Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-22


project. / have yet. to ind any man
in the entire State Of Maine. who hass
made his name great on account OF
having accomplished real things Tor
the Industrial classes,-the man who
II not In favor Of this bill. VA.
The distinguished senator. my
colleague from Cumberland. has
quoted from an editorial In the
Lewiston Journal, and he says that
he subscribes to that editorial. The
Lewiston Journal in my Judgment
has done more during the last twenty
years to conserve the natural
heritages Of the people in the State
OF Maine than any other one in.
very large extent to that far.sightsd
and broad.m!ndsd policy Of that
great and able man who has directed
the editorial policies Of that paper.
I am going to read to you parts OF
that editorial. that were not read by
my colleague from Cumberland. who
says he subscribes to the editorial.
I'VE have said that. we hoped that
Governor Baxter Will sign without
opposition the bill to create the Ken
nebec Reservoir Company. But he
has seen fit to veto it. .,e
The kennebcc Reservoir project Is
a real project. 1t signifies advance
ment. 1t spell progress. The water
power users on the. Kennebec have
been greatly handicapped all winter.
The paper mills at Madison have had
to shut down machines this winter
for lack of water. Other industries
are suffering. The project. save for
the fact that 1t involves-two state
lots. is exactly like the Aziscoos dam
on the Androscoggin. that has carried
us in the valley Of this river thru
this hard winter with no loss Of time
for operatives or Of production for
our Industries q bcneficent and
useful working-out of a great power.
The franchise is worth something.
We assume that may be the objection
of the Governor. But it will not
please people to hold it back for that
reason. If it be worth a million or
ten millionaire more reason for it's
speedy use. The terms Of the grant
are those Of a virtual lease. Under
this bill it should be stipulated that
the work be done within a certain
limit of time. and when the lease ex-
pres in certain limit Of time. to be
taken over-the whole of it at
reasonable cost--nothing to be paid
for the franchise rights. In other
words we are not to give the Ken
nebec people something for nothing
and buy it back again at price.
Nothing of that sort
The power available by this stor-
age is now wasted 1t is needed. It
would pay someone something. Every
dollar earned by any industry is re-
stored in some form to the world
None of it is buried in the ground.
We forget how impossible it is for
the profit taker to hold his profits
The federal government takes some:
the state takes more; the town takes
more: the overhead takes more: the
workman takes more and so the line
of waiting hands-out grows down the
line.
Under out Public Utility Board the
reasonable price for power must be
charged and no more. When profits
grow. down ought to come the price
Whenever we find that any corpor-
alton is making excess profits in a
public utility we have the right to
demand a hearing and lowering of
rates if the facts be found to be in
accord with the complaint to that
effect
There was opposition to the
AZiscoos Dam charter. For time, it
was held up. The writer of these
words felt about that bill exactly as
he does about this bill. He believed
it would be beneficent and wise. One
night when the thing looked darkest
he sought out the opposition and a
compromise was reached. 1t was in
the Fernald administration and some
of the writer's friends were con-
cerned in the opposition. They have
always been glad that they made the
the Lake was created: the power has
since run down this river for the
growth and development of this
valley of the Androscogein and we
have never heard criticism OF
management: excess profits: or other
un1alr competition or dealings,
Maine needs the additional power
on>the kennebec. After years, the
power-owners have gotten together.
me Governor may take such credit
10 hlmself as properly belongs for
! bringing about this agreement. We
nope that now. he will join as he
ought to join. in our opinion in this
measure. which savoring of private
advantage. is it does. yet enbodies
courage. faith. good Judgment and the
application of storage facilities
where it is needed under the guidance
of men who know their business"
Quoting again from the Governors
Message:
The granting Of this franchise
means that private corporate con-
troll of the water resources of Maine
is the fixed policy of the State. and
that the water power issue has pass
ed into oblivion"
l am glad to join hands with the
Governor of the State on this issue
and on this conclusion. 1 believe that
the vote taken today will determine
that the State of Maine is through
with its visions of water power BUSH
ness, and l believe that this Senate
will concur in the proposition that
the State has no place in business Of
TINS kind. and that the policy fixed
Tor all time will be that business men
whov nave made successes in. the past
and who can be counted upon to make
a success OF this business in the flu
lure VIII engage in this business, and
by engaging in it bring to the Ken
nebec valley. and we hope the acts
of future Legislatures bring to the
valley OF every river running down
through our State. to the sea, tens
Of thousands of homes OCCUPIED bv
happy and contented people on ac-
count of the great industries estab.
iished therein and thereby.
Mr.. 9UZZELL Of Waldo: Mr..
President. I too desire to subscribe
to the article which appeared in the
Lewiston Journal. and want to give
you my reasons for it.
In the first place. 1 do not think II
is necessary for me to say that | am
against State ownership and govern
ment control. In the course of the
last few years Won have hea I'd ma "a -