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

is fair to them AMI fair to the cor
porations
Above the interests Of the inves-
tor and the consumer or the user
should be placed the interests Of the
state, The granting. of special privl-
leges for which no adequate return Is
made, and without 4 proper system of
control has probably been the cause
of more political upheavals In the
history Of the world than any other
one thing, In the past these privi-
leges have taken the form OF special
political rights. At present, their as
peet Is more economic and financial
than political; but these rights, fire.
quently In tho form OF perpetual fran
ohises are so immensely valuable that
the broader interests OF the state have
been suhordinated and the govern
mental machinery corrupted and
prostituted In the struggle TO attain
them. Much OF the Political history
of every city centers around the
granting of franchises to public SER
vice corporations, and at times state
and municipal elections have been
fought not over some principle Of
| public policy, but over the question
whether this group Of men or that
group OF men, each anxious TO secure
these rights, should dominate. OF
course, this was not the issue as pub
/ licly stated, for the semblance of par
4 t. regularity was retained, but when
4 the situation was stripped of its COW
ering, the real point at issue was who
should get control OF certain fran
chises. Under such circumstances,
the interests of the state which should
be above those OF any single individ-
ual or group OF individuals are wholly
dlsregarded. Corruption and inefiic-
iency predominant.
Under q proper system of gov
ernmental supervision, those franchis'
es which have been so immensely val
liable, will become Of little value, for
any corporation which operates under
them will be required to give such
good service at so low figure that
all above a reasonable profit will go
not into the pockets OF the stockhold
crs, or the stock manpulators, hu
into the hands of Tho public, either
through improved service or lower
charges. There win then be no huge
financial stake to play for In the game
or politics, an opportunity will be civ
eli for the political parties to devote
their attention to questions OF state
craft and to the improvement. of pub
lie welfare.
THE effect upon the corporation;
will be equally beneficial. 1t will no
then be necessary for their officials t'
secure control Of The governmental
machinery Their whole attention
can be devoted to tho conduct of theiI
undertakings Large political contri
butions need not be made, and thu
legitimate profits of the business vii
go TO the stockholders. Strike lesis
lation will diminish. and It will no
be necessary for the corporations t
maintain an expensive lobby at thu
state capitol and in the City hall. Tn
business OF the corporation can b'
done openly and It's affairs mad
known to the public This In turl
will inspire confidence In the puhli
and help TO remove the suspicion
which now exists. Capital may be Sc
cured for these enterprises more cas-
lily and at n lower figure, Men 0
ability and integrity will be more Will
ing to enlist In corporation work"
Clarence Demina was then calle'
upon by Colonel Osborn. Mr. Dem
ing said that he had come with n Loaf
OF bricks 10 throw in certain direc
ton, and soon after he had starte'
speaking they commenced. savera
OF them we're aimed at Andrew +