The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1913-04-04
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that he owned stock in that corpora ton. Rep. Wilson said he had faith In Rep. Pardee's integrity, and would be willing he should sit.
 Rep. Wilson opened the hearing, ex- blaming the bill. He said: 'At an earlier hearing I asked the committee to reach this question through an amendment to the general law, so that water as well gas and electric companies might be operated by the people under that law. At that time men representing some thirty millions worth of private water companies, told you that something awful would hap pen if water were included in the gen eral law. They said those things should always be done by a special law
 The bill before you is a special law t 8FR9Sides!sthst Bridgeport, 1,r,5S by may operate it's own public utilities either gas, water or electric light. The necessary powers are given. The policy pursued is the same as under the general law"
 Rep. Wilson continued: "The situa- ton in Bridgeport as regards this mu- ntcipaI ownership question is about this way: Six years ago a movement was begun. It was non-paFtisan
 movement The immediate purpose of the pavement was to own the wa ter But the movement soon emerged from the non-partisan stage, and be- came a political movement. This was because the water corporation, and the gas and electricity began to exercise their political power to prevent the n-partisan movement being success fHI These people began to fill the General Assembly with their lobbyists, and their retainers of various kinds. They employed other men to dtcker with the Common Council of Bridge port and influence it's action. They fO fro n politicians of both parties in Bridge port
 ''The Democratic party put plank into its platform favoring municipal ownership. The Republican party re- Knained neutral. Then water, gas and electric light began in, earnest, for they knew that unless something were soon done, the people, in the exercise of their political power, would soon own the wateFs gas and electric mo- nopolies.
 The first thing that these monopol- les did, water leading, was to acquire control of the Republican party, by the usual methods They elected all the leaders of that party, they made a new platform for that party, and they put into the platform of that party a plank, which, in effect, said that the people of Bridgeport must not be permitted to own their own utilities because their goyernment Is so rotten
 ~At the same time these people, principally water obtained control of the Democratic party. A Democratic Mayor had proposed in his message to begin the municipal ownership pro- gram. This Mayor, without warning, was thrown out of the Democratic convention. and with him, at the same time, under the urging of MT De- Forest, president of the Board of All derman. who is here. the municipal ownership plank was thrown out
 The situation then was this, that the platforms of both the Republican and the Democratic party contained a plank. substantially in the same language. Both blanks opposed mu- nfcipaI ownership upon the claim that the people of Bridgeport are too rot ten to operate water works.
 go the matter stood until just prior to November, of 1912, when the con- duet of the Democratic convention was taken up with the voters of the Democratic party, to the very ques- torfty of the votes cast in Demo- cratic primaries, by a majority of the delegates to the Democratic conVen- ten, and by 8. majority. of the dis trict of sRridgeportseas mandate thai the Democratic party is committed to the principle of municipal ownership was given. and there was restored to the Democratic platform the plank favor ing municipal ownership, and Rep. AIcHfurray and myself and every mem Der of the Bridgeport delegation in the General Assembly were sent to this body under instructions direct from the people of Bridgeport to demand an act enabling Bridgeport to own and operate it's own public utilities we ask you to report such an act, and we say to you that you will be deny ing the right of the city of Bridgeport to rule itself in it's own affairs, If you do not report this bill, or enable us under the general law"
 Rep McMurray said: There Is powerful demand in Bridgeport for this bill It should be faVorably re- ported by your committee. We do not ask to engage in competition with these companies, but we are willing to buy them and pay all they are worth today Rep. McMurray then made a powerful plea showing that It is the duty of the General Assembly to respect the wishes of the people of a city. to give home rule in local affairs The committee heard him at tentiveIy Rep McMurray also ex- pIained the conditions in Bridgeport going over substantially the same grounds as Rep. Wilson, -
 Also appearing for the bill was Jas per McLevy of Bridgeport, formerly the N1ayoraI candidate of the Socialist nertv He said that the Socialist party naQ d hA0AAAOiPoA plank in it's platform, and that a ma 5oritv of the people of Bridgeport de- sired municipal ownership.
 E W. Peck of Stratford appeared with the statement that in his opin- lon the people of Stratford do not want Bridgeport to engage in munich pal ownership of water.
 The next speaker was Attorney Ar thur M Marsh. who appeared on be- bsIf of the Bridgeport Hydraulic Com pany He said he felt a bit emnar- assed. as he might be looked upon as opa of those who had been employed bv MT. Wilson If that were true the outlook was a sad one, for the reason that the sentiment for the ownership of the water company in Bridgeport ---- .,-oxx-irer beautifully less As he understood the matter before the com -t++oe +lnnrr were nnf eoinR to. take