The Waterbury Democrat., 1941-08-14
By JACK AMMAN


 Hartford, Conn, Aug. 14.-CUP) The first real effects of Gov. Hur- ley'S administration are now being felt in the field of public utilities, and the milk situation shortly will be heard from.
 The governor Is taking 8 per- Sonal hand in these affairs, even though he has commissioners on the job. Only a day or so ago he asked the state public utilities commission for 8 complete report on its activities concerning rural identification, and the Cromwell Water Company and the New Haven Water Company case.
 "Several other cases are pend- ing over at the public utilities of- fice," Gov. Hurley said, but he de- clined to say what they were. But he did say that in his tours around the state he has seen many miles of new lines to rural communities being erected by public utilities companies.
 Now, the change in the public utilities commission has been re- znarkable. Veteran employees of the department say they have never seen 3 group more fOrceful and direct in it's actions. They were astonished at the manner i'm which the commission moved against the Cromwell Water Com pany. An official of the concern was criticized severely for "dila- tory" tactics of the firm during the past seven years, and abrupt ly sat upon when he requested an- other delay.
 The two new commissioners who have popped up the commission are Rep. Joseph P. OConnell, Bristol, and Prof. Clyde Olin Fisher, Middletown. They are continually asking questions, mak- ing suggestions, Investigating old cases. It wouldn't at all be sur- priSing to see some of these old cases brought out again.
 The New Haven Water Company case will be the first big one. A hearing is scheduled for the mid- ale of September. This utility was permitted to raise its rates IS per cent in 1889 after 8 hearing to which the city and public were not invited.
 Even the commissions attorney, John Collins, thought the hear ing was Illegal, and so informed the commission at that time.
 The public utilities question was one of the ajor items on Gov. Hurley's program, and the way things are going 1t will provide some good stories in the next few months.
 For the first time in many years, reporters are attending public utiI- ities commission hearings because of the promise of developments. None of the state Capitol writers ever bothered to go there before because of the dull and routine fashion in which the hearings were conducted.
 There will be developments soon in the milk situation. It is under stood that Administrator Donald o. Hammerberg Is busily engaged in preliminary work on his new job, and shortly will let the state know on how he is coming out.
 State Capitol sources are telling this story:
 During Gov. Hurleyis absence on his Camp Banding; Fla, trip, Lieut. Gov. Odell Shepard urged State Labor Commissioner Dan- aher to order the Colts Patent Fire Arms Manufacturing Co. Co improve its plant set-ur for more safety.
 The Colts people immediately came running over to Danaher's ofzace to find out what the trouble was, and everybody later went over to the governors office to find shepard. The governors stan said it hadn't seen Shepard i'm weeks,
 So the party went to Ghepard's home, where, the story reIated, he was said to be somewhere about. Finally, he was located.
 The lieutenant governor was in his gymnasium suit. delng exsr- cisea, and conducted a conference fhRG nktArna
 Former Alderman William Oelentano, who lost to Mayor John w. Murphy in the 1889 New Ha- ven city election by about aBO0 votes, win be the Republican casl- &idate again this fail.
 Ceientano vas eaid to ba aiix. ic.is to run, although Attorney