The morning journal-courier. (New Haven, Conn.) 1907-1913, 1908-03-11
Big CHANGES AHEAD
Confidence in Public Spirited.
ness of Commission Which
Will Soon Hold a Hearing
in This City--To Act
Energetically.

am SIMPLY ue-Hgnteu began GoN-
ernor Woodruff in true Rooseveltian
manner when asked what he thought
Of the results of the hearing of Mon
day in Hartford upon public utilities
by Journal-Courier man soon after
his return to New Haven last night
from his three weeks trip to st. Au-
gustine, Florida. His Excellency was
shown the account of the hearing as
reported in this paper yesterday morn
ing and he read it with a great deal of
interest.
"Of course you might know that
would be pleased with the outcome.
got back to New Haven with my wife
from st. Augustine at o'clock this
afternoon. All that | know about that
public utilities hearing is what l have
read in your paper This public util-
tiles question has been my hobby, as
you must know. l have always de-
termined that, If ever the chance came
for me to be able to act on the matter,
] would do so with all the energy
had. And. mark my word, l believe
that the public will see big things hap
pen in this connection in the near flu
ture. The ball has been started roll
ing and once the public generally has
become awakened to the great evils
that are allowed in the name of cor
proations, once the state realizes what
these corporations are costing it every
year, it will be an easy matter in my
belief.
'The hearing of Monday shows that
the business interests OF many quar-
ters of the state have been aroused
That is good sign and good results
may be expected"
The governor was asked if he
thought the present commission which
has been appointed to make a report
on the advisability of a permanent
public utilities commission in Con-
necticut, is an adverse commission or
one composed of men n accord with
the object the governor had In mind
when he sent his message to the leg
islature asking for the appointment of
such a commission. 1t will be remem-
bered that this message was followed
by the rather convincing statement
that If the commission was not ap-
pointed, the governor would call a
special session of the Legislature to
consider the, matter and that this
statement Undoubtedly brought about
the desired appointment His Excel
lency said that he considered the COM
mission a very good one. It is COM
posed Of public spirited men, he said,
and much might well be expected of
1t. He pointed to the fact that it had
voluntarily held the public hearing on
Monday as proof of its sincerity.
At this point the governor was made
aware of the intention of the commits
sion to hold a special hearing In New
Haven and his ''smile but broadened
the more All the better, all the bet
ter" he said, that's the way to get
at the heart of the matter. There are
lots of men who cannot get away from
New Haven to a hearing in Hartford
and they would be able to appear at a
New Haven hearing and further the
cause. | should like to see similar
hearings to the New Haven one held
in Waterbury and Bridgeport as we'll
They would bring about excellent re-
Suits
The governor was asked what his
idea was for permanent public util-
ities commission. He was at once at
home explaining his pet scheme. MY
idea of it, he said, would be for a
commission of say five men. The rail-
road commission of three men is per-
haps too small. These men 1 would
have appointed by the governor of the
state with the consent of the senate.
Their terms of Office would lap over
each other so that one governor would
not have the appointing Of more than
one or possibly two men,"
1T would be to this commission. -
he continued, that l would have these
men apply who are contemplating
making a new corporation. The COM
mission would have the power ot
grant charters for corporations, there
being the right to an appeal TO the su-
preme court of the state whenever the
decision was deemed unsatisfactory"
The governor then went on to ex-
plain what business the commission
would have to transact. 1T would be
nv idea that the charters to be grant
ed by the commission would he drawn
up along certain well-prescribed and
definite lines which would be radical
lv stricter than those now In use.
WHY. I do not believe the public has
any idea Of the broad lines along
which charters are granted to corpo-
rations to-day by this state. The rail
roads, trolley and steam. of the state
when they are granted an unlimited
right OF eminent domain can practic-
ally do anything in the curriculum
they wish. Its simply a farce.
would not question their right to &C
auire a right of way from go7e place
10 another. but AZ present there is
nothing. absolutely nothing at which
they can be compelled to stop. They
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