Norwich bulletin. [volume] (Norwich, Conn.) 1895-2011, 1909-06-05
PUBLIC UTILITIES,
LACK OF INTEREST SHOWN.
How the Hearings This Week I'M
pressed Observers at State Capitol.
(special to The Bulletln.l

pressed observers at state CapItois
Especial to The Bulletin)
Hartford, June 4.-Well, there has
been an opportunity to see how great
is the demand for public utilities
state, and it doesn't appear that there
is any overwhelming feeling that we
are about to go on the rocks Unless
snch a commission is appointed. despite
the fact that almost every newspaper
in the state has been trying hard to
awake the people generally to the need
of their coming to Hartford and max
ing it plain to the special committee
which has been holding hearings on the
question this week that there is a de-
mand for a commission. The citizen
ship of Connecticut generally didn't
attend the hearings or show any evil
dence of interest in the subject what
ever.
Ball Games More Popular.
More than one of us were surprised
at the lack of interest shown. The
hall of the house had been granted to
the committee for every afternoon dur
ing the legislative week, and it wasn't
anything like filled. There were few
outsiders who might be said to repre-
sent the people generally, but the bulk
Of those in attendance on the hearings
coDsisted of corporation lawyers and
lobbyists, members of the house and
senate and attaches of those bodies and
others regularly about the capitol. 1
have heard of men who started to at
tend these hearings from cities down
the state who got no farther than New
Haven, where they went to see a. base
ball game, and others who came to
Hartford, but didn't attend the hear
ings, going to ball games here instead.
These men stated jocularly that they
wanted an outing for day and didn't
propose to he penned up in the vile air
of the capitol.
Where the Commission is Needed.
There is unquestionably a need for a
public service commission III this state
not so much to handle railroad mat
ters and certainly not at all to handle
matters of capitalization, for we
haven't got to any such stage in these
affairs In this state where they cannot
be handled by general legislation but
to stand between the people and this
wretched Southern New England Tele-
phone company and the grasping gas,
electric light and water companies
and there is undoubtedly a strong de-
sire that such commission should ex-
list There isn't telephone subscriber
or telephone user in all this state that
1911 III COhotdnlt GNCl ucJ
trouble with the service, rates and
equipment of the Southern New Eng
land company and never can the slight
est consideration or remedy be obtain
ed from the company. The demand of
the telephone subscribers and users
alone for a place to go where their
rights in connection with this public
utility could be made sure is Of great
moment.
Viii Report Bill of Some Sort.
At the same time, there is a strange
lack of determination to make the de-
mand plain to the legislature. 1t is
quite within the possibilities that the
legislature will pass no public utilities
commission measure this session. In
deed, I do not think it will. Not but
what the special committee viii report
a bill of some sort. 1t will probably do
that. But there is little time in which
to thrash the matter out and the net
result will be little or nothing because
there has been applied no weight of
public sentiment in favor of doing
something. That state of affairs will
call for violent condemnation of the
by numerous newspapers
and the usual things will be said. They
won't be true. The fault win lie en-
tirely with the people, who, If they
really wish a commission, should have
come to Hartford and said so. The
legislature doesn't pay any heed to
newspaper editorials. especially when
as is so often the case-they are filed
with woeful exhibitions of ignorance
regarding matters up here.
Two Kinds of Efforts for the Present
Bill.
Another thing: The efforts for the
present bill before the special commit |
tee were of two kinds, the effort of the
present commission which reported it |
and that of Senator Ju6son yesterday
afternoon. The first set of gentlemen, |
who consisted of Commissioner Wood |
ward, Secretary Wells and Mayor
Hooker of Hartford, thrashed over old |
straw; the second effort consisted |
mainly in putting on couple of pub
ic service commissioners of New York |
state, whose talks on conditions in |
heir state were highly interesting, but |
)f little point in Connecticut, where the |
conditions they spoke Of don't exist |
At no point in the hearings was any
public demand for a regulative com |
mission. one which would control rates
and operation. effectively shown.
Telephone Bill Ought to Pass.
Meanwhile the legislature is going |
forward to the remedy of some condi- |
ions which exist that shouldn't. Mr.. I
Carey of Southington passed his bill |
the Southern New England |
Telephone company to build it's own !
ines instead of compelling wouId-be |
to build them and then
,harge outrageous rates for service |
through the house. and there is every |
'eason to think that the bill will pass |
he senate. Four years ago this couldn't |
nave been done. and / doubt if it could |
rave two years ago, despite the asser-
ion that the present senate is strongly |
| corporation senate.
Mr.. Johnson of Newton has a night |
'ates bill which he. will pass through |
he house just as certainly as night fol- |
oWs day. The telephone company
ised to maintain n night rate at so per \
'ent. of the day rate after .. M, but /
people got into the habit of making use |
If it, which was something the COM |
1any did not want; 1t maintained 1t |
merely as something to point to with |
bride. Therefore it abolished night |
'ates Or what amounts to the same /
hing, they were made to apply only
lfter 10 p. M, when nobody would at |
empt to call another out of bed. Mr.. |
fohnson's bill puts them back to begin |
Il .. M, and if ever bill ought to |
'ass, this ought-and it will.
Made Plain by Facts.
Anybody who zxou1d have s11rresfAd