Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1893-04-12
gna1r11aI aud Courier,
The Oldest Daily Paper Pub
ished in Connecticut.
THE ELEorRIo ROAD BILL.

THE ELECTRIC ROAD BILL.
Soon after the legislature began business
1t was seen that almost everybody in Con-
necticut had an electric railroad scheme,
and that the places of the Connecticut
people who had neglected to join the pro-
cession were filled by people from other
States. Probably never In the history OF
the State has there been such an outbreak
of one kind of plans to benefit the State
and make a little money. The situation
was confusing, and called for patience and
wisdom. The patience was forthcoming,
and what wisdom could be had is en-
bodied in the bill reported yesterday by
the Committee on Cities and Boroughs.
The bill at least puts the important mat
ters with which 1t deals into such shape
that they can be more or less intelligently
talked about. And 1t is quite probable
that the bill will become q law substanti-
ally as 1t has been reported, for 1t will op-
pose form and shape and definiteness to
confusion and indefniteness.
The two most prominent and important
parts of the bill are those which appear to
look out for the interests of the localities
where electric roads may be built and the
interests of the New York, New Haven
and Hartford railroad. The bill provides
for home rule of electric road schemes.
1t gives the authorities of any locality
where such scheme may exist good deal
of power over 1t. 1t is impossible to tell
how this power would be used, and there
fore it cannot be said that too much power
Is given. It could be used so as to make
promoters of electric railroad schemes 3
good deal of trouble and expense. 1t can
be said in its favor that the people of any
place have a right to treat electric railroad
schemes as may suit them; that they know
what they want and need and that they
are under no obligation to help railroad
companies. This, to be aure, is only part
ly true, but 1t is what passes for truth in
these days.
1t was to be expected that the great
steam railroad company would be well
looked out for in this bill. 1t Is. Steam
railroads are not to be psralleled unless
public necessity and convenience require
1t, and the Railroad commissioners are to
be the judges, with appeal to the superior
court allowed. And the electric roads are
not to become freight carriers. These
provisions will probably work as they were
intended to, If the bill becomes law.
Home rule and protection of existing in
terests sounds we'll. The bill embodies a
great deal of thought and work. 1t can
not be said to be shaped to encourage
speculative schemes, and does seem in
tended to surround the new business of
electric road building with all the restrio-
tions and safeguards needed. If it be-
comes a law speculators in electric road
building will have hard time of 1t. They
will have the legislature, the railroad COM
minsioners, the local authorities, and sound
fnanciering to consider, and the outlook
doesn't seem to be rosy for them. And
while there is no way of telling how such
law wsuld work, it looks to US as If 1t
might be little hard on some legitimate
enterprises.