The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-05-22

Gates, who sat beside him, but they
apparently had little effect He said,
4 favor public utilities commits
sion In Connecticut. | favor a rail-
road commission, but one vastly dif-
ferent from the one at present, My
earliest recollection OF the state rail-
road commission was in 1859 when
the ship Of state aoated IN a sea Of
champagne and greenbacks, More
farm mortgages were paid off n that
time than in any other period in the
history of the state. Railroad pirates
had come into the tate to parallel the
Consolidated line, The nscldated
applied for $l0O,)00OOO increased
capitalization and the railroad COM
mission granted this and everything
else.
Before 1900 there came some men
FEM Pennsylvania who bought up
properties watered at S,l40,SO0. Then
Trey We're allowed to issue stocks and
bends indefinitely. Over 100000 in
water was added in year. The rail-
road commissioners should have come
In and prevented this, In no reports
did the commission condemn this Pc
ried of stock watering Mr.. Deming
II en- quoted state acts showing the
commissions power over the compa-
MES officials. and the power to investl-
gats all corporations. Going on he said.
why Is 1t the commission did not
exercise the power, If there had been
one man on that commission who had
gone to Allan w. Paige and threaten.
ed to put In minority report expos.
Ing him, If he passed the Imitation bill
The commission has had full prevent.
ing power. one of the reasons why
there has been no action Is that .the ap.
pointments are part Of party spoils
We have a civil engineer, 10 years ole
and out of active service. We have
two men both of whom have beer
chairman of state committees and &c,
tive lobbyists win they stay inaa
ton? Their reports are wrong ant
ridiculous. Their whole actions have
been disgraceful,
Now for constructive criticism
There should be change in the per
sonel of the commission and telephon,
surveillance added. Gas companies
should be added at first tentatively ac
ton should be mandatory, not permits
sable.
"one fault is with the public for 1T
lack of interest. With the direct prlm
airy, we could arouse more interests II
the nominations and put the bette
men up for office. Get the citizens L
the caucus, and believe that that ma!
be the panacea. Responsibility will bt
exacted from governors and commits
sions, which in the case Of railroad
: commissions has been sadly needed.
Mr.. Gates Speech.
After Mr. Deming, Mr. Gates spok
briefly. He said:
II was not on the railroad commits
sion in most Of the period to which Nj
. Deming refers, but do not think tn
, commission would wish me to max
any apology for them Not until 1870
, did the state railroad commission hav
, the slightest say in regard to the is
, suancy of stocks and bonds.
! 1--WE are divided into three classes o
: people: persons, corporations and pub
: lie service corporations The first pub
lie service corporations were the fer
: ries. The first ones gave the power o
rebate our public service corporation
| are like highways. All have always ha'
some kind OF supervision, The question
| Is: Can this supervision be improved
Now 1t practically rests with the legis
| lature, which at the last session hat
| TO receive 500 bills.
. "In behalf OF the Connecticut Rail