The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-03
putting into play his vast store of agri-

putting into play his vast store Of agri-
cultural knowledge. His text books
upon these subjects are acknowledge
authorities and have been translated
| into many languages. = :, !.
Prof. Henry numbered among the
| students in his classes at the Wiscon-
| sin University, Senator. Robert LaF'ol-
lette Che accents the second sy11able)
| for whose achievements in istatecraf,
| he entertains profound regarda He
was invited by the Business Mems as
| ISOLATION to appear at the hearing be-
cause Of his familiarity with the work
ings of commissions of kindred nature
to that proposed for Connecticut in
his own State of Wisconsin.
Prof. Henry openly declared his be-
lief in monopoly of telephone, railroad
and similar public service enterprises
ST w:sh," he exclaimed, that the
New Haven road owned every line in
the State!'
ct does,'' came from Rep. w. c.
Johnson of Newtown, and a laugh fol-
lowed.
'Well, that's all right, them" re-
Then he delved into, the history of
the manumission of the Wisconsin
people from railroad domination Of the
Legislature. He said one of the first
and most important steps was the en-
actment of legislation that wiped out
the pass system. 1--WE seen passes CIV
en- out to the legislators by the bask-
ct full. Every one had a pass for
himself, for his wife, for his family
if he wanted it. If an alderman
wanted a pass, all he had to do was
to Introduce measure in the city
council providing for the opening of a
street across the railroad tracks, and
compelling the employment of gate
man at the proposed crossing.
Then fhQ railroad sent its man to
see the alderman. He asked him
we'll and the aged educator made a
gesture that conveyed a picture of
the lavish distribution of railroad pass
es so effectively that the chamber
ranss with laughter.
The Wisconsin Legislature step by
step freed itself. After the anti-pass
law came the creation Of a civil SER
vice commission, then a tax commits
sion then a rate commission. In con-
yersational style, the Wisconsinite
then talked with the members of the
committee and other questioners, tell
ing OF the nature and work of the
commissions.
The commissions he explained, COM
prise three men, not lawyers, he said,
because there is no need for the in
depreciation OF law. It is simply. a
men. Last year there were $50 cases
disposed Of The creation Of the board
has gone long way, he said, to bring
ing the public service corporations and
the people into more harmonious rela-
ton.
He said the railroad property Of
Wisconsin which had been taxed at
$25, 600 900 was found by the rate COM
mission to be worth $300000,0O0 Or 3-21
of the total value of taxable property
in the State and it was so taxed.
"Why not questioned he. eff the rail-
roads complain of inability to do bus
mess under the ruling of the COM
mission, take over the railroads. The
people of Wisconsin could have as
sumed the debt of $500, 000, 900. They
were supporting the enterprise and the
railroads will turn just as much rev.
enue to the state as to its private
owners.
But" said he, "the railroads have
no disposition now to give up They
are really pleased at the outcome of
the legislation. The commission is
fair and just in it's rulings. If people
ask anything unreasonable, the COM
mission does not hesitate to point out
the injustice Of the request. The COM
mission employ experts to guide them
in their conduct. Each member is
paid $1,000 a year. The Governor ap-
points the commissioners This is the
outcome of agitation towards fixing
the responsibility for the commissions
acts upon the one man whom the peo-
pie elect.
\ Then came one of the most remark.
able declarations of the opening day
of the hearing.
eff YOU DON'T GIVE THE PEG
PIE OF CONNECTICUT WHAT
THEY REASONABLY ASK IN THE
WAY OF REGULATION OF THE
GREAT PUBLIC SERVICE MON
OPOLIEs YOU ARE GOING NOT