Waterbury Democrat., 1901-03-16
STREET RAILWAY SUPERVISION,
Proposition to Place Them Under Con- trol of Railroad Commissioners.

Proposition to Place Them Under Con-
 trol of Railroad Commissioners.
 The railroad committee had a con- tmued hearing yesterday on the propo- sltlon to place the street railroads of the state under the control of the rail road commissioners
 EN-Lientenant-G Dewell of New Haven, president of the state board of trade, presented draft of q Dill for this purpose. Section l places the street railways under the supervis- ion of the present board of railroad commissioners. Section provides that locations of lines, additional tracks. switches, connections, etc, here after built and the method of con- struction, shall be first approved by the commissioners. Section 3 requires companies to submit construction plans. etc, to the commissioners. Sec ton gives them exclusive control of the locating of tracks, wires, etc, i'll streets or highways. or private rights of way. On bridges. highways, etc, when the track is in the middle. there shall be eight feet clear on each side, and when the track Is on the side there shall be twelve feet. Section , provides that if a company cease op eration of it's line in any part. the rail- road commissioners shall give thirty days notice to resume the operation. If not done the company shall lose it's rights. and its tracks must be resumed and the highway put in good condi- ton. Section 6 gives the commission CTS right of free passage over all street railways. Section : provides that ec- tions .3.417. 3,422 to 2.432 also sections 3.529. 3,53O and 3,534 of the general statutes of 1888 (prescribing duties of commissioners as to steam roads). and chapter 131. public acts, 1889, shall be applicable to all street railways. Sec ton s repeals sections 2, 3. ,. Ii and 13 of the general street railway law of 1893 regarding plans and designa- ton of locations by local authorities.
 Governor Dewell urged the need of intelligent supervision and control of the street railways. to better insure the safety of passenger. There had been a proposition for separate con- mission, but this had been dropped. There was question, he had heard, whether the bill could pass the house. because members might object that the bill would take away the rights of local officials. However, he believed that there should be only one captain of q ship. Towns all over the state
 
 vision can be better conducted by single board than by q board of se- 1ectmen.
 A member of the committee asked Governor Dewell whether. if he owned a house on a narrow highway, he would be willing to have a trolley track right up against his sidewalk.
 Governor Dewell admitted that he would not. but there may be cases where such location is necessary. However. he believed that whenever possible the tracks should not be in the highway but on private land. The railroad commissioners would be ready to listen to the views of the townspeo- pie to location Electric roads have come to Connecticut to stay. and it Is time that they be put under supervis- ion.
 J. IT. Mckenzie also further advo- cated the general principle of the biH and was followed by R. O. Cheney Of Manchester. Mir Mckenzie. however, did not believe in taking control of To- cations from local authorities. Attorney F. D. Robbins presented q substitute bill which, in brief. puts the street railways under the supervision of the railroad commissioners only as 1 to safe construction and safety of management. This bill proposes no in- l reference with the present rights of selectmen and other local authorities as to localities of tracks, etc. MT Rob- 1 bins said that the real need is to in- l sure the safety of the travelling public. The present law gave the railroad com- 1 missioners power as to the safeguard | ing of the public on steam roads. and l his bill only proposes to extend this 1 supervision to the street railroads. MT l Robbins explained his bill section by ] section. .. 1 Judge Gager of Derby, representing | the Association of Street Railways, l suggested a trial bill suitable to the l committee on the subject that might
 be considered by the public and by the l street railway companies. The changes proposed are radical. seriously affect l ing both municipal interests and the
 railways.
 l Senator Burton, chairman of the | committee. approved this suggestion, l and said the committee would take up
 the bill at an early day in executive | session.
 The committee then took recess
 until 1 :45, as Senator Burton expressed 1t, 'sfor the purpose of getting suct
 lunch as can be obtained in the Capi
 tol"
 1 CONGRESSMAN BROsIUs DEAD 1 Lancaster, Pa, March 16.-C Congress 61o6 hts