Putnam patriot., 1930-07-17
PROF. LEVITT HERE
 LOOKS FIELD OVER
Independent Candidate For Governor Seeks Anti-Rora-
 back Platform Support
Scores Another Victory In Utilities
 Commission Proceeding


 Professor Albert Levitt of Bedding, candidate for governor of Connectl- cut on an anti-Roraback platform, was in Putnam last Thursday after noon. He motored Co the city with chauffeur and expressed the inten- ton to visit Thompson, Woodstock and Pomfret.
 Professor Levitt was doing a bit of missionary work in anticipation of the fall campaign. He was seeking local men whom he thought might be influential and who might be enrolled under his banner due to his determin- ed stand against what he deems an uncomfortable situation and one-man power in this state.
 Professor Levitt said he realized that Putnam and adjoining towns might be difficult territory for his candidacy owing Co the fact that Put nam is the home of Miss Katherine Byrne, vice chairman of the Repub- lican State Central Committee, of which Mir. Rorabaek is chairman. He related an experience in telephonlng to one woman active in politics and meeting with a rebuif, which he be- lieved to be predieated on the fact that Miss Byrne is active in politics here. However, Professor Levitt said. he anticipated the same situa- ton in New London, the home of Lieutenant Governor Ernest l.. Rogers, but found considerable anti Rorabaek sentiment in that city.
 Professor Levitt said that he went to call on Archibald Macdonald, Jr., chairman of the Republican town committed, but found that he had left the city for a vacation. The stores and business places in the business section were closed for the weekly half holiday. What progress the in- dependent candidate for the govern or's chair made in this northeast sec tion of the county Is not known.
 Wages Lone Battle
 Professor Levitt came emphatically before the people of the state some months ago when he started to wage lone battle against the public utili- ties commission, whom he charged to be lax in their duties in failing to compel the N. Y. N. II. < Il. Railroad Company to eliminated set number of grade crossings each year as the law requires. His lone fight was at first taken lightly; not so now
 On the day he was in Putnam, Pro lessor Levitt won substantial vic tory in his court proceedings against the commissioners. The supreme court of Connecticut, last Thursday hand ed down a decision requiring the Att torney General to proceed toward re- moving the commission The court Of appeals thus upholds the decision rendered by Judge Newell Jennings of the superior court from which the state took an appeal. It Is under stood that the case may go to the United States Supreme Court.
 The supreme courts decision points out that the attorney-general has no other course except to move against the public utilities commission. The statute by which the commission was created, the supreme court pointed out, provides the attorney-general must act when requested either by the governor or by petition from one hundred citizens.
 Questions Constitutionality
 Ernest L. Averill of Branford, who is acting in the illness of Attorney General Benjamin W. filling of New Britain and who handled the Levitt case from the time 1t was received in his office, believes the statute relat- ing to the public utilities commission may not be constitutional The com mission was created under Governor Rollin s. Woodruff in 1909 to sue ceed the old railroad commission, and the constitutionality had never be- fore been under a cloud.