The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-03-24
HEARING ON UTILITIES
 BILL BIGGEST OF YEAR evils of Stock Watering Cited by Wells and
 JudSOn.
Bridgeport Corporation Quoted Example of Cap italization Bridgeport Sends Large Delegation But Hartford Has $50 on the Ground Judiciary Commit tee Sits in Hall of House-Opposition Will Be Heard Today.

resent the towns from which they come and they are obliged to do it or they fail of any further recognition in their towns. One of the results of their action was seen in the session of 1907 when the Connecticut Com peny asked for a blanket extension of rights covering TOO miles of track and, by making promises 1udiciously it got these extensions granted. The propos- ed bill would put a stop to this sort of thing and it would also put an end to hold-up charters which MT. Wells H. frustrated by saying that one gas com pany held the right to furnish electric light in several towns while the man ager said that his company had no idea of using the right but was simply holding 1t to keep companies out of the field.
 By way of illustration of the reck- less powers given, MT. Wells said that the charter of the Thompson Tram way Company, the basic charter first of the Consolidated Railway Company and then of the Connecticut Company, gives the directors power to take such real estate as they may deem neces- sary. The Willimantic & Southbridge Company has like power and adds to it the right to acquire flowage rights. The Thomaston Tramway Company can discontinue any part of it's lines and replace them with the necessary equipment for a. steam road and any company acquiring the Thomaston cOI1c0En acquires the power 10 apply to it's other lines. The Windsor Locks & Rainbow Company has the right to condemn land for amusement and pie nic purposes.
 A public utilities commission would give fair hearing before allowing real estate to be taken; it's action would shorten the sessions of the General Assembly and annihilate the lobby
 It would supervise capitalization in the future and, in connection with this 1a a yn11 port Gas Company is now asking for power to increase its capital stock to s2,000, 900.
 MT. Wells cited the case of Connec- ticut Railway and Lighting Company as an instance of stock watering, and the Shore Line Electric Company was mentioned as another, as it has issued S, ,000, 900 in stocks and bonds on $232- 900 in property.
 This bad practice he said is not con- fined to the trolley lines, as the Bridgeport Gas Company is capitalized at $2,4O0,00O while the company in Lowell, Mass, under the laws of that state, is capitalized at s1.o5o,000, while 1t has greater producing capacity.
 The proposed commission, he said would have the power to order repairs or changes in the interests of public safety and in connection with this he cited the collision at Sigourney street some two years ago and said he learn ed then that there is no provision for a bell cord on work trains, as the law does not require it. He. said the chief objection urged against the bill is the danger of getting unfit men on the commission, and in reply to this he said that the bill provides for their ap- pointment on the same plan as that of the judges of the Superior court, and he could not imagine that both the governor and the Senate will be re- miss in their duty.
 Ex-Senator Stiles Judson followed congratulating the state upon the re- port of the committee and the audi ence upon the able presentation made by MT. Wells. The bill he said is a natural growth of sentiment which has been forming in the state for four years and was made necessary by the formed telephone monopoly and when it made a railroad monopoly in 1905 by the repeal of the general railroad law.
 If passed the session of the Lesis- lature will be shortened from six months to three months while the death knell of the lobby would be sounded and for this alone the state would rise up and bless the General Assembly for the removal of the sinis- ter influences in the corridors.
 Ex-SenatOr Judson spoke of the matter of over-caDitalization saying that one concern raised it's capitaliza tion within a year from $S000. coo to s24, ,00a 900 without adding a single stick of timber to it's equipment and the railroad commissioners were power less to prevent it. When the rail- road commissioners in 1907 asked for power to investigate this matter of the bill was passed by -he Senate but within two days the pill was reconsidered and thrown out without a single senator to ask the 'eason why.
 Agencies are now in motion, he said, | cling the members from the small