The morning journal-courier., 1908-10-07


 welfare is in good hands, and to be able quickly to stop any abuses of power, which arc always possible.
 Now let me repeat what I said on q former occasion, This attitude does not Imply the least hostility to our oorpor- ations, We can never forget what a great part they have played in the de- velcpn ent of the state. In most eases thoy have supplied our wants long be- fore we should have done 1t ourselves, If it had been left to state or municipal enterprises More than to any others We owe our greatness to our captains of Industry,
 This is q business community. It would be more than folly 1t would be suicidal to hamper enterprise The people of Connecticut would never per- init unfair eXactlons to be placed upon the management of any proper busi- ness. Any arbitrary treatment of our corporations would speedily bring It's penalty upon the people In greater de- gree than upon those at which It was directly aimed
 Now let us sec what advantage would come to the corporations and their stockholders by Intelligent state supervision. It is apparent that If the issuance of stocks and bonds could be made only with the approval of a commission, after careful scrutiny the securities of the stock and bondholders would be better safeguarded, It ought to be one of the prime objects of q public utilities commission to sec that the best possible protection is assured to thoso who invest their moneys In the corporations,
 If 1t is, then, 1t Is clear how the corporations would benefit from the greater stability of their securities, Further, state supervision would give stamp of official approval which would not De one of the least of com pany's assets. But perhaps greatest of all the benefits would be the increased amlty between the public and the cor porations
 It is useless for any of us to wink at the too apparent fact that there has been during recent years grow ing distrust and even cnmlty on the part of the public toward large cor. porations This has been due largely to the arbitrary, even offensive, at- titude of many concerns throughout the country toward the people at large. and to the defiance of law and equity, the corruption of legislation the ruth less crushing of smaller competitors by unfair means, and the swindling of investors by the watering of securl- ties
 We cannot, l say, fall 10 see with grave concern the growing dislike and suspicion of corporation activities on the part of the public. It augurs badly for both sides But we can believe that If these corporations welcome a fair state supervision, and thus show their good faith toward the people, this ani- mostly will give way to the most cor dial relations that would more than balance any objections to control II they do not cooperate in this move ment now. and do succeed in staying this reform, they will find themselves later on face to face with far more radical demands
 great political reform Is not un- likely to come about through the exer, else of state control by a commission with members of high character, who would themselves be under close pop ular scrutiny, and that Is the prob able elimination Of the objectionable part of tho legislative lobby.
 It ia no secret that the public ser vice corporations in all of our states maintain lobbies. and that in many in- stances those agents resort to ques. tionable practices to promote legisa- tion favorable to their employers And they in turn are the prey of dishon- est legislators who introduce strike" bills and other measures. or threaten to do SO. in the hope Of earning dis honest dollar by methods akin to backmail.
 Turn over the consideration of all public service corporation matters for first consideration to a public utilities commission and you strike a blow at both tho lobby and the dishonest leg islator You take away the business Of the paid lobbyist and remove the great est incentive or tho crooked citizen 10 aspire to q seat in the legislature, and thereby you raise the personnel of the general assembly in character and public confidence,
 As a result Of the lack of control of the public service corporations in past years our cities have been burdened with many laws that have taken from the public the rights that aye inner ently theirs, and have resulted in al- most ceaseless bickerings and hostility toward the companies. whose dli- gence in looking after legislation has only been equaled by the laxity or municipal officers in that direction The sprinkling of the streets, the moving of tracks, the payment for the promotion of Improvements in al, most every city have found the municl- pay corporation and the public ser, vice corporation in conflict because the legislature has seen fit to give the lat- ter immunities and privileges that nev. CT should have been given.
 Many of these laws ought to be re- pealed to the end that the companies shall enjoy all the rights of the indi- vidual and no more, and should be made to pay their proper share, like l the individual, for the benefits that accrue to them Here again the cor- poraton would be the gainer by re- placing the present popular hostility with good will that Is worth much to any enterprise.
 Now, the objection has been raised that commission government" Is wrong and not consistent with re- | publican government The platform