The Connecticut labor news., 1923-08-18
Holden Gets Rise
(Continued from Page One.)

"I would suggest that you ask the attorney general for an opinion as to just what statutes of Connecticut must be amended or repealed before the savings banks and trustees in Connecticut can take the action ad- vised in this report to wit: Convert ing bonds into preferred stock, etc.
 The suggestion of the appoint ment of commissioners from three states to wrest the control of the rail road properties from the duly elected boards of directors is of doubtful validity. It certainly is novel plan, but the threatened embarkation of the New England states upon the sea of public ownership of utilities is aw- full to contemplate.
 The populace of the middle west and the hair-brained fanatics who are outcasts from all organized political parties seldom, if ever, go further in their nefarious schemes for seizing control of property in which they proposed plan of the Storrow com mission, which seems to have met with at least qualified approval of your excellency.
 'The, railroads are required by law to place sign at all grade crossings, Stop, Look and Listen As citizen of the state of Connecticut earnestly interested in it's welfare and as s sometimes student of political affairs l suggest that you stop, look and listen before taking steps that might have the appearance of committing at least small portion of that party which honored itself by electing you as governor to plan of public own ership of public utilities"
 Governor Temp1eton couldn't stand for anything like that from Ben Holden, who is only one of the lead CTS of the Republican party and dur ing the war was considerably mixed up in affairs by being practically quartermaster general of the whole shooting match of supplies. So the governor replied as follows:
 First of all, let me say that appreciate your writing to me. I am very glad indeed to have your views on this important subject, and those of other citizens who are interested in the welfare of New England
 The subject, you will grant, is a l large and complicated one, on which neither you nor l nor any one else can properly hazard either off-hand support or off-hand criticism. Snap Judgment is a dangerous thing, and l that IS why am going so carefully l and I am sure you will agree with l me, that the gentlemen who prepared l this report are very able men, and | that they did an exceptionally thor Ongh job They are entitled to our thanks and to our praise for their | painstaking efforts and their concIu- sions are entitled to be received with | respect. should be5very greatly sur prised if there was not something of | value to be found in their recom- mendations. Certainly I do not know | to whom we could turn with greater | confidence
 The legal point which you raise had already occurred to me and to | others. It is an important point But | if further investigation should make 1t appear that the report in it's main features is worth while, then I have no doubt that an admixture of good | will and Yankee ingenuity can over come this as well as other obstacles that may present themselves Little F in this world is impossible if con- fronted honestly and courageous1y"
 That's that, but meantime the New Haven. road IS getting in its fine l work. Ina carefully prepared "state- ment the road announces 1t is fav- Orably impressed with the plan to merge the New England roads but wants nothing to do with mergers with a trunk line. Perhaps also the road IS carefully preparing ways and means of overcoming those legal ob- stacles" that the governor remarks about The road has been known in the past to overcome other legal obstacles so why not now?