The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-06

SonS ,InerefOr, whose mem berS are SuD- ! ject to removal by the courts for | cause, and whose grants of power must be in accordance with uniform and ] general rules. The bill provides for honest capitalization; it requires se- curlt1eS to be issued for cash only or 1 for property found by the commits l sion to be of equivalent value; it re- quires the proceeds of all securities to l be honestly invested in the plant; it requires franchise rights to be used or | surrendered; it prohibits condemnat ton except after a fair hearing; it provides for reasonable rates: it provides an efficient means for making repairs and changes in equipment necessary to the safety of the public and of em- | ployes; it recodifies, simplifies and 1 renders uniform existing legislation. | pervisory, not managerial, and should
 assure a continuous consistent policy.
 The General Assembly will retain it's legislative functions undiminished
 This bill will furnish the foundation 1 for a measure which I earnestly hope
 will be passed without delay. My views upon this matter have been ire | quently expressed in public and are 1 well known.
 1 CRUSADE AGAINST TUBERCU- LOSES.
 There is perhaps no question which l is commanding a more general popu- l lar interest today than the privilege and duty of the State in the matter of the care and cure of those afflicted with tuberculosis. The dreadful mor- | tality of the disease, it's contagious ness, and, on the other hand, the sur prising results that have come in the | way of alleviation and cure from such simple remedies as fresh air and nour-
  list the active efforts of us all in tho fight of the Great White Plague. Recognizing that Connecticut has a duty to perform in this matter, as
 stated in the platforms of both parties, my predecessor Appointed a special
 commission to investigate conditions in
 this State and to make recommenda-
 tions as to what form of legislation
 will be the most effective. The report
 of this commission has been submitted
 for your careful consideration. It is
 full and thorough, touching the ques-
 tion on many sides. including boy ne
 tuberculosis, regulation of factories,
 and reform in tenement house laws.
 no less than the cure of those suffering
 from pulmonary tuberculosis.
 This report speaks for itself. But l
 wish, repeating what I said in public,
 to express my strongest personal sym
 pathy with all movements to remedy
 conditions and to cure the afflicted.
 and my personal conviction that the
 State should go to the limit of it's
 ability in, aiding this great humani-
 tartan crusade. According to carefully
 prepared figures. 1,6O0 persons die every
 year in the State of Connecticut from
 pulmonary tuberculosis. This is est1-
 mated to be about one-tenth of the
 number who are seriously sick with
 the disease. giving a total of about 16,-
 900 persons who need care and treat
 ment. As every tenth death in Con-
 necticut is caused by tuberculosis. 1t
 follows that with population in the
 State of about 100000, more than 100,-
 COG of l. )Se of us now living are deS-
 tined to die of tuberculosis, unless ac-
 tion is taken to remedy existing cOndi-
 tion. Already the State possesses two
 sanatoria of the highest standing,
 whose records reflect honor upon their
 medical staff and managers. refer to
 the Gaylord Farm Sanitarium near
 Wallingford, and the wildwood .Sani-s
 State aid has been extended in my be-
 lief. wisely. But the hundred OF so patients cared for at these two insti-
 tutions only constitute a fraction of
 those who should be aided. What is the best way of extending State aid? Tn most cases expensive hospitals. cost ing from $50O,000 to s1.0O0,Q 900. have been
 erected. involving a heavy mainten-
 ancel charge. These have been found for a number of reasons inadeQuate to do the work anticipated. Such fnstitu- tions are too hospital-like and are too far off from the homes of the afflicted.
 believe this problem has been solved in model way by the report of the commission. They propose for your consideration a plan which, in my opinion, will do far more good, reach a far larger number of the afflicted than the hospital plan, and will not cost as much. In short. each dollar of the $3O0,O 600 asked for will count. With out going into the details of this plan, it proposes. in a general way, the erec- ti6n by the State of county homes, modelled in general character on the sanatoria of Gaylord Farm and Wild wood. These will stand as refuges, ready to receive cases sometimes called hopeless, but which are never hopeless under proper treatment and care. They will receive these patients without long journey and the cOmpulSion of residence far away from home, family ana friends. Under such conditions, with every surrounding comfortable, with plenty of nourishing food and fresh air to do natures work in con- stant contact with family and friends, cared for as we'll, if not as luxuriously, as his fellow sufferer of the largest means, patients from all over this State, many Of whom nave been given up by their doctors. will be inspired with new hope and be restored to health, to home and to capacity for work.
 TENEMENT CONDITIONS.
 The great increase in the urban pop ulation of our State and the present conditions, as shown from investiga- tions, indicate that some legislation may be necessary in order that dwell | CTS in cities shall receive suitable hous- l ing. It would seem as if one of the | municipal functions would be to see that all persons living in our industrial cities have such accommodations as will enable them to maintain their l and moral health. both as to the interior of the house. it's accommo- dations and it's surroundings. It is quite certain that the earning capacity 1 of our wage earners and the purchas- ing power of their earnings are weak | ened by unsuitable housing. and natur- ally so. for the interests involved are not united. While most landlords are 1 and humane. yet there are too many who apparently | care not how their tenants exist, pro- viding they pay the rent. It is for this i class that legislation is needed. for l those who usually live in that class of | houses are nor in a position to resist. | It seems desirable to establish a mini 1 mum condition which will be legal for |