The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1912-12-12
ROAD INQUIRY BY GOVERNMENT
 SEEMS LIKELY
Special Committee or Sub Com mittee of House Will Con-
 duct Deep Probe is Report
Mayor Wilson and Representa- tive-Elect Wilson Tell Rules
 Committee of Monopoly's
 Grasp on State of Connecticut
Special to The, Farmer.)

l 0k kdSR O1 OtdlC Ok AOA1ItCCtlCul l Special to The Farmer) Washington, Dec 12-As result of l the hearing before the powerful Rules committee of the House, the general 1 opinion here is that there will be sweeping investigation of the New Haven system, either by a special committee, as suggested in the resolu- ton of Represen tative O'Shaunessy, or befor 8 subcommittee Of the In- terstalte Commerce committee of the House. A suggestion to the latter effect came from Chairman Henry, Texas, at the close of the hearing the OShaunessy resolution, yesterday afternoon.
 The investigation sought by the New England business men, and conner cial and labor organizations, is of the most sweeping character.
 The Grand Trunk episode, while of greatest interest to Rhode Island, is but mere incident in the panorama of frenzied finance which was unroll- ed by Representative O'Shaunessy be- fore the Rules committee, by the lips of government officials of Nassachu- sets, Rhode Island and Connecticut. Mayors of many leading cities of New England told in strong language of the effects of New Haven monopoly.
 Connecticut was, however, but slim 1y represented Congressman Reilly was the only member of the Connec-
 
 of the investigation. But the repre- sentatives of Massa chusetts and Rhode Island were almost a unit in favor of the investigation, and the land for light upon the New Haven and it's methods were thoroughly and eloquently presented by Representa- tive Murray of Boston, who said that Massachusetts will soon be compelled to operate the railroad lines within her borders and that the nationaliza>- 0f ha Init fnd States must soon be considered by Congress.
 ties Commissions of both Rhode Island and Massachusetts furnished evidence to show the strang1e hold which the New Haven has upon the industries leys stearnboat lines and railroads.
 The Connecticut Public Utilities Commissioners were conspicuous by their absence. It would have made the ears of the honest citizens of Con nectiout burn, to hear the character fzations of the laws made in Connec- been enabled to throttle transporta- tion by sea, and land.
 Clifford B. Wilson, Mayor of Bridge port, Conn. and Lynn W. Wilson. rep resentatiVe-e from the same city, presented the New Haven situation in Connecticut, briefly.
 Mayor Wilson said that the New Haven controls the water, railroad and street railway lines in Bridgeport. He said that in his opinion the man l ner in which the control was acquired l should be inquired into and remedy l enacted into law. Mayor Wilson also described the de- | terioration of the road bed and equip l ment of the New Haven system and | detailed the circun stances of many 1 wrecks that have recently occurred in 1 the neighbprhood of the Connecticut | city
 Representative-elect Wilson asked | permission to curtail his oral state ment to five minutes, with the privil- ege of filing a statement in writing. understanding that the statement must be filed within five days.
 MT, Wilson said: It is true that has granted letters of nnarque to the New Haven system to prey upon the other States of this Union and upon the people and the very stockholders of the old New Haven steam road also.
 -t*'The essence of the means by which the New Haven has accornIished great monopoly of tranSpor ta tion in New England is in the charters which Connecticut has granted. And the es- two parts. The main part is the pow CT to issue stocks and bonds at will. The subordinate part is the power granted to conduct any kind of a bus mess from a, barber shop to a sum mer hotel.
 sThe way to cripple further exten-
  the issue of stocks and bonds without supervision. This power should be lodged in the interstate commerce 
 Chairman Henry interrupted Mir. Wilson to ask if it were the fact that the tissue of stocks and bonds by the New Haven are not subject to official in Connecticut
 MT Wilson replied in the affirma- t1 tive, saying that effort had been made in the General Assembly in 1911 to lodge power to regulate stock and bond issues with the interstate com merce commission but that the New Haven had succeeded in defeat ting the { bill. MT Wilson then continued: ttIf you gentlemen will read the reports of the New Haven system to state authori- ties during the past few years you will be driven, I have been, to the con { ,lusion that monopoly. is by product 1f the financial operations that have been in progress. You will be con- ' vinced I believe. that the primary l purpose behind all these mergers and { he old New Haven steam road and I he New England stockholders in tha | l 'oad of their property, using the forms If law to accomplish the purpose.
 Upon this theory only can the pur- ] ;hase of trolley and other properties It a great over valuation be reason s ibly accounted for-'' At any rate,'' T continued MT. Wilson. that is what have been deprived of a l arge portion of the equity which they ( ormerly had Stock which they t bought from ITO to POS is now selling It 134, and that is all they can get or it when they sell it.
 f"The difference is in the pockets t If those who own the tro1leys and the i teamboats. 8 But the point which interests Con- f sresfs is, that by reason of these trans a Lctions interstate commerce has suf- n