The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-07
Further Explains Views on Pub lie Utilities Commission
  Senator Judson Also Speaks.
DEFENDS CONGRESSMAN
Housing Meeting Follows Caucus-- Editor Woodruff Enthusiastic
 / Over the Republican
 Nominees.

Meriden, Oct 6,--The republicans of Meriden held their regular caucus which was followed by rousing rally for which the speakers were Con- gressman George l.. Iilley, Senator Stiles Judson and George C. Woodruff. editor Of the Litchfield Enquirer, thlu evening. Representative Charles ;. Heinemann was nominated for sena- tor from this district Wilbur F, Parker and Daniel ]. Donovan wers nominated for representatives and Jurge John Q. Thayer for judge of probate.
 Congressman Lilley's speech was . most interesting one and aroused . great deal of enthusiasm. Senator Judson devoted his time to & very strong defense of Congressman Lil. Icy, especially. in relation to the subs marine boat investigation. and Editor Woodruff spoke principally on nations al issues. predicting the election of the republican nominees.
 Mir. LilIey's Speech.
 Congressman Lilley's speech was al, follows.
 Mir. Chairman, Ladies and Gentlemen: l On former occasion, in addressing the people of Southington. I took oo-, cason to say that was and am heartiS fly in favor of public utilities cominis- sion. So far as have seen, the only criticism of the words then spoken has been to the effect that they were nouI definite and explicit enough, although this criticism was confined to two jour-, nals of the public press.
 At that time I stated my views on tho subject discussed would be given moro fully, and that propose to do tonight, at least with regard to the one very im- 1 portant matter referred to- As a pre-. l face to these remarks let mo say at once that favor the establishment of public service commission at the ear- l Hest possible moment consistent with proper discussion of so vital ques- tlon that I hope 1t will have the larg- est powers consistent with justice to all parties affected; that the responsl~ billties of the members will be so direct and plain they cannot he evaded, and that their remuneration 'will be such that the services of men of the very highest standing will be secured,
 I take 1t that few persons will dis- pute that corporations that have heen given enormously valuable rights by the public. in some cases without any payment therefor are answerable to the public as to the uses that make of those rights. l assume that practical ly everybody will concede that when corporation has grown into 3 monopoly with tremendous financial resource that can be used for good or evil &C., cording to the principles that impel its managers, 1t Is not safe that its pow CTS should he capable of arbitrary use.
 II is no secret that sometimes these powers are grossly abused. We need only to call to mind the outrageous wa,-' terlng of the securities of the trolley roads of the state under a former mans agemeut to more than si00,000 mile. as a result of which the people of Con- recticut are, if is estimated today pay. ing a million and half dollars year in excess of fair return on the actual investment. No arguments arc needed, to sustain the contention that such things should never again be permitted