The Bridgeport evening farmer. [volume] (Bridgeport, Conn.) 1866-1917, 1911-06-14

(F'rom Our Special Correspondent.)
Hartford, June 14.-Senator Stiles
Judson who in conjunction with
Judge Lyman P. Tingier, the Demo-
cratic leader in the House prepared
the minority Public Utilities bill, So
called, which passed the Senate last
week by practically a vote of 2 to L,
was asked today what his opinion is
of the bill introduced in the House
Yesterday by Judge Elmore s. Banks
of Fairfield as a substitute measure
for the Utilities bill which the Senate
has passed.
Senator Judson said: Banks draft,
prepared by Daniel Davenport, whose
employment. by the way, by large
and powerful interests is destructive
of any sympathy with the reasonable
desires of the common people for re-
dress of public wrongs Is a very cum
ningly worded bill that Is somewhat
different language from that of the
majority report, actually perpetuates
an of the vicious features of the ma
jority report.
ITO illustrate: while carefully
avoiding the word recommend which
gained such unpopuiarity in the ma
ployed in defining the power over
public service corporations of the
commission.
"As a matter of fact the Banks
substitute robs the commission of all
powers to make effective orders in
reference to rates or service for the
reason that all penalties for disobedi-
ence of such orders have been care
fully omitted from the bill, and in
every case where public service cor
porations choose to ignore the so
called order the whole controversy
cd 20 fho yyyfc n
with the limitations upon judicial
functions as applied TO tie majority
of the complaints made, for poor SER
vice or excessive rates, the courts
cannot grant redress and the abuses
complained of will not be corrected
This vicious proposition taken
from the majority report and artfully
concealed in the Banks substitute by
the cunning use of words, furnishes
the explanation for the tender solicit
tude of the public service corporations
for the passage of the Davenport
draft.
"Can anyone in his sane senses be-
lieve that these public service corpor-
ations would put on the large lob
by that has appeared at the Capitol
within the last few days because they
fear that we will pass bill that does
not effectually regulate them?
"Their solcitude about the constitu-
tionality of the minority report is
pathetic. If they believe it is uncon-
stitutional it is the very bill they
would desire to have pass. They
know that 1t is constitutional and ef-
fective, and for that reason they are
trying to cloud the subject with their
cunningly worded substitutes and
subterfuges.
Let no one be beguiled with the
high sounding phrases in Section of
the Banks substitute. for it is noth-
ing more than a declaration of exist
ing duties and adds not one jot or
little to the duties of these corpora
tions.
Governor Baldwin declares the
minority bill to be constitutional ex-
ercise of power by the State and his
opinion in the position he occupies is
more reliable than the salaried at
torneys of the large and powerful in
terests that are at heart adverse to
any form of regulation
"These questions have not troubled
the states of Massachusetts, New
York Wisconsin and other progressive
states that have vested the power Of
ordering service and determining what
are reasonable rates, in State commits
sions It is to be honestly hoped that
the House will pass the minority bill
without change and not be lured
from that duty by the siren song of
these legislative agents of the corr
porations to be affected by this Leg
islation."