The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-08-06
Shameful Scenes Enacted in House Before Lobbyists Were Ordered to Leave MAJORITY FOR
 CHANDLER BILL 1O6 to 1O1 in Favor of Minor ity, but Members Changed
 Before Lobby Left
Final Vote Against Bill Was 1O5 to 103 -A Clark and Bartlett Supported the Chandler Bill-to Renew Fight Monday.
Special Correspondents of The Far
 mer.o

Especial Correspondence of The Far
 mer.1
 Hartford, Aug. 6.-In defiance of ev- cry law of public decency the "Black Horse Cavalry" booted and spurred, charged upon the state capitol yester- day as the day was fast waning and like the fine old brigands of olden days swept the legislative field, and with hollow laugh and sinister jest gal loped gleefully away, after having ravished the ship of state, leaving nothing behind them but the mournful signs of the legislative derelicts who but a moment before the advent of the Black Knights foresaw the dawn of a new day on the political horizon of the Constitution state.
 Such a pillaging has not before been witnessed in the legislative halls of this state. Not even in the session of four years ago, when the infamous log rolling expedition, that forced through both branches of the General Assem- bly, the bill making the Southern In diana R. R. bonds legal investments for the savings banks of this state, and disgraced Connecticut, was such an aggregation of the talent on hand. But to their crekit be it said that they worked openly. There was
 
 motives and as they boasted of their purpose in advance, it would have been an easy matter to have taken action that could have thwarted their in fiuence had either branch of the as sembly desired to banish them.
 Since the beginning of the fight be- tween the people and the public service corporations in the present session of the legislature it has been common property that the lobbyists in the eTn- ploy of these corporations would nev- CT permit, if they could prevent, the passage of an act creating a utility com- mission that would be of any service whatever in aiding a redress of the real grievances of the public. Conse- Quently it was to be expected that they would rally in all of their strength to stop the passa ge of the so-called Chan dler- -Whiton Minority Utilities bill, which was the bill that public senti- ment favored as against the Barnum bill so-called, the measure advocated by the maj jority of the special commit tee which was named by Speaker FL more s. Banks.
 When the Barnum bill just squeezed through the senate a few days ago by interests got an awful jar, especially in view of the fact that the minority bill failed of passage in the senate by only one vote. Fearful that return of the minority bill to the senate, If it was passed by the house, would result in its passage there, the battle to defeat the minority bill in the house was begun and from all parts of the state came politicians and lobbyists to bring about the killing.
 Yesterday was the day set for the battle and the victory that would have been the peoples was honestly fought, and honestly won; but before the final announcement of the vote was made sufficient members, who voted ''yes," changed their votes to mo" to defeat the bill.
 l,;1 tention had been twice called to the fact that lobbyists were at work on members of the House ordered the floor cleared of all except members, state officials and senators.
 Representative William Johnson of Newtown, who throughout the entire session has shown himself to be jeal- ous of the public interest, was the first to direct the attention of Speaker Banks to the activity of the lobby. The speaker apparently did not like the way Representative Johnson called his attention to the situation for he informed the gentleman from New town that he was not in order. When Johnson insisted in his stand, by call ing the lobby group a, prayer meet ing in the corner,' he was ordered to take his seat.
 Then Mayor George Forster of Rockville, arose to a question of per- sonal privilege. and called the atten- ton of the speaker to the rule which fOrD1QS lODDy1nS, at the same tune 1n- forming him that there was lobbying going on. The speaker ruled that MT. | Forster was clearly in order and then publicly called attention to the rule which forbade outsiders from talking with members while a vote was in progress. There was momentary ces- sation of lobbying activity after the Speaker directed the attention of those | in the House, to the rule, but soon as it became apparent that the vote | was so close that two or three changes | would defeat the Chandler bill there was a resumption of the evil work. Johnson and Forster, ever alert, Spied the work going on and then MT. Chandler spoke up. as he too noticed what was being done. and he asked to have the House cleared. This was done and the talent walked out, but too late the order came, for the final count with those changing their votes re- | corded. showed that the Chandler bill had been defeated 103 to 105.
 | Representatives Fayette c. Clark and F. A. Bartlett voted for the Chandler bill and MT. Clark made a speech in support of the bill. He also presented | an amendment to the measure, which | overcame an alleged objection that some members had to the bill, which | amendment was acceptable to MT. Chandler. and prevailed. MT. Clark S amendment provided for the right of