The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-15
REORGANIZATION OF
 CORPORATIONS GIVES LARGE AND ILLEGITIMATE PROFITS
Ralph 0. Wells in Address to Public Utilities Committee Again Refers to Relations of Rowland Company and United Illuminat= ing Company.

elevated construction in New York city since the commission was established there
 Every stock broker knows that it .is easier to sell securities if they have been approved by a public service commission.
 The other question discussed before this committee was whether any form of rate supervision should be vested in a state commission.
 A public service corporation always receives special and valuable privi- leges. A railroad receives the power of eminent domain; a trolley company is given exclusive rights to lay tracks in public streets; an electric light company has the privilege of erecting poles and wires in the streets or build ing conduits beneath the streets. In Connecticut these special and valuable privileges are given to the corpora tions for substantially nothing. They are given in order that the corpora tiops may furnish service to the peo- pie as cheaply as possible. In return for these special and exclusive pr1v1- legeS these corporations agree, as a matter of common law, to furnish req sonable service at reasonable rates. How are the people to enforce this agreement? The courts cannot fix rates; that is a legislative function. The legislature cannot do it intelli- gently; the problem is extremely complex, and the legislature has not the time or means to obtain the neceS- sary information. A small commission is the only effective method of assur- ing the public fair rates and reason able service; it alone can stop discrim- ination and relating.
 But. the opposition says. rates are now reasonable in Connecticut and all ways have been. Are they? Then why were seventeen bills presented to this legislaturing dealing with trolley fares? Why were nine bills presented I are twenty-five trolley tickets sold for a dollar in Waterbury and only twenty in Hartford? Why is 15 cents charged for electricity in New London and nearly 50 per cent less? Why does the Connecticut Company charge 16 cents in Norwalk, where coal can be brought by barge, and only 12 cents in New tured is only one-t -thirtieth as much :? Why is 20 cents charged in Putnam and 15 cents in Simsbury? Why is the only municipal plant in the state able to sell to small consumers cheaper than any private corporation? Why did the United Illuminating Company charge the Rowland Dry Goods Com pany 10 cents until the latter threat ened to install it's own plant, and then offer to sell at Az cents? Why was this same company unwilling to sell at any price to the wolverine Motor Works within 200 feet of it's lines? Why does it cost 50 per cent more to talk from Hartford to New Britain for five minutes than to be carried the en- tire distance by either steam or cleo tricity? What are the facts in regard to gas in Rockville and Willimantic? Why are freight rates on the New York, New Haven & Hartford Rail- road 27.5 per cent higher than the av- craze in New England? And it is "in- evitaIble," as stated by MT. Mellen on page of his last annual report, that ''the price of transportation must be advanced in order than a reasonable return be had upon the money in vested?" If so, why "inevitable?"
 It is claimed that power to super wise rates, if vested in a commission, is inimical to stockholders. Is it? The Massachusetts Street Railway Com pany paid on an average over 5K per cent dividends last year. The Connec- ticut companies averaged less than per cent. The Massachusetts gas and electric light companies which paid dividends, paid on an average over per cent, one company paying 30 per cent. Did Connecticut companies do as well?
 The bill recommended by the tempo rary commission contains some other provisions; but this com- mfttee has not desired discussion up-
 If a. small commission with adequate powers and properly paid is created it can be trusted. It will be constantly in the public eye; it's decisions will be in writing and must specify the req sons therefor; personal responsibility will rest on each member for every act; it will be appointed in the same man. ner as judges of the Superior Court.
 Evils exist in this state. If the mea- sure suggested by the temporary com The opposition has been unable to state.