The morning journal-courier., 1908-12-05
THE punLIc SERVICE COMMISSION.

Already one of the provisions of the proposed public utilities act has fallen under discussion. It Is that which proposes to make ineligible for ap- pointment to the contemplated com mission anybody holding stock in any public service company The purpose of the provision is, of course, to eim- inate from the discharge of duty She slightest trace of self-interest and from that point of view Ii Is a credit able feature. Tho discussion, which has been provoked turns on whether after all such restraints upon public Service are more than theoretically useful in their character
 The Hartford Courant takes the lead in the discussion from the mega. tive side and is quite sure that tho provision is put up on a strong theory. It notes that while owners of public service company stock are not to be eligible for appointment, others are eligible. who may be antagonstic to the corporations IL is also noted by our contemporary that there is no provision excluding great shipper from the commission and so by the process of elimination. as lt were, it reaches the definite conclusion as fol- lows "Wc do not find the remedy in excluding everybody who owns stock on one side or who rides in or uses cars or drinks water or buys gas or electricity on the other side In our opinion t lies i1 removing the restric- tion and seeking to have the best and ablest men in the state fill those re- sponsible positions" Later in its argu- ment the Courant says: "We venture the guess and It's something better than guess that the very men who drew Up this act are wise and rortu- nate enough to have Investments that would disqualfy them for performing the duties which they have prescribed and they framed their law in spite of their 'cntangling alliances,
 Reaching down little deeper into the philosophy which consciously or unconsciously must have led original ly to precautions of this character, it is hard to reconcile 1t with solid faith in human nature When the law forbds men of good reputation 10 perform a certain important public service, such as is here proposed, 1t means that tho corrupting force of sclf-intercst fig so great that impar- tiality and sincerity become impossi- ble. More than that, 1t virtually ad- mits that ownership in stocks and sc- curitics, belonging to the companies under official surveillance, makes on upright attitude of mind doubtful. to say the least. The next step in the analysis of the proposition nurls one to the conclusion that only the desti- tute can be trusted to labor righteous ly for their fellows. We caught 6 glimpse of this unpleasant view of things during the recent state cam Naign, when Judge Robertson, on the one hand, was told that ne could not serve the state impartially because he was a director in too many public ser vice corporations, though, on the oth- CT hand, no objection was offered the suggestion that Mir Brooker might SC to the senate of the United States though tarred with the same stick.
 Frankly, we have no patience with this sort of philosophy We have moi the slightest doubt that had Judge Robertson been elected governor, hl would have given Connecticut an eX. emplary administration, nor have we the slightest doubt that if Mr. Brook. CT should be sent to the senate of tho United States he would there show al concerned a love of state greater than a love of selfish power The human conscience can be relied upon nint times out of ten to determine the con.