The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1907-08-09
HoME RUrE IN CITIES.

..
One of the hopeful signs Of the times
IN the State of Connecticut is the
awakening of the dwellers in cities to
their moral rights in the way Of local
self-control. Contrary to the expecta-
ton Of many the legislature did moth
ing during its prolonged session to re-
lieve the situation. The necessity for
1t had been discussed in the campaign
but when the time for action came the
power behind the General Assembly
was sufficient to suppress it. We are
not in a position to assert that the
responsible power for this oversight
could be located in the offices Of the
public service corporations, but 1t is
not unfair to suggest that it could be
found there in view of the interest they
have in limiting the authority of the
cities Of the State.
What must be considered slip of
the tongue on the part of one of the
legislative agents Of the public service
corporations at hearing held at Hart
ford during the winter and spring is
responsible for the renewed agitation
IN behalf Of home rule. The city of
Waterbury was seeking a more indie
pendent control Of its streets for con-
duit purposes. The legislative agent
referred to said: IF we let Waterbury
do this thing" ETC., no end Of trouble
would result. Naturally the people of
that city and the press resent this at
titude on the part of the public SER
vice corporations, though we are not so
sure that they are right in assuming
that ACTUAL rights have thereby been
taken from their city. 1t must have
been terribly irritating to have legis-
lative agent advise the committee that
"we" cannot afford to let the cities of
this state govern themselves especially
IN the matter of their streets but the
remedy lies nevertheless, not in con-
demning the corporations, but in agi-
tating for constitutional changes. The
trouble has always been in Connecticut
that the laws have not sufficiently pro-
tected the community, Special rights
and privileges have been given away
without thought of their effect upon
the independence Of localities or with
out regard for the fundamental princl-
pies Of a democracy.
1T is obvious that to certain extent
cities must concede to the public SER
vice corporations which do their i'm
portant work of transportation con-
siderable latitude. The matter Of
schedules alone demands that what
would otherwise be an arbitrary con-
oession must be submitted to, but still
there is a limit which the cities are
right IN demanding the corporations
shall not exceed. 1t is by no manner
of means finally determined what the
exact relationship Is between these
corporations and the cities and towns
IN which they, operate. A great deal
has been taken for granted both by the
corporations and by the people them
selves in the mad rush for improved
facilities. No one listened to Professor
Newton when he was member Of the
board Of aldermen and advised that the
right to double-track Meadow street
should not be granted until some I'M
Outstanding had been reached as to
the supervisory powers of the city gov
errnent. Mayor Joseph B. Sargent was
regarded as dangerous radical be-
cause he preached while in office a
larger control on the part of the city
of its streets. There has never been in
fact until now any popular patience
with the idea that while cities must
have improved transportation faeili-
ties they must retain control of their
own streets. The Southern New Eng
land Telephone company never reoeiv-
ed any thanks for burying its wires,
though in doing so it aided materially
in the protection of the city in case of
fire Other corporations, including the
tramway companies, the electric light
companies and the telegraph compa-
MES, have been permitted to string
their wires as they pleased in spite of
the fact that fire protection has been
complicated thereby.
Assuming that one of the penalties
attached to home in the city is the
more or less free use of the streets by
the public service corporations, there
Is no justice in making the legislature
She arbiter in case of differences of
rinion between those corporations and
cities in which they do their BUSH
Upon no possible theory with
h we are familiar is the General