The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-10
BUTTERWORTH
HITS LOBBY
Condemns Yankee Trading
Method Which Still
Effects State
Politics.
WOULD KICK OUT
SPECIAL PLEADERS
Great and Important Work
Cut Out for an Abe
Utilities Com
mission.

Senator Frank s. Butterworth Of the
eighth senatorial district has been a
candid critic Of political conditions
since he entered public life Ever since
the general assembly organized he has
been attentive to his duties in the
senate and has completely justified the
confidence of his friends in his courage
and ability! While he has given his
votes in an uniformly intelligent man
ner he has at the same time been reck-
oned one Of the independent members
Of :.that body With Senator Chase
Of Waterbury and Senator Luther Of
Hartford he has been unterrifed at
the close organization Of the senatei
and has continued to act as he be-
lieved to be for the best interests Of
the state and eighth district Senator
Butterworth yesterday gave the fol-
lowing lively interview to a represent
atlve of the Journal and Courier:
Some time ago, senator, prior to
the session of the legislature you
spoke in an interview of the too great
influence welded In state affairs by
petty politicians and Yankee trading
methods, Has your experience in
the legislature changed your opin-
son?"
mo, it has rather confirmed it, No
one who. has had experience denies 1t;
and 1t would be of much benefit to
| the state If such individuals and
methods were frowned upon. Some
men, while ostensibly interested In
the ADMINISTRATION of public affairs,
ere engaged solely in caring for their
| nn1iffao1 anH + .i.,f
considerable amount of this sort Of
! thing is inevitable, but it should not
axist to the extent Of being an abso-
lutte detriment to the entrance into
the public life Of men OF the better
sort as is commonly reputed to be q
Fact"
What do you think of the legisla-
*ure 2" asked the reporter
Well 1t isn't equipped or con-
structedsto handle satisfactorily many
If the things which come to 1t. Add
% this the fact that the influence Of
eertain lobbyists is entirely too strong,
and we have the two principal rea-
sons for such failures in legislation as
have occurred. The legislature is
mainly honest, but influences are so
strong up there through the constant
presence of a few individuals that
~otes are controlled and traded in
Sontrary to the states interests. The
lobbyists ought to be kicked out Of
the capitol building They are there
constantly, in the committee room and
IN the floor of both houses, even par
Acipating in matters to the extent Of
making suggestions to those working
with them While on the floor. If the
capitol building was free from their
presence it would be different and a
~ery much improved seat of legisla-
Hon'
''You were the first to advocate the.
public utilities commission, Senator
ButterWorth Do you think that
would be means Of improving the
methods of legislation ?"
yes, most decidedly, if we go about
it the right way. If a commission was
created, composed of men of character
and attainments decidedly above the
average, who were paid proportionate-
ly and give adequate powers to direct
and control public utilities corpora
tions much of the legislation over
which there is the most difficulty, re-
lating especially to special privileges
and charters would be placed in their
hands as directly representing the peo-
pie in that field, and to handle which