The morning journal-courier., 1908-04-02
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION

PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION.
 The formal announcement Is made that the commission appointed by the general assembly to inquire into the advisablity of establishing here in the State of Connecticut public utilities commission similar to that existing in the State of New York will visit New Haven next Monday and give a public hearing at the rooms of the supreme court in the county building This will be the second hearing granted by the commission and 1t is thought may be the last. By that time the commission believes it will have before 1t. in oral and written testimony, whatever is ne- cessary to aid it in making its report to the legislature which Is to sit next winter.
 It goes without saying that a goodly attendance of representative men at the approaching hearing is essential to the movement. No open-mnded com mttee of inquiry could be expected to itself take an interest in movement which lacked the support of public opinion. The great trouble has been in this state that the public, in mat ters affecting the chartering and con- trol of public service corporations, has either been too insufficiently informed with regard to action taken by the general assembly or 1t has neglected the opportunities given 1t to under stand what has been done, and badly ,done, with the States power. Either is V a sufficient reason for the public now toNform an opinion regarding this movement to anticipate more badly done things in the future and forbid them. Those who have looked into the workings of the public service com missions in the state of New York, Wisconsin and Massachusetts and who have drawn from what they have learned conclusions which they be- lieve can be useful to the State oi Connecticut, ought to make if A point to attend Mondays hearing and givf the Investigating commission the ben. eft of them. Those to whom the sub ject comes with the confusion of 2 ,-suddenly expressed thought should at. tend the hearing in order 10 bette, inform themselves. If these various forces are brought together each play ing upon the other In way to pro ton, the result can only be such a re port from the commission and such law as shall aid the State governmen in the adequate protection of the pub lie against the possible cupidity of or ganized capital.
 Thus far the public service corpora tions of the State have confined thei interest In the movement to such cor respondence as they haze had with tn secretary of the commission. It i of course certain that later their at titude will be disclosed in the report . for obviously there can be nothing con fidential in an investigation of thi character. The movement Is either un dertaken in behalf of the public for tn public advantage, or 1t Is Withou standing In polite society. This cnti tlee the public to know just what thos have in mind who have planned thi enterprise and just what those have i mind who possibly either resent th proposition or seek to direct the forl 1t shall finally take. The originator of the movement have from the stal definitely asserted that their objet was, not to embarrass the public SCI vice corporations In the managemer of their business enterprises by the in position of frivolous or excessively rt strictive acts. but to perfect a situt ton under which all of the virtues conceded private monopoly may 1 freely exercised, while none of tl vices may come into play. That
 something which every honestly COT ducted public service corporation ougl to approve; it Is certainly somethir which every corruptly managed publ service corporation ought to want
 oppose. It would add, then, grei deal of interest to the hearing Monday if tho public service corpOri tons would send to if men authorize to speak for them and tell not alol the commission but the public, iu what their views are of the propose permanent commission. It Is of cour clear to them that the grant of priva monopolstic rights necessarily ca ries with 1t solemn pledge on il \ part of the government to protect
 every conceivable way the publ
 which must patroniSe these comp