Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-02-02
Lewiston Senator
Makes Fine Speech
Before Kiwanians

Senator Carter of Lewiston was
the speaker at the regular meeting
of the Waterville Kiwanis Club at
the Elmwood hotel last evening. TAX
ing. for his subject, Names DAN
ger Is Federal Jurisdiction of Its
Power" he said: IF the shipment
of Names hydro electricity were un-
der the Federal Interstate Commerce
Commission. development and ship
ment of power In this state would be
treated from the nationwide angle
the greatest good to the greatest
number and the greatest number lies
in the Mississippi valley.
I 1T would be a repetition Of the
history of our Federal public utili-
ties-our railroads for instance.
Years ago. when the railroads were
first built In this state, and industrial
development begun. the owners of
the railroads could exercise discre-
ton in relation to the management
of the roads and in the adjusting
of preferential rates discriminatory
on different commodities which had
the tendency to develop the state
and put those industries farther
| away from the market in fair COM
| the market. 1t was in this area of
cheap railroading and cheap power
that Maine had its first big indus
trial growth.
When company owners and man
ayers tell you they desire the up
/ building of Maine, that they desire
only to ship the surplus, bringing
that surplus back-it isn't for me to
doubt their statement, but it is for
me to say to you that under these
conditions If the Interstate Com
merce Commission took jurisdiction
Of this interstate power, as 1t has
every other federal utility, the own
ers and managers of these compa-
MES are powerless as to what shall
be done.
! water running down hill is what
we have in Maine and we dam the
water, lead it to the turbine wheels,
the wheels move machinery, a gen.
orator and as result, electricity Is
produced. This electricity is COM
/ modify and when it gets to the
switch board it is perfectly capable
of having its cost found and the
switch board is the logical place at
| which the company generating 1t
| shall find its cost. 1t is now ready
for delivery to any purchaser.
Now the out of state buyer of
-hoilS hioOC 6OOuS duOS 10 Ills puEs
chase cost, his profit. The retailer
buys at the purchasers cost plus
the cost of distribution to himself.
The same with electricity. The dis
/ tributor of electricity has paid the
initial cost plus profit, the transmits
sion cost plus profit and now is en-
titled to distribute that electricity at
his cost plus his profit, the same as
any purchaser of any other commod-
ity. Thus, the Maine generated pow
err its price is fixed at the generat-
, ing switch board and the purchaser
pays the freight on this commodity
the same as with any other manu-
featured article produced in Maine
which assures to Maine tt <r pri-
mary power at a cost less than out
OF state persons can buy Maine
, power of similar class, for the
nearer the industry Is to the dam
site. the less the transportation cost.
the less distance it will have to be
transported. the less freight rate"
The senator's closing words were.
Render under the Mississippi VAL
ley that which is the Mississippi val
iey's-but render unto Maine that
which is Names.