The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1908-12-31
DEFENDS LEGISLATURE.
Gov. Prouty Also Talks About Public
Utilities Bill.

Newport. Dec. 3i.-Gov. G. II. Prouty
addressed the Mems club Tuesday night
on the public utilities bill and said in
opening his talk that people ought to
ke more interested in public affairs.
He doubted If very many knew about
things happening in the legislature OK.
cept through the newspapers lie re-
ferred to sarcastic editorials By three
state papers chilling the legislature a
collection Of "dant.eyed hayseeds" Mr.
Prouty said that II they were, il was
the most intelligent legislature that
had met for some time and showed II
In refusing 20 be lead by any set Of
leaders. While the last Legislature &C.
eomplshed large amount Of work,
not one law passed affected anybody's
pocketbook
In calling attention TO the public
utilities bill. the governor said that he
had done what he could for the bill be-
cause he thought II was right and
thought il would be passed kith amend
ments. The bill he said, was along
the same lines of the railroad commits
sion bill and that commission has
shown what it can do by proper super.
vision. This commission has met the
railroads and shown them that il
means to treat them fair and has thus
gained their confidence. Why cannot
we correct other utilities in the same
way as it will be the same commission
who viii have the matter in charge.
The governor referred to his plat
form before the convention and his
speech Of acceptance and also the plat
form of the party in which the plank
OF supervision of public corporation
was included and said when | make
promise politically or anyway try
and carry il out" lie stated that he
did not have anything 20 do with
drawing the bin and did not see it un-
til Mr.. Barber showed IL to him and
asked him for his opinion. He told Mr.
Barber that he did not feel competent
TO say whether IL was a good bill or
bad one and asked for a copy which
he sent to Mr. Redmond asking his
opinion and received Mr. Redmond's
criticism. He then called Mr. Redmond
to Montpelier and had a consultation
with Messrs Barber. Redmond, Will
lisms and Gibson which resulted in the
bill as it was originally presented
The bill he said was not for the pur-
pose Of driving out Telephone com
pany but TO regulate it. Take for in
stance a town with two companies.
Would it not be better to have only
one at reasonable rate than to have
to pay for two!
Mr.. Prouty made complaint to the
telegraph company at the service they
were giving at Newport and was told
that no change would be made. This
he said ought to be regulated.
Not Trust Measure.
Mr. Prouty threw little light on
the fact that the New England Tele-
phone company was not opposing the
bill by saying that he told the president
of the company in Boston not to send !
Mr.. Stickney up to the capitol TO fight |
the measure as they would have to ac-
ccpt it anyway and it would be better |
to do 20 gracefully than under pres.
sure. And he received the assurance OF |
the president as well as other officers /
that they were not opposed to fair |
supervision. Mr.. Prouty said that the |
charge that The bin was drawn up at |
10i Milk street, Boston was an abso.
lutte falsehood.
Mr.. Prouty answered many ques
tons at the close of mis- address which /
gave great deal of light on the sub.
iect. During this part of the evening |
he paid high tribute to Commissioner /
and his fellow commission
ars.