The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1909-06-04
Effective Protection of Pub lie Interests Under Opera ton of Public Utility
 Law.
of Public Safeguard ed in New YOrk-WilcOX and Maltbie of New York P. $. Commission Give Illuminating Facts to Connecticut Legislators.
(By Our Staff Cores )

Hartford, June 4.-By far the most illuminating session of the present series of hearings on the question of regulating the public service corpora tions of this state was that of yester- day at the state capitol when the special committee that is listening to the testimony of those interested in this question heard William R. Will cox, chairman of the Public Service Commission for Greater New York and one of his associates, Milo R. Maltbie, tell of the way the great public utility companies of the American metropolis are faring under the New York law.
 States Attorney Stiles Judson intro duced the New York commissioners and incidentally participated in a verb al passage at arms with Edward D. Robbins, the talented general counsel of the New Haven road. A mighty interesting tilt it was with Judson re- calling the deal by which the watered stock of the Connecticut R. & l.. com pany was taken over by the New Ha- ven road "wind and water and all,'' the New Haven interests thereby gain ing a monopoly of the street railway business in this state by thus getting rid of their only rival. MT. Robbins defended the arrangement by which the properties of the Conn. R. & L.. Co. were leased by the steam road and transaction ard wanted to know what was irregular about 1t.
 There was present during the hear ing yesterday many members of both houses of the General Assembly, and the fact that the public service fcor- porations of the state were represent- ed by counsel caused MT. Judson to remark that he was glad to observe that the corporations that would come under the operation of the proposed low had consented to come out in the open and appear through counsel rath- ed than adhere to their former meth ods and rely upon the activities of the third house,, If MT. Robbins was nettIed by this caustfc fling his bear- ing did not betray it though several noon he showed no little feeling. This however may be due to the earnest ness he felt in his cause.
 MT. Robbins had prior to the ap- pearance of the New York commission CTS referred to the proposed utility commission as a political rate making power." At the end of a precise ar gument having to do with the control he asked the committee to inquire within themselves if the creation of such a. power in this State would not do more harm than good. His defense of the electric light companies fur nished an opportunity to MT. Judson to remark that the attitude of MT. Robbins in this regard gave rise to the disturbing thought whether the public service commissions of Connecticut had not pooled their interests. To this MT. Robbins vouchsafed no re- ply.
 Before introducing Messrs. Wilcox and Maltbie, MT. Judson referred to the statement which he said was made by President Charles s. Me1len of the New Haven road four years ago in the very chamber where yesterdays hearing was held. At that time, " said Mr. Judson. "Mr. Mellen asked the Legislature to abolish the general railroad law and give his road a mo- nopoly of the transportation business here that it might be protected against outside railroad interests and then go ahead and regulate them"
 That is the purpose of the bill be- fore the Legislature, remarked MT. Judson- Continuing he said that the corporations were well able to shield themselves but who was to shield the public By removing competition he held this State had removed regula- ton of it's transportation interests He said there existed a necessity for some public tribunal before which the public can go with it's grievances and be certain that if just ground exists the grievance can be remedied.
 ,t,)ntinIled on Second Page.)