The daily morning journal and courier., 1905-06-13

in the telephone controversy. Public
 utility is what they ask for as body. ] Through the direction of President Averill the association has been kept from landing on the rocks in blind Southern New England. That compa- ! ny. it is realized by the farmers, has done a great work for the country
 towns, and is prepared to do a great deal more. The Farmers association is
 unit for good roads. ..ss,...., The one hundred farmers in the gen. eral assembly this year have 'blazed" the way for valuable work in the fu- Iture Permanent organization will re- suit in putting the farmers of the legis- lature in a position where they can | work advantageously.
 1 The interest that was taken in both
 houses in Meriden legislation this win ter, involving the construction of new town hall and auditorium in that | city, has been justified in every way.
 Senator George E. BiclneH, of the Thirteenth district, and Representa-
 tives Willis I. Fenn and Frederick L.
 Huntington were the mainstays in the legislature, representing the centennial bills for the town. The town hall and Auditorium project, uniting the town and city interests in one suitable struc- l ture for public use, was carried through the general assembly on its merits.
 Hon. H. Wales Lines and Senator Bick- l nell were ardent advocates of the measure. After the bill was signed by
 Governor Roberts a faction in Meriden | Instituted injunction proceedings lagainst carrying out the work. The Igreat building firm of which ex-Senator Lines is the head was awarded the
 contract for the work. Senator Lines
 had set his heart on doing for his city 1 the best work of his life, leaving the
 building as memorial of his citizen ship. It was high ambition. '' The I town in a half dozen public assem-
 blages placed its 0. K. on the plans for
 the work and it's sexeeutien under Sem 1 Iator Lines supervision. In the largest l town meeting ever held in Meriden it
 has been decided that the work shall
 be done. The injunction, which was to
 have been heard by Judge William S. I Case in New Haven this week, is to be
 withdrawn. Ex-Congressman Lewis
 Sperry, of Hartford, has been legal
 counsel in bringing about this adjust
 ment, representing the interests of the town and municipality, together with
 those of ex-Senator Lines. The Meri-
 den bills awakened special interest in the legislature at the time they were lup for passage, owing to the fact that
 even then threats of injunction were
 made in case of their enactment. The Connecticut legislature has never taken
 threats of any kind, and in the Meri- den case acted as the public interest
 required.
 There has been considerable specula- tion concerning the report of the judi
 ciary committee on the telephone bills. Senator Paige is authority for the statement that the report is not yet ready. Last week the committee had Ia number of executive meetings, one Eof them lasting from until 10 p. m. It is evident that a vast deal of work has been given to the telephone measure. Both houses are committed to legisla- ltion giving large and well established lpublic corporations munifcent fran l chises. That was done in. the repeal of the general railroad law, making the
 construction of parallel railroads an, impossibility hereafter. It is not likely
 that the Southern New England Tele- iphone company will be placed in a po- sition where it can be sparalleled,"
 using a pet railroad phrase, ad infiini-
 tum. If independent lines are author ized it will be with conservative re- lstrictions and guarantees that the pub 1 lie service shall not be impaired.
 Senator Thomas D. Bradstreet, of the
 Thirty second district, who was placed at the head of the Civil War Veterans
 association in the beginning of the ses-
 sion, is the recipient of the heartiest regard and admiration from the old sol- fdiers in the general assembly. He is a
 man of engaging personality and de-
 serves the friendship that is so gener-
 ally placed at his disposal. He is
 frank, open-hearted and cordial in all
 relationships established at the capitol. During the two terms in which he has
 occupied g. seat in the senate he has shown capacity for unlimited work.
 Two years ago he was chairman of the
 committee on cities and boroughs. Sen-
 ator Chatfeld of New Haven, the pres
 ent chairman of the committee, served
 under Senator Bradstreet from the
 house. In 1903 Senator Bradstreet was
 also at the head of the committee on
 labor. This year he has held the chair
 manship of the committee on railroads
 and as also been at the head of the
 committee on executive nominations.
 As chairman of the railroad committee
 he has been an indefatigable worker.
 He is a grand old man and is held in
 the highest personal friendship by every member of the senate.