The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-03-18
McNEm,s lsPEECH

Senator McNeiI spoke as follows: Permit me to precede my remarks in the discussion of this measure by
 saying that so far as am concerned
 there was no ultra motive or political controversy which prompted me to in- Jr0d,7os this measure. have been
 prompted to repeal the million dollar
 grant by the session Of 1911 for sever al reasons of sufficient weight to con vince any fair minded person of the
 desirabiIity of repeating an act which
 the session of 1911 was hypnotized
 into granting. I prefer to draw the
 mantle of charity around the methods
 employed, and the deals made to rush
 this measure through the assembly
 two years ago. Best forget the evil
 in it's fighting. The best reason I
 know of for this senate to pass this
 measure may be found in the state
 estimates as compiled by our tGeas- ury department for the two fiscal years, October 1st, 1913. to September Soth, 1915.
 These figures are from the office of
 the state treasurer, and therefore in disputab1 The estimates of our re- ceipts for the coming two fiscal years are $s,715, 900, while thes neces- sary and statutory expenditures will provide for a total expenditure of $13,- 130, ,729, which shows at first glance loss and deficiency for the state for the two years to come of $4, 315, 729. This in itself is a startling condition of which few are aware. The com
 mittee on appropriations, of which I have the honor to be a member, has before it measures asking for various appropriations which will total ap- proximately $3O, 100000. believe I am well within the bounds of conser- vatism when I say that this session will pass appropriation measures amounting close to $30,000 000., which amount will exceed the estimates of expenditures as compiled by our treasurer $6,869gOo which will make a. total deficit and loss for the state for the coming two years of over $11,- 900, 900, an astounding and appalling deficit which must be met
 These figures, Senators, do not in c1ude the $1, 100000, which was appro priated for the steamship wharyes and terminals at New London. This money has yet to be expended. Should the $1, 900, 900 be spent, and the other millions which would undoubtedly fol- 1 low, a greater deficiency and deficit would incur. The fast that the com |
 mission which has this matter in | charge has expended to date less than | $9 900 is a most redeeming and en- which has the expenditure of this | has submitted a report which | speaks in glowing terms of, making | New London a transatlantic port in competition with the great ports Of the world, but the commission sees 1 little of the practical side of the question.
 No one denies that New London has an excellent harbor, but the question of railroad facilities and terminals is a different matter The City of | New Haven furnishes better railroad facilities than New London, it has lines not only direct be- tween New York and Boston, but through the West by way of the On- tario and Western over the Pough- keepsie bridge, as direct connection with the Central New England rail- road, and direct lines through North srn New England. It is absurd and ridiculous to assert that New London would ever be a transatlantic port in competition with New York and Boston. The great water facilities and dockage frontage on Manhattan Island far surpasses anything in America, and there are ample facili- -ies for the location of unlimited piers o say nothing of railroad connections spreading like a web over America.
 The Grand Trunk has it's own out cts and piers, which it constructed at ts own expense in Portland. While ord Railroad company might be pleased to have the State of Connec- icut dig down in it's pockets and aid hat corporation in transporting some additional freight over its lines, it las never seen fit to spend dollar
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