Daily Kennebec journal. [microfilm reel] (Augusta, Me.) 1870-1975, 1926-04-05
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policy was adopted under the leader
ship of Senator Fernald.
1T has been urged that Names
golden opportunity would be lost I'M
less our policy were Immediately
changed and that our powers We're
becoming a less and less important
factor in our national economic life.
The error of this contention would
seem to be indicated by the recent
entry into Maine from the Middle
West of one of the most powerful
electrical groups in the country and
their acquisition of the largest single
holding of developed and undeveloped
Maine water-powers at very sub
stantial price. These interests do
not invent their money in economic
grave-yards and they came here with
full knowledge of the long esta blish-
ed policy of the State of Maine.
THE representatives of these COR
porations have been assured of the
cordiality with which our citizens
welcomed them to our State and of
on readiness at any time to consider
with them ways in which the inter-
ests of their companies and the State
may be mutually served in connec-
ton with any projects for develop
ments they may propose. Pending
definite proposals we must consider
the subject upon broader lines of
general policy.
warning against the menace of Fed
eral control of the electrical industry.
No one at this time knows that limi-
tations are constitutional or practi-
cable by the states once electricity
has begun to flow across state lines.
The only sure guarantee at the pre-
sent time of state control is to keep
within State lines and out of inter-
state commerce.
Nor is this economically so absurd
as 1t is sometimes claimed. Herbert
Hoover says: There has been out
rageous xaggerations of the prob
able extent of interstate power. For
economic reasons these power dis
tricts will in but few cases reach
across State lines.-There is a limit
to the size to which operating dis
tricts should be extended. The eco
omies of central generation, of best
diversity of load, have territorial
limitation in each case, beyond which
no advantage is gained. Moreover
the attention to service and response
to local responsibility decreases after
SOulS iIldA1l1ulll LldS OSCu ICdSl-
ed.
practically no power at Niagara
has gone more than 100 miles from
the falls. Secretary Hoover has been
ready for thu interconnection of OPP
Grating districts even across state
lines arguing that the State could
still retain legal control but the re-
cent Telephone rate decisions must
give one serious pause upon this
score.
I'VE are told that II we permit a
great power line to be established,
carrying the hydro-e1ectric energy
out of the State. that we may legally
provide for its retaking at any time
that there be a local demand. Ger
tainly II 1t Is unconstitutional, as
claimed, to prevent its expectation In
the first instance, 1t would be at the
proper time contended that it was
unconstitutional to attempt its re-
capture, especially as vested inter-
ests Of large magnitude would then
be introduced into the problem,
where they do not now exist. Char
ter amendments might be used to es-
tablish a contract relationship in
connection with these franchises, but
the questions which have been raised
regarding TIE piOpilCty dhu Ndliulty
of these clauses would be urged with
redoubled force If great investments
of capital were DESTROYS of their
notification.
'It is also difficult to believe that
any great development-costi as
is estimated. over ten million dollars
for transmission lines alone, and car
rving two or three billion kilowatt
hours per year to industries in South
ern New England. which would to
some extent necessarily be dependent
upon these sources of supply-would
ever be carried out If all this power
were subject to recapture at any time