Waterbury Democrat., 1901-04-11
GUILFO|LE'S BILL
Anti-Telephone Monopoly Bill
 Tabled For Present.
UNAVOIDABLE REPORT MADE.

Representative Guilfoile Attacked The
 Bell Telephone Monopoly The
 Eight Hour Day Bill Was Badly De-
 feated, Only Thirty Nine Members
 Voting For It-Committee Hearing.
 Hartford, April 1.-The so-called ''anti-monopoly' telephone bill, which repeals the telephone law of last ses- sion, in regard to the superior court permissions for new telephone com panles, created an uproar i'll the house this morning when the Judiciary com mlttee reported it's rejection. The house was split on the report and it WAS finally tabled for printing to give the house time to get ready to argue it.
 AIr .Guilfoile of Waterbury said he had introduced the bilIs and that it was backed by some of the most ex- pert telephone men in the state. The law of 1899" he said, while 1t meant we'll was prohibitiye in practice As to the presence Of two telephone com panies Mir Guilfoile said: ..The rates will be lower and there would be more instruments used To my mind it is not right to force such law OH this state as is now on the books. 1t creates monopoly, a monopoly that has been enforced on all the states where the Bell Telephone company was defeated in the courts. He ask ed that the Judiciary committees re- port be turned down.
 After considerable debate it was de- cided to table the matter until the house could look up the amendment and the law on the matter
 The railroad committee reported fay- orab1y on the bill incorporating the Thompson railroad company, which connects the Peoples Tramway com- pany with the trolley roads in Massa- chusetts.
 The bill fixing the charges of telephone company was rejected.
 The bill increasing the pay of jus tices of the peace from $1.50 to $2.5O was rejected.
 The eight hour labor bill was turn ed down by vote of 160 to639. Ar Housel of New Haven was the only one ito speak on the measure.
 The attOrney-general sent into the house today his opinion on the eight hour bill. 1t was reported as dodging the issue in question
 An important bill was passed in the house to-day and it practically pro- 'vides for a life sentence for the crime of rape The present law provides for imprisonment for not less than three years, but the bill to-day calls for Imprisonment for not more than fifty years. It is q sweeping change in the criminal statutes and is one of the most important criminal leg is1atiohs passed this session.
 BY z
 Tn the senate to-day the Oscar L. Bradley reimbursement bill was turn ed down in concurrence with the house. q
 The hearing on the Waterbury coh- solidation act was continued yesterday before the cities and borougls cofn- niftee. Representative Lilley was one of the witnesses in favor. A s to ex- travagance in town expenses, he told of how he had offered to keep town roads in repair at $3,50O q year and described the scandalous manner in which town affairs now are conducted. The opposition got i'll part of it's evi- dence, from the ten outlying districts, and will continue to-day. Mayor Haf'- bison was called in the course of the hearing to show how well consolida ton works in Hartford. He reviewed the condition of things previous to con- solidation and said they were much better now, one set of officers doing the work formerly done by two sets. When questioned by ex-Speaker Bar- bour for the opposition as to the com parative expenses. he said he could furnish statistics if desired he did not have them at hand; in general he could say that there had been no increase ont of proportion with the increase in pop llation and the benefits derived Let ters of similar import were read from New Hayen.s and Bridgeport's mayors- Mir Barbour said he would show later, did not know what he was talking about.