The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-12
TIE PARALLEL CLAUSE" d"
ELECTRIC AND STEAM RO1DS
WAGE BATTLE.

Governor Waller Speaks for the Law
Legislature Not the Place for Such Con-
troversies Superior Court the Proper
Tribunal-Judge Harrison's Remarks.
capitol more notable gathering of
the men who manage the railway inter-
state, than appeared yesterday after
noon at the railroad hearing before the
tion the bill offered by Senator Her
man, which calls for the repeal of the
Parallel clause" of the railway act
passed in 1898. Among those who had
come to look after the interests of their
corporations were: Vice President John
M. Hall, Attorney Lynde Harrison,
Hon. Samuel Fessenden, Henry C. Rob-
inson, Isaac Bromley, Walter Allen, e.
ID, Robbins for the steam railroad in
terests, and Ex-Governor Thomas M.
Waller, Judge eager of Derby, Attor-
ney Hungerford of New Britain, George
E. Terry of Waterbury Allen w. Paige,
0. R. Fyler and Attorney Mclean for
the electric road interests.
Hundreds of interested spectators
crowded the chamber to witness the
battle that all felt was imminent.
Nothing sensational occurred, however,
and only one incident disturbed the
even tenor of the hearing which was
opened by Senator Herman, who made
an eloquent appeal for the passage of
the repeating act
He was followed by Solomon Lucas
of Norwich. The speaker arraigned
the Consolidated railroad, which he
said had the best charter in America.
He quoted President Clark in support
of what he said.
Judge eager of the Leroy Street Rail
way company appeared in favor of the
amendment. He was followed by ex-
Governor Thomas NJ Waller of New
London, who stated that he had no
pecuniary interest at stake, as he was
not there as counsel for anybody but
reprepresented himself.
Governor Waller said that he was
interested in two or three street rail-
way companies, and was on the anti
parallel side. He said that he is In
favor of the present law, and at con-
ference held of the State Association
Of Street Railway owners, recently, the
sentiment seemed to be that the pres
ent law was all right and that rather
than have it repealed it was considered
better protection to the electric roads
as we'll as to the steam roads that the
present law should be extended He
suggested law which provided spe
officially against the paralleling of
electric roads, which would apply not
only to roads between towns but to
those in cities and boroughs He also
said that he believed this matter should
not be brought before the legislature,
but that the superior court should be
the proper tribunal, which would ap-
point a commission to hear such cases.
He eulogized the Consolidated railroad,
and said that it was the finest road in
the United States. He did not deny, he
said that the public wanted the electric
roads. but he thought that the public
needed as much protection In the mat
ter as the steam road claims, for with
so many new roads in the same direc-
eventually be a burden to the public.
The ex-governor said that he had
something to do with the measure of
1898 and he thought that the act was
one that would protect the interests
at stake The inerests of the Console
dated road, he said, should be protect
ed inasmuch as it has made the state
successful.
The governor reiterated what he had
said previously, that he was in no way
interested in the Consolidated road,
but he only felt much pride in the road
The speaker concluded his remarks by
saying that the legislature was not the
proper tribunal to try such cases, and
he recalled the time when divorce cases
were brought before the Legislature for
hearings If the electric and steam
road questions are to be brought before
the legislature like those divorce cases,
said the governor, I think the state of
Connecticut is taking step backward.
Ex-Judge Lynde Harrison of New
Haven, counsel for the Consolidated
road, said that the New Haven road de-
manded justice, and he wanted the in
terests of the road protected. The abol-
ishment of the present law, he said
would be an infringement on the rights
of the company and the people. He
said that if new roads We're built par
allel with the present roads that the
people would have to pay for them.
Lawyer E. d. Robbins, for the New
England road said that when the steam
roads were first being built in this
state the people went "steam road
crazy" He said that the crossed lots,
and then the interest in the roads them
selves was so great that grade cross
ings were forgotten all about, and the
danger that followed showed the care
Iessness of those who wereS then cry
ing for steam roads. He thought that
if then, as now, more study was given
to the subject that there would be less
cause in the future for safeguards for
the electric roads. He said that two
roads running in the same direction
would cause double expense of one and
the rates would necessarily be high
Hon Henry C. Robinson appeared
both as an official and as counsel of
the New Haven road. He said that it
was oratory, not evidence that usually
won in such contests in the legislature,
and that he believed that it would be
proper to try the electric road cases in
the superior court. He said that he
had participated in the framing of the
act in 1889. which it is now proposed to
rsneal and he stated that at that time