Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-04-14
Saturday, April "A, 1923.
PROCLAMATION W DEVELOP
MENT

also tho statement OF the Chief
Engineer of the Commission, which
we had previously obtained. Having
done this We assume the reader will
draw his own conclusions, especially
IL he be n resident Of this part of the
State where we are seriously re-
GREETING the tracking of a big
project for power development.
1t will be noticed that the Cover
nor aTludcs to his ideas or idea, the
one OF the moment, where he says:
II am in favor of private develop
ment OF State owned water re-
sources, but l do believe that the
title to these resources should be
retained by the State for them. and
that hereafter leases not deeds should
be made"
1t seems a pity the Governor had
not gotten hold, earlier in the ses-
sion of the Slst Legislature, of that
idea in relation to the Dead River
proposition. There the State happens
to own land on a dam site and was
in a position to lease, a rental was
agreed upon provided additional
rights were granted, and had the
matter been properly handled there
Is little il any doubt the industries
interested would have been glad to
spend several millions in develop
ment, the State would get revenue
from taxation Of the improvements
when made, a revenue far and away
beyond any that might he obtained
through the lease.
In view of the serious detrimcnt
to the Industrial future Of the state,
an irrcparable injury brought about
by Governor Bakers attitude
there is no lodging that fact--it
seems pertinent to inquire into the
latest manifestations of that attitude.
1t is perfectly obvious that before
the State may lease property for
unobjectional method under proper
conditions, it must first be in posses
sion OF the property to lease. This
was the situation at the proposed
dam site of the Dead River reservoir.
1t would be interesting to learn
whether it owns other sites of like
nature. If it does not then it must,
If it would secure them, pay as much
as anybody would pay for them. Is
It prepared to do this, and how much
would it cost, and what would be the
advantages, and must development
wait half a century or so while the
State is getting ready?
.. Since writing the above a procfa-
nation issues from the Executive
Chamber, which with the statement
previously issued, to which reference
has been made. is doing almost as
we'll as on the Governors busiest
veto days. There has been through
out the State feeling of dpres-
sion respecting this unnecessary wet
blanket thrown upon development
in Maine. This, the cost of freights,
increasing competition with our
products in parts OF the country
more accessible to the consumers.
the disposition to make politics while
Maine industry waits, these are
features of the situation which have
been very vivid on the screen BEFORE
the eyes Of Maine people since the
adjournment Of the Legislature. 1t
is being realized that a political
football may be no joke but rather
a tragedy. Perhaps the typewrters
In the Executive Chamber have
ssensed something of this which Is
going on in the public mind.
Anyhow, here IL a proclamation
from the Governor which endeavors
to put two unrelated facts together
and draws thercfrom an erroneous
conclusions; first that the Legislature
g. passed the Kcnnebec Charter over
the Governors vcto-a fact-second,
the calling of referendum by the
Governor A fact-with the err
roncous conclusion that the Legls-
lature became frightened and re-
pcalcd the charter-only half a
fact. 1t showed no sign of fright,
. and this was not the cause for re-
peal. Hadn't the industries affected,
in order that there should be no de-
lay, hadn't they worked to get an
earlier referendum so that there
might not be delay and were there
not plenty OF signatures for ref
ercndum in 1923 instead Of delaying
and dumping it into a State election
a year later. as the Governor for no
announced adequate reason wished
Does the Governor mention this In
his proclamation? Why not?
The cost of calling a special ses-
sion OF the Legislature he doubtless
considers as little in comparison with
the loss OF revenue which the State
is not getting from improvements
leases or prospective leases under
the conditions which Governor BaX-
> ter has so seriously lnuddled. we
d hope the industries will be founo
ready to accept his offer. but in view
8 OF what already has occurred, 1t may
be doubted whether they will not in.
sist on something definite in the wa!
of assurance as to just what thu
. Governor will do. We are not con
cerned for the industrial interests
however. but for Names interests
the interests of the kcnuebcc Vale!
especially. and would not like to SCI
any more sacrifices made to dramati,
or political possibilities. What il