Putnam patriot., 1910-10-14

supposed facts on which all sorts of people base all sorts of more or less conflicting complaints against the Connecticut legislature We must, think all admit that If We look back over a sufficient term of years, noth- ing has happened in Connecticut that ought 10 shake our faith in the prin- ciples of representative government or in the wisdom of our own Consti- tuition. If we now examine in ret respect the doings of the General Assembly at any session sufficiently long past to admit of calm, histori- cal judgment, We do not find that the State has suffered any serious harm either through any laws that were then passed or because of the failure to pass any of the hundreds of bills which were then introduced.
 If any fair-minded. thinking man has an impression that this Railroad Company has unreasonably influenced in it's own favor the legislation of this State. 1 respectfully ask him to exam inc all the exciting statutes of Con nectieut, whether public or private. which especially affect this Company or it's business and then candidly to decide for himself whether We have obtained any legislation from which the State has experienced any injury. l earnestly asert that We have never wilfully promoted any legislation which the directors or officers of the Railroad Company have thought to be in any respect injurious to the pub lie. Nor have we any temptation to seek any such legislation in the future. for it is our absolute convic- tion that the interests Of the Railroad Company are so intimately bound up with the interests of the territory which the railroad serves that any legislation which is against the pub lie interest must necessarily be against our true interest.
 If my memory serves me correctly. l have heard in the past as much. if not more. just and unjust criticism of Connecticut commissions as of the Connecticut legislature. Just now there seems to be popular tendency 10 assume that a proposed new com mission with great powers is te be an ideal commission with regard to which former experience affords Us no basis of judgment. l am unable to see why it would not be quite as pos siele 10 have ideal legislatures com posed of the strongest and most pat. riotic men in the State, as to have ideal commissioners.
 In the first place, no political position. with its inevitable insecurity of tenure and it's necessarily more or less moderate salary will have snf- tieient attraction for the best business and professional men in the State.
 In the second place. the more at traciive political position is made. the more it is sought after by men of political influence, for themseleves or for their friends and supporters.
 If may be pardoned a concrete illustration. I should like to ask whether the late O R. Fyler twhose memory l respect, but about whom in his lifetime there were so many varying iudgmentsl would have been any less likely to desire a similar but better position than that of Rail- road Commissioner. and whether If he did desire 1t. he would have been any less likely to obtain it.
 If you change the method of appoint. - ~ " S~> IA Ah 0AtNSs yQu Ne uOl 8itef the substantial fact that in politics it Is generally political influence which It is comonly easier for poli IiciaSs a influence the action of pop iiar nominating convention or a legie- ative caucus than it is to influence the Action of governor after he is elected.
 Until human nature chaness, human will work tn the future as l hey have worked ia the past. Every ininsinG man must exnecs that the | ,ene conditions vil hereafter aRect l Ae Appointment os pphlic ssrvice com | Aintnaeze e hAve heretoeore con solie4 the election ofsRAiiroad Com- nis!oaer2 tnsWance sOsnnnunio1orn. deAk Counimionere Tax Comnin- 's1oese. anA otAer adnnieeyativp o0c.d n.
 Se1es11os conmisicaes VII nu | lee ooee vieA coAspfcuous Gbility. TT
 Dessee - vM no& O u uhe1e. As psrslv aAniaistrativs 1ustae .cf |