The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-09-01
Danbury, Conn, Aug. 30. 1910.

Dear sirs-
 MT. Mellen's letter on public utilities has been called to my attention. beg to reply briefly in order that the attitude Of the State Business Mems Association may be clearly understood ATTITUDE TOWARD CORPORA TONS.
 The State Business Mems Association of Connecticut, Inc, is itself a cor poratton; it is composed of over fifty clude about fifteen hundred of the leading business men and firms in the State. Many of these business men like myself. are managers~of of corpora tions: many Of them, possibly a ma tority, are stockholders in public ser vice corporations and in the corpora tton of which MT. Mel1en is the presi- dent. It needs no argument, there fore, to show that the State Business Mems Association in seeking the en- actment of a conservative, but effec- enced "by 8 prejudice against corpor- ations'' nor actuated by "any popuns- tic clanor against u'ailroads.''
 UNDERLYING PRINCIPLES OF
 THE UTILITIES BILL.
 The business men of the State, how ever, believe firmly in two broad prin- ctp1es:
 ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS OF LEGAL
 DELEGATIONS.
 First-The legal obligations of every person, individual or corporate, should be enforceable practically as well as theoretically. The fact that there is seldom any necessity for enforcing 8 given legal obligation is no argument against providing means for it's en- forcement. Most trustees are faith however, for enforcing such faithful ness are properly and wisely provided. Public service corporations, by reason of the special and ordinarily rnonop- ohstic privileges granted to them are legally obligated to furnish to the pub lie reasonable service at reasonable corporations in general fulfill this Iev gal obligation Is no reason why it's enforcement should not be practicable in those instances where it is not full filled. Public service corporations, like all other corporations and natural persons should be subject to the law and not above the law.
 EFFICIENCY OF ADMINISTRA-
 TON.
 Second-The business Of the State, like the business of a private corpora ton, should be managed fn a. business like and efficient manner. Matters which can be most wisely and efficient ly decided by the courts should be left of broa6\ public policy which can be most wisely and efficiently decided by a large deliberative body should be left to the Legislature for decision. Tech
  can be most wisely and efficiently de- cided by administrative officials or commissions should be left to such of hcia1S or commissions for decision. Most of the questions arising between the people and the public service cor porations are of this last class and can be more justly and efficiently decided by a small permanent commission than by a large bi-camoral legislative body. Many of these matters have already been placed in the hands of existing nfH h 7nf The business men believe that all of these matters which @ commission can handle more wisely and efficiently than the General Assembly, should be left to a commission to handle.
 POLICY OF STATE BUSINESS
 MEMS ASSOCIATION.
 It has not been. and will not be, the policy of the State Business Mems As sociation to attack any corporation, or to create any tclamor against any The business men of Connecticut believe in, and invest in, the public service corporations of Con necticl1t, and would heartily welcome islation of Connecticut 'Eby rational discussion, rather than by political ag1- tation.'' If this result can be obtain ed by compliance with President Mel lens request for ga precise prelinin- ary statement of the abuses which are found in the experience of this State to need correction, we beg to suggest
 
 be remedied'':
 STATEMENT OF ABUSES.
 Q)-Unused Charter Rights. A ma jority of the special charters granted by the General Assembly to public ser vice corporations are never used AS the necessary special privileges grant ed by these charters cannot wisely be granted to more than one corporation bly, sits but once in two years, the re- suit of these unused charters in many instances is to prevent others from sup plying to the public the service for which these charters were granted
 (2)-Traffic in Special Charters. These special charters, because of the exclu- sive privileges contained in them, have a considerable commercial value in many instances. There has naturally in many instances an effort on the part of some individuals to pro cure special charters, not for use, put forN purposes of sale; this is in large measure responsible for the growth of the so-called third house" and the disrepute which it has brought upon the State and it's legislative body.
 (3)-Unsafe Conditions. About two thousand persons are annually killed or injured in this State by the opera ton of public service corporations,- many of them from causes beyond their own control" While many of these accidents cannot be averted, adequate provision for any official of the causes of these accidents or for preventing their re- currence-
 (D-Incorrect Meters Consumers sofhetimes believe. and often cor rectly, that meters furnished them are not registering accurately; they are entitled to an official examination or such meters when reasonably desired; there is present means for obtaining such examination of electric and wa ter meters.
 (5)-Refusa1 to Supply Service It was openly asserted at the last Gen eraI Assembly, and not denied, that | certain lighting corporations. and the telephone company, declined to TUT 7isI1 service in portions of their char | cred territory, except upon compli- moe with unusual conditions believed | 1v the applicants to be unfair. Per l ,0ns and communities which are com | ,eIled to purchase from specific cor | .l,,.n +ior,s a all haca1ISe of the 1