Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1923-03-23
t1fN0GRAPHIC PROCEEDINGS
from Page Three)


intended-but that the absolute
eva irresistible conclusion Of an unan-
s ans support of this veto measure,
lns,,d be the indefinite postponement
" development on this river for a Pc
VA NJ six, and. probably, If the most
.v ~rv augurics in favor Of public own
n ahin prevail, l say delay of at least
,sn, Years before there would be a
essnvc,ful Of earth turned or a move
made. =: .,
d., 10 inherently and viciously wrong
9TH private development? Is this
some new thing? We are told that
80 ia he turning point. the parting Of
.hs WAYS. Let us see. l think we
."sched the turning point on that a
'.,,nher of years ago. l think that in
,sas when the Ripogenus proposition
~. Endorsed. was nearer q turning
lint than 1923. because 1t IL from
smsIl beginnings that great results
.row and in 1903 exactly this same
sronos;tion-except that the interests
- The state were not so we'll safe
s,ordcd-was frovhed upon in the
Let. and in 1901 think 1909-the
s,;.coloos proposition, exactly the
.smc except that the State did not
sn., anv lots. was developed. That
zoe nearer the parting OF the ways
than 1873.
Lot us get nearer home. In 1921 we
.re near enough so that it is within
,he memory of all of us. and near
enough SO that it was within the vote
| n many of us. and near enough so that
n WAS within the veto of some of us,
and in 1921 there was passed a propo-
sition parallel in its extent, for the
development and utilization of the
,reat Aroostook power. In 1921, 1909,
is03. there was not found to be any,
thing inherently vicious in private de-
elopment.
Now, gentlemen. will take but a
moment more. Have YOU heard any
great clamor from this State in your
vicinity that the Ripogenus develop
ment was not welcomed, and that it
has not been giving very great satisfac-
zion. Docs anybody believe that the
A.iscooos and the Androscosgin de-
| ylopment has not materially added to
the great Industrial development of
that thriving valley? Have YOU heard
,ny great criticisms? Has there been
any uprising in the Androscoggin VAL
| lev? Has there been any great repu-
| diation, any stamp Of disapproval upon
| the men who gave away the sacred
.critage? Now, then. l think you find
| nothing in precedent, nothing in per-
| formancp, that indicates that private
Development is wrong.
But il you want better authority
than that. | ask you not to go back to
. A. liOhtS | cl- ~
| The beginning in Ripogcnus, or the fur
Their one on the Androscoggin. or the
later one in 1921. Let US come right
down to this Legislature, and let us
examine what We have before us. His
| Excellency. i'll his veto message upon
| this pending bill which We seek for the
development of the kennebec. urges
| the passage of Constitutional amend
| ment, and l am not aside from the
| question and am not discussing any
| thing else than the question, when |
. refer to tho Constitutional amendment.
| because it is made a part of this veto
message.
Read it. 1t is Senate Document
| l67, and l am at this instant simply
ADDRESSING myself to this proposition
that there is nothing inherently
wrong that there is nothing vicious,
that there is nothing that the State
Of Maine can find fault with in the
private development. I have cited
you precedence and l now state you
the prophecy. and l refer you to the
Constitutional amendment which the
Chief Executive urges us to pass,
the conservation and control by the
State or by duly authorized public
district or districts thereof or other
agency. public or private, Of the wa
ters within the State are paramount
public uses and for the benefit of the
people of the State" The Chief Ex-
ecutive urges the passage OF that
Constitutional amendment which says
that the development and utilization
Of the waters Of this State are para
mount public purposes whether done
by the State or by private agencies.
Now regarding the private agen-
cies in there. Let us see if there is
anything inherently wrong with
private development. Let us take
some further evidence to the point.
Let US take His EXcellcncy's inaugu-
/ raj address. You have it before you,
His Excellency's inaugural address,
delivered before you here on the
moor OF this hall upon the fourth day
OF January. 1928. What did he say?
shall charters be granted to priv
ATE companies to develop water stor-
age'--and l quote eXactly-"The end
70 be sought is full utilization of
Aaine's water resources, for every
water horse power developed. wheth-
u used for public or private pur-
poses means that our people and in
austries thereby become less depend
eat upon the coal supply. We all
want development and if the State
0oes not undertake it. private inter-
ISIS Should be allowed to do so, with
tne States interests fully safeguard
ed"
you are asked here, gentlemen,
'sat In line with that inaugural, to
Wihhl private development of this
ner' With the States interest so
sHesuarded that there has not been
single objection to that measure
Except That which l referred to at the
outset.
SAID the issue was development
y. aeiay. Take the inaugural l have
:Ss' referred to and delivered upon
e ia! that l referred to, and note
sno'ner clause: IF our present fl
;%ahelal condition warranted our do
"e 3d. 1 should advocate both a
~a'er storage constitutional amend
and an act experimenting it
Y nu conditioned upon its adoption Ivy
. people. knowing what l do
,ovut the States finances. l do not
ssne.e that we at present should
sA lor an appropriation or for a
vVno issue for water storage" l said
T r. issue was development or delay.
me Chief Executive says that
"o"lhs the conditions he would not
ns",, ask any opponent Of this
henlihg measure what he sees on the
iMoh TO indicate that there is go
70 " De any increase of the States
S,.uue or any Improvement of the
,ha. nnances in the next two years.
rat would warrant the same Chief
i,,su.iVe going before the next Leg
snote and saying, The glowing