The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-04-04
saturday. April 4, 1908.
FACTS THAT COUNT.


IT Is now generally admitted that
the proposition to establish In the
State Of Connecticut a public utilities
What many people want to know is,
what has been the practical exper-
fence of such States as have estab-
lished such a commission? Has it
been possible to keep it out Of pol-
tiles? Is 1t actually necessary to fur
ther reinforce the halls of legislation
by means of an administrative body,
enforcing delegated powers Of direct
responsibility? These are all practical
questions and they are put not neces-
sarily for the purpose of embarrass-
ing the movement, but to make It as
clear as human inquiry can make It
clear that the State of Connecticut
will be probably better off under such
a commission than when deprived Of
Its services.
So far as the experience Of other
States is concerned It Is doubtful If It
can do more than suggest here
course of action. The political envi-
ronment Of Connecticut is so different
from any one Of the States which has
thus far adopted the public utilities
commission. that It would seem TO call
for action Of more independent
character. For one thing the States
OF New York, Massachusetts, Wiscon-
sin, and we think Texas where these
commissions exist. have annual SEES
sions of the general assembly Com
necticut has the biennial system of
legislative organization and If there
II disposition to revive the annual
system It has failed to express itself
IN manner to impress anyone. That
Is to say. the State If Connecticut has
a need of its own for some body SIM
plementing the legislature, a body ia
which aggrieved shippers or patrons
OF the public service corporations can
appeal during eighteen OF the twenty
four months covering the existence of
the general assembly. If the states
having annual sessions of their legis-
latures find It both useful and neces-
sary to support public utilities com
mission as well, a state having only
'niennial sessions of its general as
sembly may claim a greater useful
ness and necessity for such a commits
sion. We suspect In fact that If ono
should probe deep enough into the
movement to create commission IN
Connecticut, one would find a pro-
noting cause to be the biennial seq
sion principle. which does remove the
general public far from Its protecting
agencies.
In SO far, too as the suggestion to
reply upon the Judgment and exper-
ience of other States reflects INDIGESTION
at home, It is Objectionable. Copnec-
ticut would appear to be particularly
qualified to work out problem of
this sort without foreign advice. It's
public service corporations as a whole
are probably managed assured of
promising future and located IN a fer
ritory thickly settled and constantly
growing. IT Is the one state in the
Union to have worked out the prob
lem of the relationship of the COM
panies and the state along logical
lines, and without outside leadership
1t came to the principle of natural
not because monopoly Is 10
the taste of this people but because
after an extended experience with IN
dependent managements and free
II presented itself as alone
capable of providing efficient service
1T the lowest possible rate. Connect
cut has IN particular been criticised hv
the people Of the state Of AIassacbu.
setts on account Of It's alleged s,lrron.
der to the public service interests. but
to-day the general assembly of that
state is obliged to consider serlouslv
Ms the only certain, or probable rond
to a larger industrial prosperity. Civ
ing us assent to the merger OF It's rc-
naming stcam railroad with the New
Haven roai Practically every ad /
vance made by tho State Of Connect
,ut has 5ccn wrought out of its own !
experience, which, while It may NOT {
Justify n superior confidence In ts I
Judgment, docs warrant the bcllof that +
Connecticut Is not SO dependent upon Z
he experience Of other States that {
because a given principle has failed /
here, or has been a disappointment G
should be accepted here as a source Z
II failure or disappointment in itself. /
Ne would not discourage in other {