The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-05-15

O4 t"iilSu tue matter WAS nelQ up Tn committee for several weeks and the good work went on. Members were dined by officials of the road and oth- erwise instructed in the dreadful ca- lamity which was to occur if the peti- ton was reported favorably. After a time it became known that three of the eight in favor were wavering. Five continued to remain steadfast for a time and then also began to waver. Among the five was Representative Munger of Madison, whose town is bene1cially affected by the proposed East Haven and Morris Cove line. It's people were unanimous in favor of it. A town meeting was called and a res olution was passed instructing him to favor it. He personally was in favor of it, but soon his brother appeared upon the scene admittedly in the in- terests of the Consolidated road and Representative Munger began to lose his interest, his toWnsmen and the vote of the town to the contrary not Withstanding. It is unnecessary to pursue the matter further as to the re- maining four except to say that upon the day when the vote was taken it was related that only one spoke in favor of the petition and when the vote was taken three of the members voted in favor of an adverse report, the remaining eight remaining silent and the report was transmitted to the house as unanimous report in oppo- citinF1 tp 10 claimed. In view of the fact that si- fence is taken as assent the claim may not be amiss, but it is a curious fact that since said vote and report cer- tain members of the committee whom it was known were the last to suc- cumb to the hypnotic influence have since expressed themselves as still in favor of the project and either from a lack of courage or for some reason not yet apparent decline to put themselves on record by signing a minority re- port. At least they have not done so up to the present time.
 Another curious feature of that meeting of the railroad committee whether it had or had no effect upon the deliberations of the committee is the fact that the room occupied by the state board of education was given ov- CT to the chief counsel of the Consoli- dated road accompanied by MT. Rora- back, who is notorious as looking out for the interest of the Consolidated road at Hartford Between this room and the room occupied by the railroad ta1nyaf,c4ao adequate and it is susceptible of proof that during the deliberat ons of the committee at least one member of the committee if not two, journeyed across the lobby from the railroad committee room to the room of the state board of education and back again. Maybe it was for recreation and again maybe it was for further instructions, but any way between the telephone and these journeys silence reigned supreme with in the enclosure of the railroad com mittee when the fact of the East Ha- ven and Morris Cove line was in the balance.
 The tactics thus employed have not stopped or will they stopJ To insure the defeat of the measure the mem bers of the senate are now undergoing pressure, Senator Atwater of Meriden as it has appeared in the public press has been threatened that unless he supports the Consolidated road against the East Haven and Morris Cove line petition the petition of the Merlden MiddletoWn and Guilford road in which he was deeply interested togeth- CT with other measures he advocates, will be defeated He has defed this threat and no doubt more will be heard from him upon the subject.
 To state the situation clearly 1t is the intention undoubtedly of the Con- solidated road to defeat every petition for a street railway now before the legislature. The Consolidated has not opposed them in committee except the East Haven and Morris Cove line but relies upon the senate to do its bidding. 1t has made the East Haven and Morris Cove line the foundation stone on which to work havoc because as against the other lines it can not weave the thread of fancy so artisu- cally to gain support or justify oppo- stion It proposes to hold the field of railway operation without cometition
 This is no idle dream or inference. A gentleman high up in the councils of the present administration gave it as his opinion in the capital last week and significantly remarked Its the cleanest scheme to do these trolley pe- titious and hold the field ever put up in this state and watch the outcome. ," By defeating the present petitions it removes compeution By passing bill PIT now pending it revives over 400 miles of trolley lines, the franchises of which are now held and have been held by the Consolidated railroad, some or them dating back over l6 years, and not a foot constructed.
 This fact in its mere statement abolishes one claim urged against the East Haven and Morris Cove line. because it has not been con structed since its first incorporation. So long as the Consolidated owns them no one else can get them, and with the present petitions killed and these fran chises renewed and held by the Con- solidated road the situation in this state is practically within its grasp. In view of the situation the opinion above expressed is not to be treated lightly
 The only real ground of opposition to lhe East Haven and Morris Cove line arises from q desire to compel the residents of the shore line towns to come to New Haven over its street railway along the shore now extending from New Haven to Stony Creek, If the amendment to the East Haven and