The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-01-04

as to set limit of expenditures whicl
no candidate could exceed Such
limit might be determined by the mum
Der of electors entitled to vote for
person to fill the Office in question o
by the amount of the salary attache,
to it.
Fifth.-The provision should be re
instated, which was dropped in 1905
empowering the states attorneys t.
institute inquiries into charges of cor
rupt practices in contravention of thu
statute. $780,
Endorsing Ballots With Electors Oath
The ancient form of oath to b,
taken on admission TO the Office of al
elector, the main terms of which dat,
from 1910, is solemn and impress
sive statement of the duty to the state
which rests upon every one to whom
it confides the privilege of suffrag e.
speak of the Office of an elector, for h,
votes not simply for himself, but I'm
der public trust also to represent tn,
women and children who form the
large though silent majority of oul
people. To remind each man who thu.
participates in Il state election of tn,
trust committed to him I recommend
that the electors oath be hereafter
printed in full on the back of each off
cia1S ballot He will then be less APP
to forget his sworn obligation wher
he casts vote touching any matter
that concerns this state or the Unite,
States. to give it as he ''shall judg.
will conduce TO the best good of the
same, without respect of persons OF
favor of any man.
Woman's Suffrage.
The married women's property act
of 1877 has in the natural course OF
time revolutionized the property rela
lions of husband and wife. Anew and
large class has thus been created OF
owners of property, assessed against
them for purposes Of taxation in the
grand list Of their towns who have nc
voice in the expenditure of the mon
eys to which they are thus forced t.
contribute.
Such taxation without representa-
ton does not seem to be in harmony
with our republican Institutions.
/ do not think the time has come
for amending our constitution so as tc
extend the privileges of an elector to
women. 1t will not come until they
are generally DESTROYS of such q
change, and at present / see no evi
dence OF any such general desire. But
it is within the power of the general
assessed for taxes upon their property
In the town list eligible to vote on all
questions of municipal management at
town meetings or at the meeting OF
any municipal corporation. Important
steps in this direction have already
been taken by our laws giving women
the right to vote for school and library
officers and upon any questions arts
ing inca town relating to its libraries
schools or education in general. /
Public Utilities Commissions.
In 1907 special commission was
appointed by the general assembly to
consider the laws with respect to pub.
lie service corporations and TO recon.
mend any legislation regarding them
which it might think expedient. The
attorney general and comptroller. q
former attorney general. former
chairman of the board Of railroad com.
missioners and q business man OF
large experience constituted this com.
mission. They agreed unanimously in
reporting to the general assembly in
1909 in favor of certain legislation
creating a public utilities commission
in which the present board of railroad
commissioners should be, merged. A
draft Of a bill for such legislation
accompanied this report.
I recommend the enactment of a bill
in general conformity to the scheme
thus reported.
A few, however, of the provisions Of
the bill SO reported seem to me OBJ
jectionable I will mention at this
time but three.
1. Section 1 is open to the inter-
probation that it would apply to mum
icipal corporations owning water
works for the supply Of the municipal
ity. IF so construed, it would be an
invasion of the privilege
Of local self-government.
2. Section 90 might be construed to
require the commission to make in
vestigations as to certain matters,
hardly be warranted by the results.
8. Section. Z makes the annual SAL
airy of EACH commissioner $500.
In my Judgment this is too large "a
sum. 1t is greater than that paid to
any State official, except the justices
of the Supreme Court of Errors, and
the judges of the Superior court
Those offices are filled by men trained
at large expense during a considerable
period of years for the practice of
profession difficult to master. and of
which. presumably. each proved him
self a master. before receiving a ju-
dicial appointment. They relinquish
the practice of that profession ON be-
coming members of the judiciary, nee
essarily for a considerable term of
years. and practically, under the ira
ditions and customs of Connecticut,
for life. or until they reach the age
of seventy. When they retire from
Office, their former clientage will have
The members of the
Public Utilities Commission, ON the
other hand, under the bill as reported,
serve for terms comparatively short,
and need have no special form or
course of training to qualify them for
their position.
Our State is a, small one in territor-
ial extent; the number of corporations
sion is not very great; and it is hardly
probable that. of these. the affairs of
many will often call for lengthy inves-
legations. I should regard it as likely
that the time of the commissioners
would by no means be fully occupied
by their official duties. and that to
some extent each would pursue what