The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-01-23

Now we are brought face to face with a proposition to violate this policy.
 "Electric roads have been allowed to cross at grade the tracks of roads in
 instances as fraught with danger and death as it is possible to conceive. If it is dangerous for a country highway
 to cross the railroad tracks, what Ian guage shall describe the danger of death and slaughter where electric roads with cars filled with defenseless men, women and children are allowed to cross the
 tracks of steam roads at grade in the crowded thoroughfarcs of large cities
 If the power gives out, if the motor
 man blunders, if the engineer of the steam locomotive makes a mistake, if
 there is a blockade of vehicles, if 6
 horse becomes unmanageable, if any one of a thousand and one things hap
 pens, any one of which is liable tc happen, even with the greatest possi- ble exercise of caution a train load of humanity and a ear load of citizens of this state will be hurled mangled and bleeding, into eternity. MT. President I cannot contemplate such a situation without horror, and l will never make
 
 ther continuance of such a liability. It was only the other day that just such a scene occurred, and just such a catastrophe was averted by almost providential stoppage of an express train, but few feet from an electric car, which had become stalled upon the crossing for some cause. The press of the country has been filled with ac- counts of heartrending accidents and fatalities outside this state, at these nuisances and death traps. After this state has for so many years been doing its best to get rid of its existing grade crossings at such a great expense to itself, to the town and to the steam railroads, shall it embark or continue in the business of establishing a new set of GnteElocRing shambles) at grade all over the state for the electrocution and broiling of the public confined in closed compartments?
 Tt has been said in the public prints that this bill has bearing upon the electric road situation in Bridgeport. If it does it detracts nothing from the merits of the bill, in my estimation. regret eXceedingly,sir that I find my self in opposition to the views and that great city. I have a warm feel ing in my heart for the citizens of that progressive, enterprising and prosper ous commercial center. New London and Bridgeport have always been as loving sisters. We have stood by our Fairfield county friends in the past, and we hope to stand by them In the future, but we must stand by the peo- pie of the state of Connecticut, first, last and always.
 And now, sir a single word as to the manner in which this position has arisen. It goes without saying, that ordinarily, the usual careful and orr derly routine of legislative methods should not be departed from. Legisla- ton to be wise should not ordinarily be nasty. Proposals for legislative ac- tion should generally be duly intro duced, duly referred, duly considered and duly acted upon. But there are exceptions to all general rules and when a case arises the rules of this body are suspended. If there could ever arise a case for emergency legislation, that case. in my judgment, confronts us here and now. It must not be for gotten that while we sit here legis- lating to remedy an evil, that evil may be accomplished. If this is a question of public safety, that safety is imper- filed by every moments delay It is that to shut the stable door after the horse has been stolen. is wis dom which does not commend itself and is well nigh folly. If We are to act at all to any purpose, we must act now or never
 "The representatives of the people in the lower house, Gf l may properly refer to such action), have acted i'm stantly and almost unanimously. The press and the people with hardly a dis l senting voice have approved that ac- ion. For one I am in favor of imme- | Hate and concurrent action with the | house. For one I mean to do my duty | 70 the whole public in this emergency, when, it seems to me, the safety of the | public is in peril and no senator, in my | opinion, can with any reason ask for | lelay for the purpose of studying a pill only eight lines long"
 OTHER MATTERS IN THE HOUSE. |
 MT. Newton of New Haven introduced | | very important bill in the house to- lay, the object of which is to stop | policy playing. This bill comes from he Law and Order league, and is de- igned to stop all policy playing in the tate It reads as follows:
 Every person, agent or servant, who hall own, possess, keep, manage or maintain, or who shall assist in keep ng, managing or maintaining any policy office or place where the game of nance, business schemes or occupation known as policy is reported O be played or carried on; or any place where bets or wagers are or are re- ,orted to be made upon the results of a Irawing in any lottery, or of the draw ng of any numbers by chance; or any lace which is or is refuted to be resort d to for any such purposes in whole r in part; or who shall, write sell, exchange, give, transfer, de- yer, buy collect, or receive or be in writing, selling, bargain lg, exchanging, giving, transferring, de- vering, any policy slips, tickets, tok ns, numbers or chance used in said anne of chance, business, scheme or or any wagering or betting