Norwich bulletin., 1909-08-06
Minority Report Of Public Utilities Bill Defeat.
ed by Vote of 1O5 to 1O3
MOST EXCITING SCENES OF THE SESSION
Spirited Debate Preceded Taking of Vote and Speaker
Ordered Floor Cleared of Spectators and Lobbyists
Predicted that Barnum Bill will Fail of Passage
Senate Sustans Governors Veto of Prison Pardon Bill

The debate on the measure through
out the day was spirited. Many MEM
bers made speeches which created
| great interest. Representative Hayes
of Waterbury believed the majority
bill would give the public a chance to
Ebe heard. Connecticut had always
| gone slow on reforms
| Representative Burnes appealed to
the 20S republicans to handle the mat
| ter as a party measure. To this Rep
resentative Tingier of Vernon (demo-
craft made a protest, as he said it was
| the rst political appeal since the sem
atorial contest.
Speaker Exercises Prerogative.
After Mr.. Burnes had spoken, many
of the Chandler bill advocates tried
to get recognition, but it seemed as If
| the speaker was only recognizing the
| opponents of that bill This brought
out vigorous clamor for recognition
and the speaker laid down the rule
of his prerogative to recognize whom
he believed was entitled to recogni-
tion. He reiterated this several times
afterwards and then the house accept
ed in good faith his declaration of in
tent to give impartial recognition. Mr..
Mckenzie of Putnam and Mr.. Thomp-
son of East Windsor spoke for the
Barnum draft. The latter believed the
third house was the stronger power
and it was well to pass a conservative
bill. Mr.. Higgins of Winchester
pointed out the hard straits of the
majority leader (Mr. Burnes) in ap-
pealing for party support for the Bar
mum draft.
The witty speech was by Mr.. Pohn-
son of Newton and his points were up
roarfously greeted. He said he would
rather be found greasing the rails than
greasing tha~members. He denounced
the Barnum draft.
Representative Clark of Bridgeport
submitted an amendment providing
for the right of appeal to the courts
from a decision of the commissioners
under the minority draft and as Mr..
Chandler accepted this it was adopted.
Debate on Barnum Bill.
Representative Bishop in his speech
charged that the Barnum draft was
drawn by railroad lawyer whose Of
fee is in the yellow building in New
Haven. He severely criticised section
after section Of this bill.
Representative knight protested
against the "slurs" cast by several
speakers on Senator Barnum, and up
on Edward Robbins, counsel for the
New Haven road mDth of whom, he
said, were close friends of his. He de-
clared the opposition had used unfair
tactics in assailing the Barnum bill
He believed it was the right step to
take in getting supervision to take a
bill like that drawn by Senator Bar
mum and pass it. He did not believe
that the bill was drawneby any rail-
road lawyer, for he knew that Mr.. Bar
mum had views of his own. He be-
lieved Mr.. Bishop of New Haven was
insulting when he cried out: Where
did he get it?" and asserting that the
bill was drawn by someone who had
Interior motives.
Several other representatives spoke
and the lights were turned on. Then
came the noting of the previous ques-
tion and the vote.
There was much turmoil for a time,
but as it was late members hastily
went to the station to take trains
homeward.