The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-01
THE WEEKLY JOURNAL,
ISSUED Thursday, One Dollar a Year
PUBLIC UTILITIES.

The final report Of the National Civ
ic Federation upon the subject of the
attitude Of the government towards.
public service corporations is of large
and Increasing value. 1t is not unani-
nous report but it is sufficiently so to
indicate that the committee kept well in
mind the practical difficulties which
ranged themselves In the path of the
experimentalists. 1t is, too, a more
than interesting report Of conclusions
from the Connecticut point Of view
because 1t is evident that here Is be-
ing worked out, with some trouble 1t
is true but nevertheless with much sue
cess, the principle which a majority of
the commission believed will be uni
versally adopted in the long run, pri-
vate ownership conducted as legal
ized and regulated monopoly.
It was easier to reach this conclusion
in the State Of Connecticut than in
some other State because of its rela-
lively limited area. 1t is easier to en-
trust to the Governor of the State of
Connecticut larger powers Of appoint
ment than might with safety be en-
trusted to a governor of one of the
larger States Of the Union, like New
York or Illinois, because it is compar-
atively easy for the people Of the State
to make their approval or disapproval
felt within the shortest possible space
of time. In this respect States differ
in their opportunities to enforce and
try out new ideas the regulation of
which has been made necessary bv
conditions which are the product Of
the progressive age in which we live.
slThe State of Massachusetts, has, for
example, regarded the steady advance
Of, Connecticut towards the acceptance
Of the principle Of natural monopoly
with apprehension, while the smaller
State of Rhole Island has felt no feel
ing Of apprehension at all. 1t has seen
more clearly the logic Of the change.
Unable to revive the conditions which
made agreeably for the possession
Of many Independent railroads, Con-
necticut has been forced against its
secret will to consider what to do with
one giant railroad system, organized
according 10 terms of law and equity
The choice has obviously rested be-
tween letting that giant conduct IT.
self as it wished and between either
taking 1t over or, having recognized
It's natural monopolistic character, UNI
dertaking to regulate and control it.
Connecticut has to-day advanced to
a part of the position it must sooner
Or later occupy in full. 1t has recog-
rized the public service corporations
of the State as natural monopolies.
This is the meaning Of the action of
the General Assembly in the case Of
the telephone company. Unless public
convenience and necessity determine to
the contrary the corporations already in
the field will be trusted to do the work
required of them. 1t Is the meaning of
the laws under which the steam and
electric companies are working. That
much then has been accomplished. The
next. step Is to undertake to regulate
their conduct in order that the great
powers which are given them shall not
be abused either in a failure to give
adequate service or In a. desire to over
capitalize. Under the laws which are
vet to be enacted it will be quite I'M
necessary for the General Assembly to
consider resolution providing for an
examination Of the books Of the rail-
road to see IL 1t is paying its share of
the public tax. A public utilities COM
mission will see that all public service
corporations are in this particular and
in all other particulars living up to
their obligations which are implied in
the Joint partnership which exists be-
tween them and the State. Such a com.
mission will mistakenly be opposed per
haps by the corporations but that will
make only for postponement; it will
not make for defeat The New Haven
Railroad Company, when it had the
general railroad law enacted, did not
see that IN time its recognition as a
natural monopoly would work for its
artificial suspension. If it does not see
now that the enactment of Just and
stringent laws of supervision, to be en-
forced by competent public utilities
commission, is inevitable it is
afflicted with the same kind
eli myopia. 1t is bound to