The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-01-08

! petition for special privileges that un- biased and judicial consideration es- sential to a just conclusion. Such a commission could also supervise the execution of the powers granted by it and see that the granted privileges were exercised in accordance with the grant.
 G) If the power to grant these spec ial privileges to public service corpo- rations is vested in such a commission the time now necessarily devoted to such matters by the General Assembly could be given to the consideration of laws and matters of general public importance, and it's sessions could thereby be materially shortened. It is we'll known that a very cOnsiderab ble portion of the time of the General As sembly is now taken up with the con- sideratiOn of special charters, and that this is an obvious reason for the lengthy sessions of recent General As sem plies.
 4) If subject to such provisions as the General Assembly may adopt, the right to grant these special privileges is vested in a Public Utilities Commis- sion 1t would remove from the Capitol certain surroundings and conditions which in the past have caused suspic- ions in the public mind of undesirable influences and it would relieve the General Assembly from the odium of a somewhat prevalent belief that it's conclusions in matters pertaining to public service corporations are fre- quently attempted to be influenced by what is commonly called the third house. It is not probable that these conditions and surroundings would in- fluence such a commission. It would be few in number and the action of each member of it would be publicly known; it's decisions would be in writ ing and contain the reasons therefor. The commission would be composed of men receiving adequate compensation instead of the small and inadequate honorarium now accorded to the mem bers of the General Assembly. Pub lie observation would be focused upon the acts of such a commission, and any substantiated charge of corruption would be a sufficient cause for the re- moval of an offending member by the courts.
 The power of supervision should be vested in a State Commission rather thar in the local authorities CD be- cause the larger portion of the public service business in interurban in its nature; even gas companies in many instances supply more than one city or town from works located in a single place; CD because such a commission would necessarily have a large exper1- ence acquired ty it's continual 1nvest1- cations which no municipal body could acquire; and (3), because all the factors which render the General Assembly in,pra ctical for the efficient exercise of such powers would apply to the Common Councils of our cities; and (4) because it is the present policy of this State to vest this power in State body rather than in the local authori ties, a policy which should not be changed for insufficient reasons.
 Second. The power to supervise the condemnation of land and the con- struction of fixtures by these corpora tions should be vested in such a com mission.
 The specific property to be taken under the extraordinary power of emil nent domain ought to be determined
 Name of Company. Cal Bridgeport Traction Co.,, ..............
 Conn., Lighting & Power Co.,, (Nor-
 walk District), .....................
 Conn Lighting & Power Co.,, (New
 Britain Distric), ...................
 Conn. Lighting & Power Co.,, (Water-
 bury DlStr1ct),
 Derby Street Railway Co.,, ...........
 Milford Street Railway, ...............
 Norwalk Tramway Co.,, ...............
 Shelton Street Railway Co.,, ..........
 Westport & Saugatuck Street Rail-
 way CO., .................... Making the total capital stock, bonds and floating debt aggregate S8,210,- 932.25.
 Predicated upon this consolidation the Connecticut Railway & Lighting Company issued bonds to the extent