The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1911-03-25
TRIED ID GET
 BUSINESS MEN
 IN COMPROMISE
How Directors Repudiated Action of Ralph o. Wells
 and Normand Allen
After Conference with MessrS. Robbins and ROra- back, Representing Rail road, Messrs. Allen and Wells Assented to Bill Without Teeth - Action Rejected.

Through an authentic source The Farmer today learned the details oi the remarkable transaction which took place between two Representatives ot the railroad, and two Representatives 'of the State Business Mems associa- tion, concerning a compromise Public Utilities bill.
 k The four men agreed upon bill which should give the Public Utilities commission the power to recommend but not the power to make it's com mands mandatory.
 This agreement was rejected the next day by the directors of the State Business Mems associat tion.
 The conference took place between Normand F. Allen and Ralph O. Wells representing the Business Men. and J Henry Rorabacl1 and Edward D. Rob- bins, representing the New York. New Haven and Hartford railroad Messrs Robbins and Roraback are two not able figures at the State capitol.
 After an extensive conference these men agreed upon compromise bill which would have everything in 1t that the Business Mems bill includes-eX- cept teeth.
 It is said that Messrs. Wells and Allen by no means waxed enthusiastic over the proposition to which they gave their assent, but were led to approve the measure through a reali- zation of the hopelessness of getting a. real bill through the Legislature. They would rather have a weak mea- sure than none at all as a starter, it is understood, hoping to strengthen it in the future.
 The railroad men on the other hand were perfectly willing to assent to a bill in which the commissions powers should be limited to making recom- mendations with no power whatever to enforce these recon1nnendations. Such a measure might have the eff feet of allaying the demand for a Utilities bill and at the same time not subject the Public Service Corpora tions to any undue restraint in their pocketbookss
 It so chanced that the very next day after this conference, a meeting of the directors of the Business Mems association was scheduled. This com promise bill was laid before them and they rejected it so fast that the sec retary could scarcely scribble down the motion.
 Thus the whole matter was thrown back to a condition of open war be- tween the Business men and the rail- road and the hoped for compromise lOFlu lIull. IL IS llOl lIhe- ly that another attempt at compromise will be made, as it is understood that the Business Men will stick by their guns and accept nothing less than the bill to which they have so many Sena- tors pledged
 A story in the New Haven Union last evening stated that the defeat of the compromise measure, was due entirely to Senator Stiles Judson of this city who is alleged to have ad- vised the Business Men not to accept it. The story quoted an interview from a Representative of a large Pub lie Service Corporation who severely scored Sena tor Judson for this alleged action.
 When this story was shown Sena- day he declined to comment upon the alleged conference, but he denied that he had had anything to do with the Business Mems rejection of the com promise measure, if they had taken any such action.
 The Business Men understand per- fectly what they want" said Sena- tor Judson. and are entirely capable of acting upon such matter without any advise or assistance from me. It is true that I have conferred with them at various times. but in this case, it is certainly a fact that what ever they did. was done on their own initiative. If they refused to accept compromise making the commission s power only recommendatory, I am not surprised at 1t"