The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1917-02-02
ROGERS UNOAUNTED WHEN HALE
DEMANDS PUBLIC APOLOGY FOR
HIS MOVE FOR INVESTIGATION

Mr.. Hale, felt that the proposition OF
raising a committee should, in justice
to Mr.. Hale, be carried out. He re1t-
Grated his position, yesterday.
Mr.. Hale addressed the committee
at length, on the history of the estab-
lishment Of freight facilities to Glas-
tonbury His connection with the pro-
1ect dated back to 1908 and 1909 when
he took UP with Vice President Camp
bell of the road the lack Of adequate
shipping facilities in glastonbury. lie
declared earnestly to the committee
that he never had received any spe-
cial privileges from the corporation,
and with much emphasis stated thae
he courted the widest and most thor.
ough investigation. Referring to Mr..
Rogers resolution, he said it was
based upon the "cracker barrel Cos
SIP of Manchester which the repre-
sentative had asked the committee to
dignity.
st feel that it is due me that this
gentleman from Manchester should
apologize on the floor Of the House for
this STEP concluded Mr.. Hale.
Then Mr. Hale called upon repre-
sentatives of several departments OF
the New Haven road to bring forth
the information that the proposition
to run freight cars over the line had
been considered before he became
commissioner, that money for the
work had been appropriated by the
railroad in the fall of 1910; that ne
has one of four side tracks In Glaston-
bury for freight cars; and that he does
not ask nor receive any special priv
iIeges Then came other shippers or
Glastonbury, to amplify the facts OF
the shipping conditions.
Representative Harry Back OF the
committee. after the Hale contingent
had concluded it's testimony, spoke
disparagingly of Mr.. Rogers case, as
being based upon rumor and spoke OF
Mr. Rogers not having acquainted
himself with all the facts OF the case
The representative admitted that, he
had. not expected the hearing TO de-
velop so quickly.
+Well, what did you investigate z"
asked Back.
st expected to find a hostile COM
mittee,' retorted Rogers. II was told
in advance----n,
Chairman Klettt called the speaker
TO OTUcI, UlI INOPA O1CAAseSSA'O
Sherwood of westport at once rallied
to the defence of Rogers.
|. .'That was not a proper question,
interposed Sherwood
saThere is much Of rumor," admit
ted Rogers, but there also is some
thing Of fact"
Until this afternoon we did not
know some Of the facts that have been
brought out before this committee.
.SNow we know that the freight
shipments on this line do hamper the
service. We know that Mr.. Hale In
Feb. II had knowledge that he was
to be a railroad commissioner and
that three months later the freight
service on this line began. Mr. Hale
says he certainly appreciates the ser
vice he is getting. AS citizen OF
this state I think that man VINO
feels that he is indebted to this or to
that public service corporation should
not be one Of the three men who shall
govern that corporation.
| "Other gentlemen from Glastonbury
saw they tried for years to get the ser
vice..
"It may be all coincidental that Mr..
Hale became a. commissioner In Feb
ruary, and that the service began in
Nav. But until today these facts were
not brought out"
.'But the appropriation for the work
was made in November, $780, inter-
posed House Chairman Peasley Of the
committee.
"But is it too much to ask us to
imagine that even in November, 1910,
the railroad had knowledge that Mr..
Hale was to be appointed to the COM
mission"
It am very much impressed by the
array of evidence presented before the
committee by the gentleman OF this
commission, backed up by the off,
Gals of the railroad company" St..
Speaking for Mr. Hale, Attorney
Russell pointed out to the committee
that while Mr.. Hale welcomed an in
quiry, the committee was placed in a
position that, whatever their action, it
might appear prejudicial to Mr.. Hale's
reputation.
Appointment Of a committee whose
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