The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-09-16
BALDWlN'S REASONS FOR VETOING RIVER BILL
 ARE UNUSUALLY SOUND

ed and they are franchises which the company deems necessary to enable It to get the most benefit from the fran chises which it holds already. The State Of Connecticut was for merly large landed proprietor, by reason of it's title to lands under navi- gable waters, and it's power Cthough limited) in the control of navigation of such waters. It has given away most of these property rights. This bill gives away one of the most valu- able of those which remain. If we have fallen into the habit of giving away to private individuals Or corpor- ations what the State holds as trustee for the public, it seems to me time to stop, and grant no more such fran chises for nothing.
 The company is here asking for fla vors. They can properly be granted on such terms as the State sees fit to impose. The franchises previously granted can only be made fully avail able by new grants of new franchises such as are made by this bill Such grants, in my Judgment, should be paid for.
 The Connecticut River Company has in it's charter large rights to levy tolls on vessels and exemption from taxa tion. Section 3sof this bill perpetuates these. I think, in view of the prac- tical conversion of the corporation in- to one for creating and furnishing mechanical power they should be abrogated. as is in part proposed by Senate bill substitute, for Senate Joint Resolution No. 265.
 That bill I have made the subject of another message transmitted to the Senate in which it originated
 SIMEON B. BALDWIN,
 Governor
 To the Honorable Senate:-I here with return, without my approval, an act amending the charter of the Con- necticut River Company, being Senate bill substitute for Senate joint resolu- tion No. 265.
 It is a part of a piece of 1egisla- tion, most of which is expressed, in House joint resolution No. 225. That bill I have this day returned to the House, without my approval.
 My objection to, the present bill is that it does not go tar enough. It takes away, on the completion of the dam at Windsor Locks, across the Connecticut River. the right of the corporation to impose tolls 'upon the navigation upon said river.''
 The company has at present power to impose a heavy toll on boats pass- ing up the river by or over Enfield falls on boats or rafts passing through its locks, and on boats passing down said falls in the canal,". and on toats passing in either direction through the canal
 In view of these various powers, the company would be apt to claim that the only tolls covered by the bill herewith returned are those on strict ly river navigation, leaving it free to collect tolls on navigation passing through its locks or canals. It is not likely that the navigation of the river otherwise than by the use of locks and canals would ever be con- siderable. The surrender of the tolls l derived from it is, therefore, a con- cession of slight importance.
 It seems to- me that the meaning of l the General Assembly in passing this | bill should be more clearly expressed, i and all the rights which are to be ab- rCgated should be those of levying | tolls on any vessels or rafts passing | over the river or the locks of the | company or the canals of the com pany. The constitution requires me to sub | init the two bills in different messages | to the different Houses. It is, how ever, obvious that if the House bill | should be repassed in any form, this 1 Senate bill would be incorporated in | 1t.
 SIMEON E. BALDWIN,
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