The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-08
PUBLIC sERT1oE ENrERPRIsEs.

PUBLIC SERYICE EhTERPHISES.
 As The Journal and Courier pointed out in its issue yesterday, the State of Connecticut is not yet ready to change its ridiculous policy of granting whole sale charters to public service corpor- ations which permit them to carry on any kind of imaginable business. At least those who are at present in the halls of legislation and in command of the situation are not ready to let the State conduct itself as it requires pri- vate enterprises to conduct themselves.
 The Waterbury American discusses the situation with a large measure of intelligence from the point of view of Senator Chase's attempt to compel pro motors to chip in some cash of their own in building q trolley. Originally he desired these public service corpor- ations to have the same solid cash basis that private business enterprises have to adopt. The more Senator Chase considered the matter his practical mind led him to a somewhat modified conclusion. Says the American. But after some consideration of the matter, Senator Chase recognized a third ele- ,r,op+ i, tba rrobIay, 4,,stiF,,;rn, yar haps, an. exception. Besides the State and the parties desiring the charter, there was in the case of the trolley charters, the public, whose interests and convenience would be served by the construction of the road. Even if the enterprise was of doubtful pecun- iary promise, 1t was pretty sure to be of considerable public convenience. So in order to induce construction some concession might be made in the char ter, and he finally thought that busi- ness propriety might be, regarded and a just security provided by the re- quirement of a twenty per cent pay ment in cash of the proposed capital. This eliminated just so much wind and water. The amendment has not been successful. It has been voted down by varying majoritles in the case of dlf- ferent roads, but 1t has won at last q substantial though not majority SUD- port. It has met constantly the gen. ercus feeling that other enterprises have been without restriction and that the communities asking the right to help themselves. on the same terms as others have, could not be denied with out unfair discrimination. This Is not business but 1t is natural form of generosity"
 The most serious discredlt which can be cast upon the refusal ot the legis- lature to harken to the counsel of Sen ator Chase and the senators who sym pathized with him in his undertaking grows out ot its deliberate neglect of "the wind and water" phase of the con- troversy. It's expressed unwillingness to require of promoters, who are to a definite extent spectators in trolley properties and not serious minded up- n,, 1f faith a show of their own money, while it may be said to rec ognize the eagerness of the people of given section of the State to enjoy the same privileges oth- CT sections have enjoyed, can from no point of view be accepted as proof of the capacity of the legislature to cope with problems of this character. Not a single member of the general assem- ply would dare conduct his own busi- ness in that reckless manner. It would be different, too, if the legislature did not have clearly before it the lesson taught by the organization of the Con- necticut Railway and Lighting com pany, the consequences of which were revealed when it was bought by the Consolidated. Not to have known that wrong had been done the public by the grant of that charter and net to see that today heavy burden Is put upon the public by compelUEg its new owner to earn dividends on watered stock, N t7 confess an ignorance with which ordinary folk can have no pa- tience. A part of the public is convinc- ed that the legislature has been pur- chased. The Journal and Courier does not believe that. It does believe that the evil done can be traced to sublime ignorance of duty due the public, which is condemnation enough.
 But says the Waterbury American: "The discussion is educative even though it does not end in practical re- suits at this session. The principle that there should be a cash basis at the bottom of all these enterprises is grow ing in general acceptance" If we may be permitted to say so, the kind of ed ucatlon to which our esteemed contem- porary refers is that which suddenly teaches the husbandman to close and lock the stable door after the horse has