The daily morning journal and courier., 1907-06-18
ASKS BOARD OF PUBLIC UTILITIES Governor Sends Special Mes sage in Requesting
 Authority to Ap-
 point. A PUBLIC SERVICE
 CORPORATION BILL Chief Executive Believes Commission Should be Named to Frame
 One.

Governor Rollln s. Woodruff sent 8 special message to the house of rep. resentatives yesterday, recommending that the governor be authorized by thu general assembly to appoint a specia commission of five members 10 con sider the charters and laws governing public service corporations. The com mission is to be appointed with a view of arriving at and recommending a general law covering all public ser vice corporations.
 The governor expresses the opinion that final adjournment of the present session of the general assembly is SC near at hand that the session cannot give the general subject of public ser vice corporations the attention which It's importance merits, therefore he de- sires the appointment of a comnls- sion The message is as follows:
 To the Honorable General Assembly:
 The conclusion of the general as- sembly's labors at this session is sc near at hand that is Is probable i'm. possible for your honorable body to give the consideration that the imp0r- tance of its merits to any general sta- tute of such a nature as beg leave tc recommend In this message But I be- lieve that this general assembly can give the initiative to course. of legis- lation which can be followed by the next general assembly to the ultimate benefit of the states business, econo- mic and social conditions, if your hon. orable body authorizes the governor to appoint such commission of investi- gation as I shall herein urge.
 I have in a previous message refer red to the dfssimfliarfty in the provis- lions of many of the charters granted by this and previous general assem- yblies to public service corporations. Some have powers that are specifically ilimited; others have powers that are very broad and quite beyond the scope of such business as their main pur- pose and their corporate title would seem to indicate to be the purpose of the incorporators. Still others have indefinite and latitudinous powers that may. under kindly construction, per- init the incorporators to change the main purpose from one to another line sof industry or to carry on at the same time a variety of business. This chaotic condition believe to be inimical to the best interests of the state and the well fare of the people. It results in a confusion that is unnecessary and the influence of such condition is that it encourages promoters who are some times not men of financial stability to seeek the general assembly of the state of Connecticut for special privileges that should not be granted to anyone privileges that are peculiarly suscep- tible to abuse and to the detriment of public interests I believe that gen. eral statute or chapter of statutes can be devised by a special commission, composed of men who are expert in that line of study, to cover the entire field of public service corporations. Such legislation should take into con- sideration the interests of the three classes of our citizens who have an in terest more or less vital in public ser- vice corporations, the incorporator or stockhoIder, the bondholders, and also the general public that patronfze the service rendered by the corporation.
 would recommend that this honor- able general assembly authorize the governor at this session to appoint a special committee of five members to consider the charters and laws govern dng public service corporations, with the view of arriving at and recommend ing general law covering all public service corporations which are now In existence and which will hereafter be organized in this state.
 I would urge that, if in the wisdom of the general assembly, such authority be given to the governor, the commis- sion be ordered to report to the next general assembly, in the first week of its session, such general recommenda- ltions as may to it seem wise and prop Ter, together with a draft of such stat utes as may be deemed expedient, for consideration. I believe that commits sion such as is urged could make rec concentrations that would be compre- hensive in scope, fair to the people of the state, as well as to the corporate interests concerned, and give opportu- nifty to the next general assembly to do constructive legislation in the course of one session that will be of the greatest and most lasting benefit to the state I would suggest that if the com mission be appointed the general as- sembly authorize the comptroller to draw upon the state treasurer for funds to pay the necessary expenses that may be incurred by the commits sion in the prosecution of it's investiga- tions, but the members of such com mission to serve without salary
 Mr. Banks. of Fairfield, said that the committee on the judiciary voted last week to ask the governor to appear before the committee for the purpose of discussing the subjects treated in the message Senate Chairman Walsh and Mir. Banks had been appointed a committee to so inform the governor. Therefore, Mir Banks thought that the message should go to the judiciary committee, On his motion the mes sage was so referred, and was trans ferred to the senate under suspension of the rules.
 No Extension for Shad Season.