Norwich bulletin., 1913-02-20
Still Riding on
 Railroad Passes
COMPTROLLER DUNN MAKES
 SURPRISING STATEMENT.
AT MILEAGE HEARING
Expresses Opinion That Some Lesis- Iators Still Enjoy Free Rides-short Sessions of the General Assembly.


 Hartford Conn.,. Feb. 1s.-In the legislature today so little business was in hand that both branches sat but a short time.
 The interest centered in the an- nouncement made by Senator Landers that the majority of the committee on executive nominations would be ready to report on MT. Bennett's name for highway commissioner at 12.30 tomor- row. Mir. 1sbell, the republican mem per, however, stated that he might want further time Action will be in open session when it comes with a roll call vote. It is not believed there IS any democratic objection to MT. Bennett
 The Hurley inquiry may go on to- morrow with John A. Judge the ac- been offered the opportunity to aps pear.
 Dunn Says Passes Are Still in Use.
 Members focked to the railroad committees hearing when the bill to compel the railroads and trolley com- panies to furnish transportation was called. Attorney, Robinson for the New Haven road protested against the bill as being unjustified discriminatory compulsory, and a piece of proposed legislation which belongs to other days when relating and special privileges who had questioned MT. Robinson as to the powers of the Interstate Com merce commission over the issuance or passes for intra-state traffic made Senator Peck, the chairman. start with surprise when he declared that some members of the legislature were trav- cling on passes MT. Robinson point ed out that this was against the law and he thought MT. Dunn was wrong. But MT. Dunn reiterated his belief that passes were in use.
 Rebate on Railroad Taxes.
 Senator Perry who was the intro- ducer of the 1889 law under which free transportation was stopped put for ward an idea and later the suggestion was made to him that he put his idea on the mileage question into con crete form as it offered a possible solution. His plan was this: That the railroads take the 25 cents paid by the state to members for their mileage and furnish mileage. and the difference in cost of the mileage at which the road provides it and what is paid in by members in the 25 cent basis be paid to the railroad in the form of rebate on the taxes paid by the cor porat1onS to the state.
 Mir. Perry said that in this way the railroads would be getting what they were entitled to and the members would get their transportation and not lose their self respect
 Mir. Perry's Contention.
 Mr. Perry argued that because the transportation companies were char tered by the state and their charters could be amended by the state there was no reason why the companies should be called upon to furnish eith- CT free mileage or mileage at half price any more than a paper company char tered by the state should be compelled to give the state paper at reduced price or free, or compel any other cor poration with 8 Connecticut charter to give its product for nothing.
 Attorney Robinson agreed with ev- <afE vz 70 fHof be ,f@ of Connecticut did not expect the members to pay their own transporta- ton. MT. Perry said that the way to solve the problem is to act rightly to assume that because the state is the creator of a corporation it can deprive that corporation of the right to sell 1 its product to the state
 4 report from the committee is look | ed for tomorrow as the mileage Ques- | tion is one of the most pressing just l now and members monthly books for 1 which they have paid out their cash | are getting thin.
 Registration of Lobbyists.
 Before the judiciary committee Rep resentative Wilson made lengthy ar | in favor of a bill to compel | lobbyists and legislative agents to reg l ister with the secretary of state. Some 1 objection was offered to portions of the | bill owing to its drastic character. aI- 1 though other speakers favored some | means of recording lobbyists who ap- | pear on measures. The proposed re- | peal of the personal tax law also was | taken up and there were arguments | in favor of retaining the law as at | present and arguments for it's repeal. 1
 Personal Tax Repeal.
 Milton Isbell of Ansonia pointed out | that towns are about to make up their i budgets and the matter of the tax is of vital consequence to them in pre- pairing estimates. He suggested that 1 If the committee reports in favor of l repeal that 1t fix the repeal date far enough ahead so as not to upset finan-s ciaI plans in towns which have been made on the assumption that personal l tax money will be collected for the present year