St. Johnsbury Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1867-1919, 1909-01-06
The Legislature Defended.
Gov. PrOuty Says Its Members Are the
Most Intelligent In Years.

Gov. Prouty addressed the Mems Club
of the Newport Congregational Club on
the evening of Dec 20 on the public
utilities bill and said in opening his talk
that people ought to be more interested
in public affairs. He doubted if very
many knew about things happening in
the Legislature except through the news
papers. He referred to sarcastic edit.
orials by the state papers calling the leg.
lslators collection of "slant-eyed hay
seeds" MIR. Prouty said that if they
were, 1t was the most intelligent Legisla-
ture that had met for some time and
showed it in refusing to be led by any
set OF leaders. While the last Legislature
accomplished large amount of work.
not one law passed affected anybody's
pocketbook.
Referring tolobbying he stated that the
biggest piece of lobbying was done when
the grade crossing bill was passed
In calling attention to the public utii-
ties bill, the Governor said that he had
done what he could for the bill because
he thought 1t was right and thought it
would be passed with amendments. The
bull ne said, was along the same lines of
the railroad commission bill and that
commission has shown what it can do
by proper supervision. This commission
has met the railroads and shown them
that 1t means to treat them fair and has
thus gained their confidence. Why can
not we correct other utilities in the same
way as 1t will be the same commission
who will have the matter in charge.
The Governor referred to his platform
before the convention and his speech of
acceptance and also the platform of the
party IN which the plank of supervision
OF public corporation was included and
SAID: when | make a promise politi-
cally or any way try and carry it out"
He stated that he did not have ANYTHING
to do with drawing the bill and did not
see 1t until Mr.. Barber showed it to him
and asked him for his opinion. He told
Mr.. Barber that he did not feel com
potent to say whether it was a good bill
or bad one and asked for COPY which
he sent to Mr.. Redmond asking his
opinion and received Mr. Redmond's
criticism. He then called Mr.. Redmond
to Montpelier and had a consultation
with Messrs. Barber, Redmond, Williams
and Gibson which resulted in the bill as
1t was originally presented
The bill he SAID was not for the mr..
pose OF driving out telephone company
but to regulate it. Take for instance a
town with two companies. Would if
not be better to have only one at a
reasonable rate than to have to nav for
| two? r' 'N'
Mr. Prouty made complaint to the
telegraph company at the service thev
were giving at Newport and was told
that no change would be made. This he
sad ought to be regulated.
MIR. Prouty threw little LIGHT on the
tact that the New England Telephone
company was not opposing the bill bv
saying that he told the president of the
company IN Boston not to send Mr.
otickney up to the Capitol to light the
measure as they would have to accept il
anyway and it would be better to do so
gracefully than under pressure And he
received the assurance of the president as
wen as other officers that they were not
opposed to fair supervision. Mr. Proutv
SAID that the charge that the bill was
drawn up at 101 Milk St. Boston was
an absolute falsehood.
Mr. Prouty answered MANY questions
at the close of his address which gave a
great deal OF light on the subject. Dur.
ing TINS part of the evening he paid a
hlgh tribute to Commissioner Redmond
and his fellow commissioners.