Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-27
OUR LEGISLATORS.

A Hot Time Over the Railroad Ques- ton Again-An ExeursionTrain Load of Petitioners-The Railroad Conn mitIee Hearing-The Shell Fish Com mfssioners-An Animated Hearing on This Question AIsO-Fair Haven and Oyster Point Dealers In Force at the Capitol.
 HARTFORD, Conn.,, Feb. 26. Especial Correspondence of the JOURNAL AND
 CoURIER.l
 Ex-Postmaster Clark of Birmingham won substantial victory to-day. He is now agent of the Thomson-Houston Electric company, which petitioned the legislature for an amendment to it's charter granting an ancrease of capital to $10,000,O ,OO0, so that the company can aid local horse car, electric light and other electric motor companies to establish plants and use the apparatus which the petitioners manufacture. The bill was faverably reported by the committee on in- corporations after careful investigation and long continuance, during which time no one appeared to oppose it. The other day the Senate passed the bill accepting the commit tees report. The Westinghouse and other rival concerns then set about to defeat the bill in the house, and put on lobby which was second in size and power only to that of the Housatonic railroad Thursday the house tabled the bill at the instigation of the lobby. This morning the friends of Post master Clark rallied and called the bill from the table, whereupon the biggest pitched battle of the session ensued in the house.
 MT. Hyde, of Hartford, offered an amend ment which was satisfactory to the petition CTS providing that the company should not establish a new plant anywhere without special charter from the State. This he said was done as a concession to some people who thought the charter asked for too much power. The amendment was passed. The battle on the part of the opponents of the resolution was opened by young MT. Bran- the afray. The result, however, of MT. Brandagee's first big fight was such as will probably deter him from such rash efforts in the future.
 He said he didn't understand all the clauses in this bill and wanted 1t recommlt- ted to the interpretations committee, so that if there was anything funny about the bill he could find out about it. He was suspic- ious of it and thought it was trust racket that was being worked. MT. Hull Of Stam- ford objected to going back on the report of a committee which had carefully considered a matter.
 Mir. Glover said his Sunday rest even had been disturbed by people who visited him to tell him how wicked this bill was, but upon questioning all these he found the only thing about It was that lC maO6 the 1QOEapsOn- Houston company rival for bigger compan- ies who made all the opposition. The bill was all right and ought to pass. MT. Dimock of Holland wanted the bill sent back to the committee. This brought Colonel Mowry of Norwich, house chairman of the committee on interpretations, to his feet to vigorously defend the report of the committee. Colonel Mowry stated that the Thomson-Houston company in 1883 furnished g companies with it's electric lights, now it supplied 435. The petitioners wanted sufficient increase of capital to do their increased business and he called attention to the fact that of the several rivals who were fighting here, the Westinghouse had $12.- O0O, 900 capital, the United States $8, ,0o0,- 900 and new trust company had $40, ,000,- 900, and they were trying to freeze out the Thomson-Houston company.
 Mir. Bryant of Orange, MT. Holden of Dor by, spoke in favor of the bill. After about two hours debating 8 vote was taken which resulted in a strong majority in favor of the bill
 Attorney Lynde Harrison is the attorney for the company, who drew the bill, and with Mr. Clark has had to bear the brunt of the fight in which the big lobby was down ed. The amended bill, as passed, goes to the senate tomorrow.
 The House did not consider many other matters of importance before adjournment, but passed a rule that members should be allowed but five minutes to report on a oues- tion and chairman of committees ten min- utes.