Norwich bulletin., 1911-03-01

Hartford, Feb. 2S.--For the third time since he has been at the head of the New Haven railroad system, Pres sdent Charles s. Mellen this afternoon faced the Connecticut legislature to rive them a heart to heart talk on something in which he has keen in- terest as affecting the interests of the great corporation under his care. He explained to an audience which nlled the chamber of the house of repre- sentatives the intents and purposes of a bill for . court of commerce for reg uIation of the public uiht1eS of the state fin preference to . commission bfIl as advocated by the business mems associations and other forms of com mission supervision.f
 Superior Court Judge Co Preside.
 The bill which had been drawn up by the railroad attorneys provides for the creation of . court to ho presided over by a judge of the superior court so whom may be carried all manner of grievances which citizens may enter tain against any of the corporations which furnish them transportation, communication, and everything else classed as a public utility product. z
 Mir. Mellen read his address and then answered questions, many of which were almost trivial in their character and many provoked hearty laughs.
 VIII Benefit Most Humble Citizen.
 MT. Mellen said his bill provided that <he most humble citizen with a griev- encs against a public service corpora ton could present his case without lawyer. have it investigated and the judge, if he thought the facts war rnnted, could send out experts to make . report. The rules obtaining in other courts shall not prevail and technical 1ties which would defeat the intended A. ho a uo in law would not be necessary. A rail- road employe who had a griveance could be represented by a committee of his order.
 On fhe matter of regulation of rates She court could point out the unreason- obleucss of such rates but may not fix the rate to be charged.
 Capitalization Not to es Considered.
 Capitalization need not be consider ed There is no reason why persons who have done right should be embar- sRssed In the conduct of their business hy any unnecessary publicity as would defeat important plans for the protec-- don and promotion of the property. There should be no arbitrary rules to prevent over-capitalixation. If you do net want over-capitalization, make 1t c crime as you do murder, arson. rape, etc Leave to the directors of .tae company the issuing of securities nec- essary for the conduct of it's business. Make 1t a crime to issue securities ex- espt at full value. Put the responsi bi1ity where 1t belongs; let it follow the man who Is guilty.
 Nothing in the bill interferes with inc railroad commission. It will still continue to exist as an administrative body.
 Mir. Mellin said that as to fines and penalties he had not thought 1t neces- ezry to fix any. for the reason that the court would sit as a court of equity with power to enforce decrees.
 Railroad Not in Politics.
 Mir. Mellen took up the matter of complaints about the road and it's ser vice and added that the cry is that the road is in politics. He said: "The rn1Iroad is not in politics; but only God and its officials know how it Keeps out. and the latter are at times in great doubt"
 Mir. MeIlen denied that the road was