The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-01-16
HIS train LATE.
FO0RD REQUESTS
GENERAL INQUIRY
Stamford Legislator, Peeved
BY Railroad Service,
Starts Something.
HOUSE SIDETRACKS
PROBE RESOLUTION
Defeats Move for Immediate
Action, And It Goes to
Sleep in Committee.
Especial to The Farmer }

a Hartford, Jan. 16-Representative
w. F. Foord of Stamford was in a
happy mood this morning when he
boarded the train for Hartford to
attend the legislative session. The
man was shining, he had gotten a
pretty good deal in the matter Of
committee appointments, and things
generally looked pretty fit.
The train, as trains sometimes do,
stalled around in Stamford for a
while. Finally, it got underway,
many minutes late. The time wasn't
made up, either.
At New Haven, Representative
Foord was ousted from his seat and
told to take the car ahead for
Hartford He piled into crowded
coach and waited for the train to
resume its journey. More time was
lost.
The train was fifty minutes late
passing Meriden. Representative
Foord became disturbed He was
needed at the capitol, and the ses-
sion was due to begin shortly after
IL O'clock He took out his foun-
tain pen and started to write.
When the train finally pulled into
Hartford-forty minutes late-Mr:
Foord had completed his writings.
Some minutes later, the House was
surprised to hear read, "a resoIu
ton by Mr.. Foord of Stamford, ask
ing that a committee be raised to
investigate the conditions of public
travel on the steam roads of this
state.'
The House, recovering from it's sur
nr;So found Mr Eonr6 on his feet
asking Immediate consideration of
the resolution. He was deeply in
earnest and evidently was much per-
turbed by his docky progress from
Stamford to Hartford.
Representative Peasley objected to
immediate consideration Of the reso-
luton, as did Representative Taylor.
Representative Hall counseled delay
in the : matter, and Representative
Back suggested that ''the resolution
be referred to the Public Utilities
Commission"
you might as well refer it to the
directors of the New Haven road"
Mr.. Foord shot back
Mr.. Foord pressed his request for
suspension of the rules SO that the
resolution might be considered imme-
diately The motion to suspend the
rules was Overwhelmingly defeated
and the resolution was referred to the
committee on railroads.
The resolution follows:
Whereas, the conditdion Of public
travel on the steam railroads of the
state has become SO dilatory and
conugested as to be beyond the en-
durance of the travelling public, and,
Whereas, there does not appear to
be any bona fide effort on the part of
the managements Of said railroads to
supply sufficient accommodations, or
to run their trains on time,
Therefore, Be it resolved that a
committee, consisting Of two senators
and nine representatives be raised to
inquire. into the cause Of said condi-
tions and to report their findings and
to this General AS
sembly not later than March l. 1917:
said committee to be appointed by the
speaker Of the House and the presi-
dent pro tenn. of the Senate; said
committee Stall serve without COM
pensation but may expend for clerical
assistance, travelling and other neces-
sary expenses sum not to exceed
81, ,0OO''
The resolution further would give
power to the committee to subpoena
any person and require the presenta-
tlon OF such books and records as
might be necessary to the inquiry.