienccd civil engineer, an expert
hydraulic and electrical engineer.
two experienced dam builders and
one capable business man. These
men. before appointment by the Gov
ernor, must pass civil service ex-
animation before a board of exam
liners composed of four professors of
science. one from each of the colleges
of the State, and to be appointed by
the president of each college.
The duty of the commissioners is
to ascertain the amount and loca-
ton of all unoccupied and Occupied
water power privileges in the State
and to take personal possession at
once of all unoccupied water powers.
Provision is also made for taking
possession of all occupied water
powers in the State upon 60 days
notice. In entering into a contract
with the inhabitants Of Maine,
through the commissioners. prefer
ence is given TO persons. companies
or corporations who are using occll-
pied water powers for manufacturing
purposes or generating electric light,
heat or power.
The act further provides that the
price of rental for water power
less than $50 nor more than $50 for
each and every horsepower used
during one year. 1t is also provided
that the commission shall control
the cutting of ice on waters or rivers
for commercial! purposes.
The commission is made an incor-
porated body with full power 10
issue sufficient bonds to defray all
the expenses of said commission to
develop all water powers of the state
and to pay for 81! riparian and How
age right that may lie deemed neces-
sary. AS soon as the income from
the fees received from the rentals
Of the water powers shall be SUI
ticient to pay all Indebtedness or
oncrating expenses, then such a sum
shall be used annually. not 70 eX-
coed S1O,0O0.000 a year to pay the
interest and redemption of bonds.
and further surplus. not to exceed
s15.OOp,0OO a year. shall be applled
to pay the municipal expense OF all
towns, cities. counties and the
State. Any balance then left shall
be applied to building good. soma
and permanent roads of the most
enduring construction. and such sums
shall lie expended annually not 70
exceed s15.000,000 a year until all
roads in the State are completed.
After the dams are all built and
riparian and fiowage rights paid for
and all roads built. then all the
money received. after paying all
state. county. city and town ex-
penses. shall be divided ANNUALLY
per capita to every man. woman ana
child. who are legal Inhabitants OF
the state.
The salary of the commissioners
is fixed at $500 year and all neces-
sary travelling expenses while on
duty for the state.
For New Charter for Roekland
Rogers of Rockland-Act provid-
ing a new charter for the city of
Rockland.
The act abolishcs the common
council OF the city and vests
municipal government in mayor
and a single board of seven mcm-
bers. The time of election is
changed from an annual election in
March to a biennial election in De-
cember. Members Of the school
board, instead Of being appointive.
are elected on the general ticket. The
office of street commissioner is re-
placed by a commissioner of public
works. The municipal fiscal year is
mado TO end on the secord Monday
in November. A referendum provi-
sion Is attached requiring the act, to
be submitted 10 the voters OF Rock
land on the second Monday in Sep
TENDER of this year.
othSr Acts
Holmes of Lewistof--Act author
izing the Androscoggin and Ken
nebec Railway TO convert It's present
second preferred capital stock into
common stock Of equal par value.
and subject TO the approval OF the
Public Utilities Commission, to can
eel its present authorized common
stock.
Dunn of North Yarmouth-~Aet in
cooperating the Yarmouth Water
District
TO supply the Inhabitants Of the
towns Of Yarmouth and North
Yarmouth with water from Royal
river or from any spring, pond, brock
DR. other waters IN the towns of
y Yarmouth and New Gloucester. The
act, which l., made an emergency
measure. provides for the control Of