The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-04
Legislators Strong
Plea Against the
Special Interest
Public Service Corporations Hire
IingS VainIy Attempt to
Break Up Meeting
Especial to The Farmer)

Hartford, April "A motley group
of politicians, lawyers and political
agents for the gas, water and cleo
trio light companies of Bridgeport,
appeared before the committee on
cities and boroughs yesterday, the
head of which is Attorney Clitus
King, a lawyer representing the town
of Fairfield
Just how the gentleman from Fair
field got to be the House head of the
committee which Is specially charged
with the duty of hearing legislation
peculiar to cities was the subject of
debate in the House at the opening
of the session, and has remained a
partially solved mystery since.
Chairman King appeared as a par
tisan OF the water interests and as
sisted in making one of the lIVeIiest
hearings which has been seen at this
session of the General Assembly.
The interests of Bridgeport were
represented by Representatives Lynn
w. Wilson and John H. McMurray
Senator Newman appeared in op-
position to the municipal ownership
bill. He said:
When ran for Senator in my dis
trict did not know that there was a
municipal ownership plank in my
platform. am opposed to municipal
ownership. There used to be some
sentiment for it in Bridgeport, but
that sentiment has now died away.
Senator Newman then proceeded to
pay glowing tribute to the Bridge
port Hydraulic company, for the ez-
celIence of its service, declaring the
monopoly 10 be thoroughly entrench-
ed If the affections of the people OF
Bridgeport.
The attitude Of many Of the speak
ers toward the Bridgeport representa-
tives was insulting. When Reps Nc
Murray and Wilson were speaking.
the crowd, directed by the water COM
pany lobbyists, engaged in 7loisy con
.versation, sshuffled its feet, and at
times burst intoAderlsive laughter, in
which the House chairman of the
committee Joined Several times the
Senate Chairman of the committee
raped for order. without obtaining
While Rep. Wilson was making the
closing argument for the Bridgeport
bill. the opposition renewed its loud
talking, and added to the process OF
disturbance a concerted movement to-
ward the exit Finally reaching the
door, they began to converse loudly,
so that Representative Wilson could
scarcely be heard.
Mr.. Wilson suspended his remarks,
and turning toward those who were
creating the disturbance shouted: "I
demand silence in this room, or that
those who are making the disturbance
leave the room"
Senator Miner, now thoroughly an
gered by the tactics of the public
contingent, raped Yigor-
ously for order, and declared that
there must be silence to enable the
committee to hear Mr.. Wilson.
'"This is not the first time these gen
tIemen have disturbed me in this
way remarked Rep tEVf1son TN
former years they used to laugh, in
stead of talk but it is harder for
them to laugh than it used to be-
Among those who appeared in op-
position to the bill, and who declared
that Reps. Wilson and McMurray
were not representing the people OF
were A. E. Lavery, Of the
Hydraulic Co., City Clerk
Stephen F. Boucher, John T. King,
Clifford B. Wilson, Robert G. DeF'or-
est, Pres. of the Common Council;
Assistant City Clerk William F. Rus
sell, former Democratic leader in the
Tenth district, George M. Eames, Ar
thur M. Marsh, counsel for the
Hydraulic Company and
the Bridgeport Gas Light Co.; Sena-
tor Christian M Newman; Judge A.
B. Beers, counsel for the Bridgeport
Electric Light Co., and others close
" affiliated with the water, gas and
electric interests. The monotony OF
the occasion was further relieved by a
bitter attack upon Rep. Wilson by
City Clerk Boucher, which drew vol
eys of uproarious mirth from the
gentlemen whose views he was pre-
senting.
Rep. Wilson ignored the attack, pre-
'erring to devote the scanty time at
1is disoposaI to the measure under
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