Norwich bulletin., 1909-02-26
PUBLIC UTILITIES BILL PRESSED
In Special Message Governor LiIleY
Urges Passage Of Pending Bill
Needed Reform Measure.

Hartford, Feb. 25.-Governor Lirey
transmitted to the general assembly
today special message strongly urg-
ing the enactment OF the pending bill
concerning public utilities corporations.
The document was referred to the ju-
dietary committee.
Text of Document.
The following is the text Of the mes
sage. -E
To the Honorable General Assembly:
I desire again to call the attention of
your honorable body to the report and
bill of the commission concerning pub
lie service corporations. which Ie be-
lieve to be the most important meas
ure before the general assembly of
Connecticut at this time.
1t is unnecessary TO comment on the
present condition OF public utilities cor
poratiOns in this state, or to urge this
bill upon you as a reform measure, but
I do urge 1t upon you as an enlighten-
ed and progressive legislation in line
with the advanced policy Of sister
states.
The immense complexity of modern
business conditions has rendered the
supervision which is possible under the
present system insufficient. Il Is no
longer practicable for the legislature
meeting once in two years. for a few
months, to give to public utilition that
careful scrutiny which the people
rightfully demand. The same source
from which the grants of special priv
ilege flow should be in session at all
times, to see to 1t that those special
privileges which are granted for the
benefit of the people are exercised IN
the interests of the people.
I do not apprehent, on the other
hand that persons who have invested
suffer in any way by the change rec
ommended, for a large portion Of the
bill especially provides for the safe
guarding Of their Investments to a
greater degree than Is now possible.
There is no suggestion of an attempt
by the state to interfere with the prop
er management of the corporations,
but there is a clear intent to put them
on an equal basis and under careful
and continuous supervision. Any public
service corporation properly and hon
estly organized and managed can have
nothing to fear and everything to gain
from the creation Of a public service
commission.
There Is no question In my mind but
that the Legislature is the proper body
20 consider all questions Of general poi
icy concerning this or any other sub
ject. but do question the advisability
of tho legislature undertaking to pass
on specific cases. Let the legislature
declare the general policy OF the state
in dealing with public utilities and then
let a small commission decide the in
dividual questions arising under that
policy. The creation Of a policy is
purely administrative. We have in this
safe a clear precedent for Supervision
by an administrative body OF the rail-
road branch Of public utilities. There
seems to be no good reason why the
same policy should not De extended to
all other corporations of this class, and
The law on the subject revised and
codifed in accordance with the re-
port.
Your honorable body Will, of course.
understand that the passage Of the bill
win put an end to special privilege 80
far as the words are taken to mean an
undue advantage for one corporation
over another Of the same class. and
will prevent any person or corporation
receiving from the state privileges In
consistent with the general ptMcy out
lined by the legislature.
1t is my earnest wish that the con-
sideration of this matter by your hon
orable body should not be delayed. for
believe ttat the great body OF our
people are in favor of It. and thaa the
measure Of their approval or your work
at this session will largely depend up
on your prompt and facOrable action
upon this bill.
GEORGE L. LILDEY,