The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-03-16
BUSINESS MEN ELECT BOLANDE
 FOR 3RD TIME
Annual Meeting of Association Held Last EYening-COmprehensive Report from President OH Years
 Work.

At the annual meeting of the Bridgeport Business Mems assoc1a- ton last evening the report of the nominating committee, George E. Crawford, Carl c. Beck and James Feeley, was adopted, but not until after an emphatic protest from Presi- dent F. ". Bolande, who sought in vain to have. his name taken from the report.
 MT. Bolande contended that during the past two years he had done his share of the work, and that there scciation who would fill the office better than he could. He recalled that he had stated a year ago that than one year longer and he asked the association to put someone in his place.
 James FeeIey of the committee spoke of the presidents familiarity with the public utilities question which the business mems assoc1a- tions all over the state were pushing and said it was necessary to have an experienced man during the coming year when there was much work to scted as it believed for the best in terests of the association. The re- port as adopted follows:
 Frank w. Dsois 1,ce-Bresident Brssident: George R. Burnes. secretary; D. Fair child Wheeler. treasurer:
 Directors. n Frank P R' Eel Eel. Georg9, ,snss9, F. E Whiting, Robert T. Rock, Edward l.. Graves, A. M. Cooper. Neil M. Muir head. Angus H. MacKenzie, M " Gaylord, Joseph P. E'risbte. Isaac Moss. John H. Keane. Robert E.. Hurley, Samuel E. Vincent, James Roy and James Feeley. Carl Eos
 Reports were made by Treasurer D. Fairchild Wheeler and Judge Carl ~P flK InT1 MT. Wheeler's report showed the as sociation to be in good condition financially.
 A communication was read from the Manufacturers' association invit- ing the members to a dinner to be held at The Stratfeld on Thursday Wheeler vote of thanks was given the president for his work of the past year. After the meeting all adjourn ed to the automobile show at the armory as compliment to the Auto mobile Dealers association.
 President Bolande's report follows:
 tsIn looking back over the past year I wish to congratulate the association in the showing made in connection with the public utilities fight. The Bridgeport association was looked up in the Legislature, and the delegation sent up to the public hearing was large and influential, making a distinct inn pression. -. ..,
  ities bill that will properly conserve the interests of the people has just tagl1n, and it is evident that the most earnest and patriotic efforts must be put forth before the meeting of the next Legislature. We have been re- peatedly told by experienced speakers bill to be effective must be done long before the Legislature convenes- The public service corporations are busy when men are being nominated ana faxyo IA1 are nominated and elected they do not worry about the passage of any public utilities bi1l
 tsWe have also been informed that the House of Representatives can be depended upon to do the will of the people. but that it is the Senate that is wound and bound by the corpora tions, so that nearly all measures of public benefit are quietly Strangled. Get at the Senate has been the slo- gan of speakers who have addressed us during the past year.
 tFWe can get at a part Of the sen ate We should know distinctly ana unequivocally how the Senator's who go from Bridgeport stand on the pub Iic utilities question. No half way admissions, or evasive statements will do. The business men of Bridgeport should be assured distinctly regarding the feeling of nominees on this 1mpor- tant question. before in any way lend ing their suoport to any candidacy. It is of unusual interest in this city. be-
  vice on the part of our public service corporations, and there should be some reasonable and prompt means for ad- justing any difficulty without waiting for the Legislature to meet.
 sHThe Bridgeport association has al- ready planned early campaign: is chairman, has gone into the ques-- ton thoroughly, and will be l-epared to present a bill which it believes will be fair not only to the people but to IlJs1 0TE.0f local association will work in harmony with the State association. which is fully alive to the importance of hay ing a proper bill passed. and which will redouble it's efforts during the session of the next Legislature.
 '"The concerted action of the Busi- ness Mems Association all over the State undoubtedly was responsible for the spirited agitation of the public utilities matter and the near-passage of bill. It was a close but losing fight but the public has become edu- cated to the possibilities and justice of the movement.
 About the only objection to a public utilities bill heard is that if a public utilities commission were appointed 1t, would be filled by machine politicians. Politics must be kept out of the com mission. It is not known that the commissioners of Massachusetts and New York States are hide-bound poll. ticians. I believe the Governor of this State would not think of filling such a commission with politicians Governor Weeks by appointing E J. Doolittle of Meriden to the Railroad commission showed that he realized politics should be kept from such places.
 s'If a professional politician or lob byist were appointed to the public util- tiles commission such a howl would go up from this State as would drive any Governor over it's border. The politics bugaboo should not be allowed to weaken anyore's support of this mea sure.
 "Durfng the past winter I have at