The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-06-11
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
PROSPECT or AN LINUS UALLY BUSY
 WEEK.

Business Ahead Including the Mason
 Charges Much Interest Over the Investi-
 gation-Other Matters to Absorb the Att
 tentiOn of the Legislature.
 Hartford, June 1O.-The general as- sembly will again convene tomorrow and the week is to be a very busy one if the members decide to make full week of it. Prominent in the order of business looms up the Mason charges, Just what shape this will take has not been learned, as the committee of investigation has not yet met MT. Ma son, it is said, would like to address the senate as a committee of the whole. It is believed, however, the senate will adhere to its action and allow the com mittee to summon the New Haven clergyman to appear here and request him to substantiate his charges.
 This investigation is the chief topic of interest at the capitol, and there is great desire to see how it will ter minate. It may really prolong the al- ready protracted session much to the regret of members who already have been kept much longer than they de- sired. But in any event the assembly could not well have adjourned on the day selected by Representative Judson of Stratford, next Thursday. When the business pending was sized up last Thursday it was found that such a course was clearly out of the question. Most of the committees could report to- morrow or Wednesday, but even then the time until next Thursday afternoon would not have been sufficient to dis pose of the business. Besides the com mittee on temperance has twenty bills pending, and with the Mason matter, at least two more entire weeks will be required before the members can finally be disbanded
 Pending in the house is bill permit ting a railroad to merge leased lines in it's own company. The blll passed the senate, and provides that when a rail road owns two-thirds of the stock of a leased line 1t may merge the same in its own company, wiping out the small CT company, thus doing away with the trouble and expense of keeping up
 
 provides that when the minority stock holders are unable to agree with the larger company as to the price of dis posing of their stock, upon applicat tion to the superior court appraisers may be appointed to assess a fair sum for the same. Provision is also made for the smaller stockholders to take the stock of the leasing road in exchange.
 The house has amended the bill pro- vlding that four-fifths, instead of two thirds, of the stock held in a leased line, shall be necessary to wipe out the small CT company. The bill as it passed the senate, and was so strongly supported by the railroad committee. is believed to be the fairest measure. When a com pany obtains two.thirds of the stock of a leased line, and Is willing to buy the remainder at a fair price, or such price as appraisers may say, or give their stock in exchange, it is believed they should have the right to wipe out the smaller company and thus save to their stockholders the useless and expensive form of keeping up a separate corpo- rate existence. There are similar laws in New Hampshire, Massachusetts, New Jersey and several other states, and the provisions work exceedingly we'll and protect the interests of all stockholders. It is believed the house will concur with the senate in passing the original bill.
 Representatives of the Consolidated road in this city deny that this bill has to do with the New England road, as has been reported. The New England is being reorganized in the interest of other parties, and the Con solidated is not interested. They add that several of the leased lines of the could be merged with the latter under the provisions of the bill saving the bother of keeping tip q sep arate existence and saving for the the expense. Business and financial men look upon the bill as entirely fair, economical in the running of the roads and protecting all inter- asts.