New Britain herald., 1915-03-26
AND JOHNSTON ADVOCATE HOME RULE
No One Appears al Hearing in
 Opposition to Bin Now Pending.

Senator George w. Klett and Frank H. Johnston, president of the Con- necticut Chamber of Cop1nerce, were two of the most ardent supporters of the Home Rule bill which, bvas heard before the legislative committee on cities and boroughs yesterday after noon. Prom-t business men from all over the state appeared in favor of this bill urging local freedom of action and not a single individual ap- peared in opposition. ..
 Senator Klett announced that he was strongly in favor of the home rule bill, although he did not care which separate bill was passed just so long as the matters sought by the cities were obtained. If the home rule bill is passed 1t will save the legislature the necessity of working on hundreds of bills.
 Speaking in flavor of this bill from the viewpoint of the Connecticut Chamber of Commerce, President Johnston talked at length, saying that he appeared in behalf of the Con- necticut Chamber of Commerce, an association of forty civic and busi- ness organizations, representing near ly 16,O00 business men of the state, who have carefully considered the principles embodied in this act and who asked the committee to care fully give the bill earnest consider ation. It was hastily formulated, but has been given serious study for more than a year past by committee of gentlemen representing the Bridgeport Business Mems association, and also by the directors and legislative com mittee composed of over sixty we'll known men representing nearly every community within the state. It was carefully considered at the sixteenth annual convention in October, 1914, and unanimously endorsed by the 1S4 representative business men present, Similar legislation has been enacted in thirteen states of the country and in no instances where the principles have been adopted has the policy been reversed. @s.
 We do not believe the present custom to be one which gives the best result,'' said Mir. Johnston. The system is too complex and we don't believe that in a majority of cases that it represents the best wishes of the citizens of our cities and towns
 The problems of our different &ulllGI greatly dllu dIc bound to grow more complex with the great increase of our manufac- turing centers and we thoroughly be- lieve that these committees should have the responsibility of deciding as to their own government rather than hv any outside committee so decid ing, with the possible injection of pol itics.
 We believe that it will not only increase the individual interest of the voter in his own municipal affairs, but if enacted will result in a much greater opportunity for our legisla- tors to study the serious problems of their comm onwealth and to give their time and thought to the larger and greater questions affecting all our interests fs..
 Tt is estimated that this would remove from 30 to 40 per cent. of the bills for special legislation now occupying the time of the general as- sembly, and it would give us the right to make our charter reserves and amendments when needed instead of every two years, as under present Sconditions. The Connecticut Cham = Der of Commerce, believes it is de- mocracy to allow each municipality to manage it's own affairs and we ask you to favorably consider our peti- tiOn."