The morning journal-courier., 1908-11-23
USEFUL STATE COMMISSIONS.

USEFUL sTATE COMMISSIONS.
 It has come to be pretty generally recognized throughout the state of Connecticut that there is a field of usefulness for special state commis- sions, as distinguished from state or local commissions which are given administrative power The occasion al investigations which special com missions undertake for the purpose off aiding the legislature in It's task of enactng competent laws arc illumin- ating in the highest degree. Within the past ten or fifteen years in partic- ular commissions, devoted to different subjects, have done splendid work for Connecticut and have in many in- stances led to wise legislation.
 Tn many respects the commission appointed by the general assembly two years ago to inquire into public utilities legislation was charged with the most important task yet given . body of that character It is well to remember that 1t was grudgingly ere ated, and 30 little had the movement the sympthy of the legislative leaders that they declined to let Governor Woodruff. who deserves the largest share of credit for what has already been accomplished, name the com missioner. A good commission was nevertheless the outcome, and. while 1t was not originally accredited with an enthusiasm for tho work assigned 1t. 1t later became convinced that some step should be taken to bring the public service corporations of the state under stricter control, The Springfield Republican appears i'm pressed by the work done by the com mission and says that if their recom- mendations are adopted Connecticut Twill have taken a long step forward iu the control of public service mon opolv. Public regulation in Connecti- cut is now and long has been great farce and the joke of all observers This situation Is now 10 be placed in the way of correction. Connecticut Is t. join in the general state and natonal movement towards subiecting public service monopoly to 8 measure of partnership with the people who grant the valuable and exclusive priv ilcges And the penalty for failure In making this movement effective Is to be full public ownership of such enterprises"
 It would be difficult to find more convincing statement of the purpose of this proposed Legislation here and elsewhere. The earlier hours of the movement found the public service corporations approving the suggestion that the object of the movement was to boss them and take from them that Independent control of their own properties which is essential to their development. They are to-day not attracted by the proposition and would prefer that It be indefinitely postponed but their preferences aside it has become right and necessary that that measure of partnership between the people, who grant eXclu- sive rights, and the corporations, which enjoy them. should be made more definite and exact. There is no extensive anti-corporation hysteria in the state of Connecticut, though there is a well grounded belief that in order to get the most for all concerned out Of the formal recognition of the prin. ciple of private monopoly the state must exercise a larger control than 1t has done in the past. It is now seen that the alternative of this policy, which is the child of new conditions, is governorship ownership, and, while there is much to be said on that side Of the question, if is tho conviction of conservative Connecticut that iude- pendent control with state oversight is the better policy to pursue, This is rlainly the conclusion to which the commission, sympathetically or un- sympathetically as the case may be- arrived They found upon inquiry anl investigation no escape from it. just as many others, who have looked into the proposition without prejudice found no escape from 0 like con clusion
 The report of this particular com mission will encourage Connecticut tc utilize the ability and judgment ot other of it's citizens to inquire into other subjects which there is little hope of the general assembly, with its multifarious dutes doing, The