Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1925-04-10
In the Senate

CtllttlOL IlILthicS VI SuIllDcI ldilu
at the opening of Thursday after
Moons Senate session moved the ac-
ceptance of the report upon the Mill
Act amendment, signed by Senator
Hussey of Aroostook and Represen-
tative Hamilton of Caribou. which
would eliminate the st. John River
, and it's tributaries from the Mill
Act.
The so-called Aroostook amend
ment. provides that the Mill Act
! shall not apply 10 mills and dams
erected upon streams whose waters
ultimately reach the ocean at a
point wholly outside the territorial
limits of the United States, unless
said dams are authorized by act of
the Legislature or by a decree of the
Public Utilities Commission, made
after public notice and hearing on
petition for such authorization"
Senator Hinckley explained that
although he had signed the majority
report of the Judiciary Committee
against any change in the mill act
he was willing to place the respon-
sibility for amending the act SO as
to take care of situation pending
on the st. John River to the Aroos-
took delegation. He asserted that
personally he was not alarmed at
the situation and he believed that
the people of Aroostook would be
amply protected by the International
Joint Commission.
II am in favor of the mill act re-
naming as it is in toto" said Senator
Hinckley, but in the interests of a
compromise l am willing to favor a
report that it shall not be effective
on the St. John River and its tribu-
taries.
Senator Carter of Androscoggin
said that he believed that the mill
act should be changed because it
had gone beyond reason" and that
the mandate of the courts was in
favor of a change.
Like the Senator from Cumber-
land, however, | am willing to fore
go my original bill rather than leave
Aroostook county without protection
from the Grand Falls development
possibilities, said Senator Carter in
moving the acceptance of the st.
John River amendment.
Senator Maher of kennebec was In
the midst of an ornate speech Civ
ing his reasons for signing the ma
jority report ought not to pass upon
the original Carter bill, taking the
flowage provisions out of the Mill
Act for the entire State, when Sem
ator Allen of York arose to ques-
ton of special privilege.
Senator Hinckley was drawn in
to the discussion, asking that Sena
tor Allen be allowed to continue,
despite the protest of Senator Maher
that the remarks of the York County
Senator were rambling and had no
bearing upon any question of special
privilege
Present Gold Watch to President
BuZZcII
President Buzzell allowed Sena-
ator Allen to continue and it quick
ly developed that the question Of
special privilege was the presenta-
ton on behalf of the members of the
Senate of a beautiful gold watch to
the presiding officer.
President BuzzeiI Responds
In part President BuzZell address
ed the Senate after the presentation
of the watch and chain" Fellow
Senators | thank YOU from the bot
tom of my heart for this valuable
and beautiful gilt. Though ! knew
time was coming when | would be
the recipient of some gift through
experiences, with past legislatures l
was totally unprepared to be pre-
scented with a git at this time in the
midst of an important measure. l
picture today like the last day at
school when sorroWing hearts bid
the faithful teacher good bye and
Likewise we bid good bye to all our
school chums. For when we 90 out
of here some of us will not be coming
back and it will probably be fare
we'll for all time. This is one of the
best working Legislatures that has
ever assembled here in Augusta and
though we have not always agreed,
yet we have at all times been gen.
tlemanly in our diSagreements and
have not carried our differences out
side the State House. 1t has been
a pleasure, an honor and n privilege
to serve as president of this Senate
OF the SIND Legislature for 1t has
been one of the most harmonious
sessions that | have ever attended
IN my eight years in the legislature.
And in closing | can only saw that
do not believe any legislature ever