The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-03-12
IIARDSIIlPS OF MOTORMEN
COMMITTEE ON LABOR HEARS OF
THEM.

bules for Cars-Mud Flats and Good
Roads Chamber of Commerce Bill
Target-It May be Killed.
Vestibules for electric cars, good
roads, New Haven harbor mud flats,
Mohican Indians rights, and the
gtranting charter to the Citizens
Gas company Of Bridgeport divided the
attention of the unusual number of Wis
itors to the capitol yesterday afternoon.
Each Of these hearings was attended
by a large number of interested per-
sons, as well as many spectators, who
seemed to have no interest except that
of going from one to the other in the
hope that there would be some develop
ments which would give zest to the
occasion. Interest in the Judiciary
hearing on rights of the Mohican In
dians was added to by the presence of
a quartet of the people who are asking
that a commission be appointed to in
quira into their rights to a plot Of land
in the city of Norwich known as the
Royal burying ground. Counsel for the
petitions was unable to be present and
j. w. Morgan took up their case. The
remonstrants were represented by
Gardner Greene, jr. The hearing lasted
for more than an hour. At it's close
the committee called the bill relating
to the transfer of the right to build out
to the deep water line in New Haven
harbor, the streets abutting the same,
from the state to the city of New Ha-
ven. Corpora ton Counsel Ely on the
part of the city government disclaimed
all responsibility for the bills exist
ence. The measure, which had it's
origin in the chamber of commerce, was
advocated by Roger S. Baldwin in be-
half of the chamber of commerce.
The bill was opposed by representa-
tives of the New England Transporta-
tion company, the Smith Brothers of
oyster Point, Captain Charles II.
Townshend, Captain James M. Town
send and the shell fish commissioners.
Many of the owners of oyster grounds
which would be affected by carrying
out the provisions of the bill sent let
ters of remonstrance against it's pass
age.
The room occupied by the commits
sioner of labor was not large enough to
hold the crowd which desired to be pres
ent at the hearing on the bill providing
for the erection OF vestibules to electric
cars for the protection of the motor
men. The crowd was about equally
divided between the employees of the
electric railway companies and the
officials and counsel of the roads in
terested in the bill
A number of the members of the
Federation Of Labor were present to
add their weight to the testimony in
favor of the bill.
Motorman Prout of Meriden was in
charge of the men who stand out on
the front end of the electric cars in all
kinds of weather. Mr.. Prout supported
the bill, and made some exceedingly
good arguments why it should become
a law.
Judge eager, for the thirteen electri-
cal companies he represents, cross-ex-
amined the witness but did not shake
his opinion that the vestibule was the
right thing to protect the motorman
with.
During the testimony of Mr.. Prout it
transpired that he had inquired of his
| superintendent what the consequences
would be if he attended the hearing
yesterday, and was told by the super
intendent that serious consequences
might follow, and then again nothing
might come of it-meaning, Mr.. Prout
said he understood that the men might
be discharged if they attended the
hearing.
Superintendent Dodge of the New
Haven Street Railway company oppos-
ed the bill, He quoted from letters re-
ceived from different companies to
whom he sent inquiries.
The hearing will be continued this
morning.
Good Roads,
Good roads" had another hearing
yesterday before the committee on
roads, rivers and bridges in the senate
chamber, the chairman of the commit
tee announcing that the selectmen Of
the different towns would be given the
preference during the hearing.
MI Fenton of Weston said that it
was impracticable for his town to take
advantage Of the state aid. The resi-
dents of his town and of Redding had
| told him that they had not heard of the
| decision Of the commissioners of high
ways in regard to the making of roads
out of gravel Mr.. F'enton said that he
favored the abolition of the present
| commission. The report of the depart
| ment showed that the commission had
worked 80 days. Mr.. Fenton thought
this high average for men whose work
was out of doors. The speaker though
| the appropriation of $3.50 sufficient for
all practical purposes.
w. H. Hall of Portland said that he
had introduced the bill enacting the
highway law passed two years ago He
hoped the legislature would not repeal
it. Let the good work go on.
Mr. Tillman of New Canaan favored
the good roads law and the retention of
the commission.
Representative Frisbie of Farmington
said the farmer in going to market had
tn regulate his load according to the
poor spots in the road IF the roads are
built from town to town the rich towns
will eventually get the advantage of
them. The original bill was introduced
7 by the representative from West Hart
ford. He understood that the people of
1 West Hartford had decided not to avail
themselves of the law and that they
3 would nav a state tax if OpceSSarv Tha