Norwich bulletin., 1910-04-15

More than one hearty faugh went the rounds and a sly hit or two were m dulged in to good effect.
 Welcomed by Mayor Dunn.
 The first speaker introduced was his honor, Mayor Daniel F. Dunn. Wao welcomed the guests in behalf of the city and took occasion to come back at the toastmaster with repartee that created another ripple of laughter ne mayor spoke briefly and to the potut, telling how nice it was to get together on an occasion nf the kind, according all the freedom of the city.
 Secretary Valentine of Derby.
 MT. Burr introduced F. $. Valentine. of Derby, secretary of the State Bus mess Mems association. MT Valen- tine responded in his pleasing manner for the state association, giving in teresting data relative to the organ ization as well as the different asso- citations throughout the state. and spoke enthusiastically of the fine work that many of them were doing toward building up and broadening out their respective cities. The talk was full of much interesting information. The speaker was accorded a hearty round of applause at the conclusion of his remarks.
 Rev. Ashley D. Leavitt.
 Toastmaster Burr, in introducing the next speaker, Rev. Ashley D. Leavitt of Concord, N. H.. formerly pastor or the First Congregational church ot this city. gave rousing send oh 10 the oratorical young and capable d. vine, which was the signal for spon- taneous recognition Rev. Mir LeaN- its talk was on the Gentle Art or Boosting" and the boost that the toast master had given the speaker was most iitly carried still further in some thing like this:
 It Is always the embarraSsment or the preacher that when he wants to 1ac he before an audience of meek and loWly saints who faithful to his teaching. You sinners will never know how much the saints have had to suffer Tor your sins. and yet what l say may be pertinent even here. These are the days when we are hearing the ques- ton: What is the matter with New England I on every side. The impliea ton is that something is the matter with New England We are in danger of being left out of the procession Of real progress. Western enterprise has got the start on Us in many partlcu- lars.
 But of course the matter is not with New England. If there is any trouble with New England it must be with her men, for we have every resource, every opportunity every inspiration known in any section of the country
 The trouble in so far as l appre- bend it lies in our inclination to ma terialism. We think we are above
  heel is on our neck in this respect We are limited by our environment We are haunted by it. We will not grow enthusiastic over it for fear 1t IS not good enough for such as we to grow enthusiastic over. We will not praise it because to praise it might not do justice to our critical facilities.
 Now the real man is free from the clutch of materiaHsm because 10 env- ironment can limit him: he can be en- thusiastic in any situation not because it is worthy of him, but because he knows he can make 1t worthy Of hIm or anyone. The real optinnism can be an optimist in the dreariest world, will be most of an optimist in the drear1est world, because of his joyous confidence in his power of conquest True loyalty fenseless and then delights in making it great This is the real basis of the best enterprise in the west. We are getting it and will come to our own when we know our own power 10 make over the world to be worthy of our best devotion
 Ex-Governor Lake
 Hon. Everett J. Lake of Hartford. ex-1ieutenant governor was introduced as the next speaker. He did not have any specific topic but talked for few moments very entertaln1ngly m ms characteristic manner of things in general and elicited hearty laugh or two with his apt after-dinner sayings that might we'll be classed with some of the best of utterances of past mas sters at the art.
 When he had concluded the entire company was in excellent humor and well primed for the solid matter that was to follow, although none the less interesting to the assemblage-
 MT. Burr then aptly introduced Rep resentative George B. Chandler of Rocky. Hill, who had a few felicitous words for the toastmaster and the at tentive listeners before launching forth upon his pet theme, Public Utilities.''
 Representative George p. Chandler.
 Representative Chandler spoke on Federal and State Regulation of Pub lie Utilities" He brought out en- tirely new feature of the utility situa- tion in the state of Connecticut in his ment to the federal railroad laws.
 He said in substance:
 I suspect that the fate of utilities bill in the state of Connecticut is des- tined to be settled at Washington rather than at Hartford. I have been watching with a good deal of interest and curiosity the progress of railroad legislation in the present congress, and if the pending amendment to the in- terState commerce laws finally passes one of the chief sources of opposition to Connecticut commission will have been removed.
 "Combination and Regulation" the So-
 ution.
 You cannot suspend economic law by statute law for any sustained period of time. If it is cheaper to run two roads under single r1anag ement sooner or later they are going to be run under it. And they ought to be. Whenever waste is saved the human race is rich CT. The real problem comes in the dis tribution of the profits It isn't magni- tude we have to fear: it is method. No, we cannot stop combinat tions, but we can regulate them. Regulation is not dream; it is an achieved fact in certain notable instances. I am able to see but four ways in which a com bination ma seriously injure the pub lie. One is charging too much for the service rendered.: another is by render ing poor service; a third is by not charging all people the same price for the same service and a fourth is by paying inadequate wages. Any com mission intelEgently appointed and op- erating under skiifuIly drawn, mod ern law can control the first three of these tendencies: the fourth seems to be effectively regulated by combina- tions of labor.
 Many people believe that sooner or later public. utilities will be owned and operated by the state. Let us try state ~I~~k k.--.