Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-02-24
MAYOR SARGENT

MAYOR SARGENT
And Professor Newton of Yale Before
the Committee on Cities and Bor-
oughs at Hartford Yesterday-Rlec-
tric Roads Discussed Clarence
Deming's Appointment Rejected
The Consolidated Road to be Heard
From Next Week-The Senate and
House.
HARTFORD, Feb. 23.-[Special. Before
the committee on cities and boroughs this
afternoon, New Haven had its say on the
electric road question. Mayor Sargent was
the first to speak, and during his remarks
said 1t seems to be the general and to q
certain extent the correct view, that the
state Ia soon to be gridironed with electric
roads. Now it is quite important to the
people of the state to start right at the
commencement, and fair and square at the
start, in these things. The first step is
that the capital stock of these companies
should be no larger than the costs of con-
struotion and equipment. Second, no
bonds be issued until all of the stock is
paid in, and then not to exceed one half
the value of the road, and the stock and
bonds together not to exceed the cost of
equipment and construction, with a small
margin for running expenses. l would
make these provisions state laws. I
would tax no street railroad except
on their tangible property, and not
their franchises. see no reason why q
railroad should be taxed in any different
manner than manufacturing company.
oS fov fronohiaa 7 Uonld
compel them to make the fares as low as
possible and thus benefit the people in
general A tax on franchise means no re-
duction of fares and merely benefits the
property holder by reducing his taxes and
not the poor people, who need the fare as
low as possible. ask that the local mu-
nicipal authorities shall have the say as to
what streets these roads shall run through
and all other powers regarding them that
they now have under our existing state
laws. It would be tyranny on the part of
this legislature to allow q railroad to run
through the streets of municipality with
out its consent, and to suit the whim of q
railroad corporation.
would ask you to provide some price
at which municipality could buy up such
roads at any time they 80 desired. The
people are to be considered in this matter.
Property owners can protect themselves
and don't need legislation. also think
we should have 5 cent fare ell over the
city.
Professor Newton, alderman from the
First ward in New Haven, said: should
not come here to take any part in this con
troversy unless had been forosd to do &c
| by my people, whom I represent. I en-
dorse every word said by Mayor Sargent
| and urge upon you, gentlemen, to protec
| us in our roads, which we own, and pro
| vide that we shall have power at any time
| to buy up the roads for their real value
which would be the cost of their oonstruc
ton and equipment.
| During Professor Newton's speech b,
had b=en several times interrupted by At
torney S. Harrison Wagner, who appear
| for several railroad companies and wht
endesvored TO mix the professor by asking
| questions. Mr.. Wagner was literally sa
down on by the professors replying: 81
object distinctly to Mr.. Wsgner's asking
me any questions, and I absolutely refuge
| to answer any"
ever, when Professor Newton finished, snc
for nearly an hour he proceeded to refer
as he termed it, to New Ravens three OBJ
structionists, who, he said, "never paid
cent of taxes, were always sat dow
upon by New Ravens local boards
and who did more to injure tn
city of New Haven than they did it an,
good, by their useless theories and sophis
tries" Mr.. Wagner then went into tn
early history of street railroads, explain
ing that for years they had been run at
loss, by men who were heroic and ha,
brains enough to build them up, until nov
they were paying investment. Now, b
said, these obatructionists want to hav
the power to buy them at the cost of con
struction, Ia fact to buy these roads whiol
it took men years to build up, at the prio
of the rails and cars. Under these cir
cumstances not road would ever
built.
Hon Thomas NJ. Waller, who sat in tn
committee room, noticed the CROWN
sternnees on the features of Professo
Newton during Mr.. Wsgner's attack, an
bsing thorough statesman as we'll as a
eloquent speaker, saw danger ahead, an
arising in his seat said: On the whole, an
would be satisfactory to railroad mer
} Under this law they have power to bull
substantially where they like, and to issu
bonds az they see fit, with the consent G
the railroad commissioners. But for as
accept portion of the law and not tn
whole, do not think would be a goo
thing. I think that our committee, co1
sisting of town officials, street railroa
men. and steam road officials, will coma
an agreement, to leave things should be LEI
to the towns, and the financial pal
to the state. It ia decoration to profei
sor of Yale to be public man, slshoug
his theories may not always be right.
do certainly object to giving the munich
palities the perpetual option OF buying tn
roads at their own price at any time the
might zee fit. Why, the alderman Nigh
meet any night, and if they were not sa.
isfied because q car was not quite on time
vote to take the road away from the com
pany and pay for it the cost of the rails
cars and 20 per cent. of its capital stoc
extra. Anybody ought not to have sue
power vested in them. This is real oil
genuine sanctifed oon6scation. It is abb
ity and brains, not rails, that make th
value of road.
Now, when you are paying for the rails
how about the man; Is man to be value
by the cost of his Office furniturea !
town cannot to day run railroad, an
never can, except at loss. If the pre-
fessor's theory was the order of the ds
would anybody take such charters? If tn
railroads of the city of New Haven hav
now got 80 profitable, let the city go int
the market and buy them. If the Fair Ha
ven and Westville stock sells at 24O, let tn
city in q fair and square manner go Int
the market and buy it at that price. I
you don't want to go In. why don't buy
The price of anything, no matter what,
the market price, whether it be railroads
talent or souls. This statement by Pro
lessor Newton is mere theory. Ny theor
lie, don't tax the railroads, but give it t
the people in good cars and cheap fares
You don't limit your Consolidated rail
road; you don't force down Its fares; AM
it has taken care of these things the sam
az our street railroads will do if you Civ
them a chance. I will say that in a Cit
the size of New Haven I believe In on
fare anywhere within the limits of the city
and no doubt were the roads all owned b.
one corporation this would come immedi
ately.
Corporation Counsel Driscoli of Ne1
Haven was now heard for ten minutes II
UNFOLDING the theories advanced by Mayo
Sargent and Professor Newton, after whiol
the committee adjourned until next week
It is understood that only few of tn
railroads and towns agree on any PROPOSED
q hard fight is looked for before the thin
straightens itself out.
Fourteen to four against the confirms
ton of Clarence Deming of New Haven t
be insurance commissioner WAS the result
of the vote in the senate this morning
which results in Mr.. Dsming's defeat, AM
the appointment of another candidate b.
the governor is now necessary.
Two reports were presented by the com
mittee on executive nominations, on
signed by Senators Pierce, dem and Hol
comb, rep, was against Deming's nomi
| nation and the other by Senator Fox