The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-06
Senator Blakeslee in Inter view Not Prepared to
 Answer, But Gov / erno-Lilley Is.
Does Not Believe He Is Bound Even Though
 Republican Party Is.
Says He Is Not Bigger Than Lilley Will There Be Backsliders from Promis- es of Governor and Lead CTS ?-Doubt of Attitude of Senators Toward Utili- ties Measure.

The public utilities bill which is like
 ly to be the most prominent piece of
 legislation before the General Assem-
 bly, will raise before the voters the
 question as to how far a senator or a
 representative of a party is bound by
 pledges made by the head of his ticket
 and his party leaders. when he has ac- cepted an election without expressing
 his disaDproval of the ideas so ad-
 vanced.
 Senator Blakeslee of New Haven. in an interview which appears in the New Haven Union. has opened the argu- ment on one side of this interesting
 point of propriety by declaring that he does not consider himself pledged in any way to vote for @ utilities bill.
 Senator Blakeslee admits that MT. L1lley received many votes because he favored such a bill. He also admits that he received votes from those who believed that he favored it. He did not at any time inform the voters that he was in doubt. or that he would vote against the program advocated by Governor Lilley.
 The interview follows:
 Did the newspapers quote you cor rectly, Senator, with regard to what you said about the public utilities commission bill when it was mention ed last week in connection with the presentation of another matter?'
 why, one did, I believe; the others didn't. What said then was brought about this way: Senator Barnum, the chairman of the Interpretations com mittee, reported in favor of some measure granting rights to some cor present. Senator Manwaring of Bridge rort. opposed the matter on the ground that it ought to be held up until a re- port was made by the committee which Is handling the matter of the public utilities commission bill, stating at the same time that he understood the greater part of the members of the Senate were pledged to the latter meas ure, which would undoubtedly become @ law.
 'I took exception to the remark and stated neither that nor any other measure ought to be held up to await the report of the committee, as I was not pledged to support utilities bill commission and stated so: and fur ther, that I did not know that the greater part of the members of the Senate were so pledged. I then add 1 ed that as there. was no such meas 1 know what it would contain if it is | reported, would act on it as do on 1 other measures. namely, when the proper time came. certainly" said | the Senator. 'tam not pledged to sup port the utilities commission bill.''
 Well, Senator, does the Republican party stand committed to the people of this State to pass such a biu?"
 "That do not know anything about
 Does Gov. LiNey, in your opinion, stand committed to give the people such measure as the utility biH?" z without doubt he does" unfleSitat- ngly answered Senator BIakeSlee. | During his campaign speeches he said that he was in favor of such a meas Ire, and especially toward the end of would have such if it were poSsi ble. And undoubtedly he wants it, judging from the fact that he has brought the attention of the members of the Legis- ature to it recently"
 Don't you think that he received the votes of many persons from the fact that he advocated and promised the measure in his campaign speeches?"
 ''Yes, I certainly do; there is no 7oubt that he received votes on ac- count of it.''
 ''You say that you are not pledged to support such a. measure, but don't you mink that you received votes for Sen ltor from persons that believed that Tou would support such a measure as he utilities bill?
 "I can't tell about that, do not cnow; was never asked about it, and
 never expressed myself on it."
 Senator, do you consider yourself a 'igger man than Gov. Lilley?" Il
 At this question the Senator smiled md answered: why. of course not; 1 , ut in any of these matters I act upon hem when they come up, and then use , ny own judgment, and I shall do the anne in this matter. Why, as a mat CT of fact, I do not know what the bill ( elating to the utilities commission will , ontain,- and naturally will have to see { yhat it's provisions are before I can I ay what my action will be-"
 Do you, Senator. consider it the uty of every member of the Senate ' 0 support Gov. Iilley in this mat er?' If
 "If I thought that Gov. Lilley was , fight I would. but if I think that he 5 not right then I would use my own \ judgment and would not support it. s But then I want to learn what the bill | ontains." (