The news-democrat. (Providence, R.I.) 1906-1909, 1907-05-09

Hartford. Conn. May 9-The New Ha-
ven railroads interference I'm legislative
matters in this state was bitterly attack
ed in the senate yesterday afternoon In
the course OF a debate on a petition for
the Incorporation OF the Meriden. Middle
town and Guilford Street Railway CONF
pany.
The president pro tempore, Senator
Stiles Judson made the speech which cree
ated the greatest furore. He spoke de-
liberately. but with marked emphasis,
and capped the climax OF his pointed ad-
dress by declaring that Edwin ID. Ron
bins. as agent OF the New Haven system,
was sent here to do the work OF lob
byist and that the board of education
room Is being used like a spiders web To
catch stray flies. In three weeks he has
issued and sent forth his ultimatum and
conquered different members OF the gem
eral assembly"
The order OF the day was a batch of
petitions for Incorporation OF new troll
ley lines. these being. IL is claimed, part
Of general plan of unknown interests
to create q chain OF trolley lines paral-
ellng portions OF the New Haven sys-
tenn. 1t was claimed during debate how
ever. that these proposed corporations
were individual ones without any spe-
cial financial or physical connection.
When the debate began Senator Francis
was granted permission to make a per-
sonal explanation.
ATWATER'S COMPLAINT.
81 rise TO a matter OF personal privl-
ege and TO make charge OF implied
threat against the king OF the lobbyists
i'm Connecticut" said Mr.. Atwater. mir.
President, when say that I prefer a
charge against the king OF the lobbyists
Of Connecticut use the term lobbyist ad-
visedly. ] did not come here aS a poll
tician. but ] was sent here in the inter
ests OF the people, and those interests
will be involved In two of the bills that
are the order OF the day. / never held
public office before, but I have always
worked for the best interests OF the grea t.
est number.
ITO go back into the history OF troleys
in Connecticut, the towns and cities of
Meriden and Middletown have for IL years
asked for rights TO connect the two. but
on one pretext or another that great oc-
topus the Consolidated railway, has
been able to control every railroad COM
mittee 10 this.
AT last a bill has got through. The
council OF Meriden appointed me chair
man OF n committee to visit the rail-
road officials. and this we did We met
the president and he offered TO equip the
old Merden and Middletown, connecting
way tracks. This is In process. but II
is not what the people wanted They
asked another route. and President Mel
len said IL was not practicable. He said
that no one would put in the dollars il
they didn't. but he said that they would
keep their hands off If others tried TO
build.
king OF LOBBYISTS"
II was invited by Mr.. Rorahack. a lob
byist, to meet the king OF the lobbyists
Mr.. Robbins in the railroad commission
er's office. Mr. Robbins asked me who
were back OF the Meriden- Middetown
railroad. 7 told him they were men able
TO build and equip II. He asked me what
interest l had I'm the Morris Cove road.
said had none. He then asked me to
join TO kill the Morris Cove. ] told him
I wouldn't.
Then you have an interest in IT. said
he NO I told him, but we would ex-
change traffic. Then Mr.. Robbins asked
me IL We would take off the southern part
OF our line, so there would be no connec-
tion with the East Haven and Morris Cove.
| told him No. He asked II that was
wise. told him did not know.
He asked me IL It was good policy, In