New Britain herald., 1925-06-30
SUDDEN DEATH OF
 FORMER GOVERNOR
Ronin s. Woodruff Dies Before
 Doctor Can Reach Him
EXECUTIVE IN t9O7-t909
Was 60 Years of Age-Administra- ton Was Characterised by His Fight for Creation of Public Utilities Commission.

Utilities Commission.
 New Haven, June 30 (By the Associated Press)-Rollin s. Wood ruff, governor of Connecticut from 1907 to 1909. died suddenly this morning.
 An attack of heart trouble came almost without warning, 1t was un- derstood while the former governor was in his home at Rollwood in Guilford.
 Dr. G. Franklyn Anderson, of that town, was called but death came to MT. Woodruff before he reached the farm.
 Born in 1858 Rollin Simmons Woodruff was born July 14, 1856 at Rochester New York, son of Jamiah Woodruff and Charlse (Thompeon) Woodruff After attending school in his native city, his parents moved to New Haven where at the age of Is he u ware store as an errand boy.
 He next entered the employ of c. s. Mersick and company of New Haven, one of the most extensive wholesale iron and steel dealers in New England. In this concern he held all the offices from the ground up to that of the president. which he held at the time of his death.
 MT. Woodruff was also at different times director in the American Hardware company. New Britain; director in the Mechanics bank, New Haven: president of Cott-A- Lapp company of Somerville, N. J.. director in the computing, tabula- ting company of New York.
 MT. Woodruff was married in 1879 to Miss Karomeo Elizabeth Perkins of New Haven.
 Favored Public Utility Commission
 Mir. Woodruff as governor of the state became early in his admins tratlon the center of legislative con- troversy owing to his advocacy of the creation of a public utilities commission for the then existing railroad commission.
 He had two years previous serv- ice as lieutenant governor of the state and had served session in the senate, In his inaugural message he had given intimation of his idea of reform in state administration and this crystalized into speech given before the Economies club of New Haven in which he declared that some of the legislation which he ia. vored could not be carried through because of the composition of the general assembly and of the control exercised by some of those who rep. resented corporal interests. VetOes Oyerridden
 Mir. Woodruff had been pointed fir his remarks and at the senate ses. sion within day or two Judge James F. Walsh of Greenwich, then republican senate leader, made re- 1 ply in criticism Of the allegation ot the governor
 The general assembly was at issue with the governor and the latter sent back vetoed bills, all of which were oarridden.
 It is claimed that the present public utilities commission grew from the stand of Governor Wood ruff for such body during his ad- ministration. The commission of those days had as chairman Q. R. Fyler Of Torrington, who also had served as chairman of the repub- lican state central committee.
 Healy Was Removed It was during Governor Wood ruffs administration also that the present attorney general, Frank E. Heaiy, then state tax commissioner was relieved from office after a hearing before the governor, who had as his legal adviser Marcus H. Holcomb. then attorney general ilater the war governor of the state judge of the superior court and now retired.
 MT. Woodruff's executive secretary was Charles S. Julin of this city now deceased,
 The 1907 legislature did not ad- iourn until Aug. 1, and 1t has been claimed for 1t that it was the most animated one in the history of the state.
 Was in Poor Health Mir. Woodruff had not been ln good health for a number or years having suffered with heart trouble which at times was so severe that his condition was regarded as seri. ous. Under medical care. now ever. he improved and was able tc resume his business duties. NIT. Woodruff was very active ir business life as well as social, and one of his delights was to entertain those members of the Union League club who had grouped themselves as farmers" and who were wont sew eral times each summer to go to Rollwood. the splendidly developed country home of MT. Woodruff fo' outings.
 In political life MT. Woodruff was for a period of years an intimate friend ot Colonel I. N. Ullman whc is said V many 10 have been Mir , woodrxfPs advisor in the political game and remained in close contact