New-York tribune., 1905-02-13
STRONG IN CONNECTICUT.
Influence of Third House" after
Al, PozgerfuI at Hartford.

Hartford Conn. Feb. z (SpeciaD.-The late Gov
Henry B. Harrison. when he a member
of the Connecticut House of Representatives, intro
duced bill in restraint OF corporations. which he
thought had excellent features for the good
OF the public. He a theorist and not practi-
cal politician. and imagined that explanation of
the bill and appeal would so great way toward
securing its passage. He appeared before the
COMMITTEES in charge OF that class of bills on incor-
pOrations. and objected TO the BILL and in
the House he made what he considered an adequate
statement Of its provisions and an argument for
it's passage to which even attempted a reply
The bill lost. four to one. and he never could
understand why it happened that way The mem
bers of the large and competent lobby could have
told him if they cared TO- but they didn't. II was
a case OF unity OF corporation lawyers and lobby
lists that did the business, and that was all there
1t.
When it is considered that the Connecticut Legis
lature is OF the largest in the country IL does
not seem possible that 1t could be SO completely
IN the control Of outside Influences but the fact
is generally acknowledged. The House of Repre-
sentatives has 255 members and there are thtrtv
five Senators. eleven Of the latter having been
added since the session OF 1903 Naturally with the
towns Qarge and smalD having practically a uni
form basis OF representation. although there are
some wonderful discrepancies in the population or
the towns. there are large number OF members
who come up 10 the capital each year for what
there is IN It. In some OF the hill towns where the
population has dwindled sadly, the timber for lao
isative honors is poor, and in other towns n fs
worse than poor. 1t is we'll known that roi,o .,
the legislature is looked upon as an Opportunity
10 raise the mortgage the farm or helm +ha
man who Is little behind in settling his debts TO
make good. and there is sort of neighborIv kin5I,
ness in the act of taking turns which ts r1,,
commendabe. although it does not tend 10 frs,
class statesmanship ~ 'S'
"hen the new member from the hill town s+rr.as
the capital he is often as green as q lasl, o,I
does some surprisingly queer things but ~ +aLes
out d little time for him to become a man y,tb -,
eye u the MAN chance. A man has been known 70
i'e"l at the Cspltol restaurant on the first dsv
OF the session under the impression thar II ,,a 49,
"a 'ie oeAeIlcence or the State and To find himseIf
utterly dumfounded at the check of rs cents raDr
seHtlhs What he would have to pay for II TIL. new
~ never does this but once. however and it Is
NAely 10 happen that before the session is over
ne spruCes up Immensely. wears a stunning suit ~
clothes and dimes not at the CapitoI rastanTar+ -
a1 fheuoelh 5 or the Allyn House, and has a good
i,e win 'ne boys in the evening hours II usually
. 'le worst thlnS that can happen to- him and he
sues uowhnlu after his experience i'm town Tba
4obDy Is to blame for this no douht Srch ,,r,h
ts 4's natural food and 1t is looking for what n can
ceVour' So far wit. intellect ana knovvIadsa -
- NstuFe are concerned. the lobbyist is head
at snouluers above twO-thrds of the men In ths
tuIe ana during the past DEVELOPMENT Of ali
W. IVa! corporations lighting every inch Of me
tfi m eIect For years the Consolidated road Mas con-
Germs into its territory and the abest ayr w. So n
England road ~ S.'Hea S ior It's service. The New
noossatonio road We're all its rivals untn IL had
tG reaGneG OUT and gathered them All into its own
lobby influence. opportunity Ior
The hottest fight the Consolidated road ,,,a- ~,
ycd wc9 IA tSsS ~ when The New-England road having
y from the Wilson experiment had secured
proposed by Bostwick and the Consodetsd e &c 1St
nearly all the first class lawyers in the Sts1e 9
appear al before the committee and to otherwise act
tbao ~ us & oensIf Bostwiek appeared In person ana
that the Consolidated won but III bei vroS haS 49,
the legislature met. The great scheme of Yhat rSS
tovr " 20 elevt lts own lesSlatuTe aud the country
cb% TsnsHses were the places wAere he vorK Of
n"ar iu legislators was doae. Tie IL I Va
mere matter or watching them after they rsS ~
s.2 state House 70 that they remained tra and