The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-02-01
OBJECTIONS OF
BUSINESS men
Official Statement Of Oppo-
sition to Court of Com
merce Measure
MANY OMISSIONS ARE FOUND
Claim It Does Not Prevent
Watering and Gives No
Initiative to Public Off
Gals.

In succinct form the chairman Of
the State Business Mems Association
legislative committee has set forth the
chief reflections of that organization
to the bill for a court Of commerce
instead OF a public utilities commits
sion. which has been presented to this
session Of the State Legislature. The
statement. issued by Chairman Nor
mand F. Allen, follows:
Jan. 80. 1911
The Court of Commerce bill is I'M
doubtedly entitled. like every measure
presented. to consideration upon It's
merits The business men, however,
believe that it is fatally defective for
the following reasons, among others.
regardless Of the question of constitu-
tionality:
1. 1t makes no attempt to prevent
the watering of securities. The peo-
pie Of the State are now paying over
half a million dollars annually as divi-
dends on the admitted water in the
Connecticut Railway & Lighting Com
pany's securities. Why make no at
tempt to prevent a repetition Of this
disastrous scandal?
2. 1t imposes upon no State official
the obligation to investigate accidents
with a view to ascertaining their real
cause and recommending means to
prevent their recurrence. Why allow
1900 persons to be killed and injured
annually on our street railways alone
(40 per cent Of them from causes adj
mittedly beyond their own controD.
and make no effort to prevent the
constant recurrence Of these acct
dents?
g. 1t makes no provision for the in
spection Of meters on complaint.
ity on his own initiative to require
the remedying Of unsafe conditions.
It makes it necessary for some public
spirited individual to affirmatively
prove. at his own expense. and after
long litigation. the existence of the
railroad employe would prosecute
lawsuit at his own expense and the
probable loss OF his position, to COM
pei the railroad to install a derailing
switch. remove dangerous overhead
structure or place In operation an eff
ficient block signal system?
8. 1t adds nothing to the exist
ing common law obligation to fur
nish reasonable service at reasonable
rates.
g. 1t makes this obligation no more
readily enforcible than before. While
the court can appoint committee of
Investigation. the committee is given
no power to compel the attendance Of
witnesses or the production Of books.
The individual who objects to the
VI III CARS dl IuSIl
hours must prove at his own expense,
and against the ablest legal talent in
the State. the ability of the corpora
ton to. furnish better service with
out loss of a proper return upon it's
investment.
z. The proposed court Of commerce
is to be merely the starting point of
litigation. An immediate appeal lies
in every case from every order to the
existing courts.
It may be added that to the mind
of the business man it is wiser to
adopt the administrative commission
the constitutfonality Of which is es-
tablished and the effectiveness of
which has been proved than the court
Of commerce. an untried experiment.
even the constitutionality Of which is
In serious doubt.
Yours respectfully,
NORMAND 2. ALLEN,
Chairman Of Legislative Committee Of
State Business Mems Association.