The daily morning journal and courier., 1897-01-28
RAILROAD WAR BEGUN
BRIDGEPORT ELEOTRIC PATHWAY HERRING THE FIRST SKTRMISH.

Wany Witnesses Examined-State Ke- formatory Again-Opposed to Prof. Sumner-Tubercu1osis Law Suspended Other Matters of LegisIation--Constitu- tional Amendments.
 The committee on railroads gave the parties interested in the amendments to the Shelton Electric Railroad com- pany's and Bridgeport Traction com pany's charters hearing yesterday afternoon. The office of the railroad commissioners was crowded with wit nesses, many of whom were owners of of these roads, and they were there to add what they could to prevent the passage of the amendments asked for. Others wished to see the roads built Ex-Judge Lynde Harrison represented the Consolidated roads interests, and the way the case was conducted should d1spel any delusion that the Consoli- dated people are going to sit idly by and lee their rivals given franchises
 
 they paid vast sums of money. Allen W. Paige of Bridgeport appeared for the electric companies When the hearing began there were in the room many prominent citizens of Bridgeport, including Mayor Clark, N. H. Heft, chief of the electric department of the Bridgeport Traction company, Judge George P. Carroll, Dr. c. c. Godfrey and Stiles Judson of Stratford. The hearing was delayed a few minutes at the request of MT. Paige, who said that five minutes grace at that time might shorten the hearing several hours.
 The petitions and the accompanying documents including the papers in which the advertisements were printed, were produced in evidence MT. Paige said he did not think there would be any question raised as to the proper advertisement When this much had been said by the counsel for the elec- tric roads, Judge Harrison read from the general statutes governing the pre- sentation and the consideration of pe- titions to build railroads. He claimed that the electric road people had neg lected to file with their petition an en- gineer's report showing the route over which it was intended to build the road He would waive the objection, however, if the counsel would promise that such report would be forthcom- ing at a future meeting. This was promised by MT. Paige, who said that ehe fudge had certainly been remiss in his work of making researches not to have found before this occasion such a provision in the statutes, to which Judge Harrison replied that 1t was not his business to hunt it LID, and he would say for the information of MT. Paige that the objection was raised two years ago and prevailed. "Oh, ' said MT. Paige, eff what prevailed two years ago obtains now, this hearing had as well close" The remark caused an audible smile on the faces of the spectators.
 The hearing was resumed and contin- 1led all the afternoon. The contest was only skirmish preparatory to the battles that are to follow.
 The state reformatory was given an- other hearing yesterday afternoon by the committee on humane institutions.
 In the senate, yesterday morning, a resolution was adopted reappointing w c. Sumner of this city a member of the state board of education for four years from July 1, 1898; also appointing George M. Darlington from July 1, 1897