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ew years before；〃 he said； 〃the New York and New Haven Company had fixed their own price for commuters' tickets along the whole line of the road； and had thus induced hundreds of New York citizens to remove to Connecticut with their families； and build their houses on heretofore unimproved property； thus vastly increasing the value of the lands； and correspondingly helping our receipts for taxes。 He urged that there was a tacit understanding between the railroad and these commuters and the public generally； that such persons as chose thus to remove from a neighboring State； and bring their families and capital within Connecticut's borders； should have the right to pass over the railroad on the terms fixed at the time by the president and directors； 'that any claim that the railroad could not afford to commute at the prices they had themselves established was absurd； from the fact that； even now； if one thousand families who reside in New York； and had never been in our own State； should propose to the railroad to remove these families （embracing in the aggregate five thousand persons） to Connecticut； and build one thousand new houses on the line of the New York and New Haven Railroad； provided the railroad would carry the male head of the family at all times for nothing； the company could well afford to accept the proposition； because they would receive full prices for transporting all other members of these families； at all times； as well as full prices for all their visitors and servants。'
〃And now；〃 he said； 〃what are the facts？ Do we desire the railroad to carry even one…fifth of these new…comers for nothing？ Do we； indeed； desire to compel them to transport them for any definitely fixed price at all？ On the contrary； we find that during the late rebellion； when gold was selling for two dollars and eighty cents per dollar； this company doubled its prices of commutation； and retains the same prices now； although gold is but one…half that amount （1。40）。 We don't ask them to go back to their former prices； we don't compel them to rest even here； we simply say； increase your rates； pile up your demands just as high as you desire； only you shall not make fish of one and fowl of another。 You have fixed and increased your prices to passengers of all classes just as you liked； and established your own ratio between those who pay by the year and those who pay by the single trip； and now； all we ask is； that you shall not change the ratio。 Charge ten dollars per passenger from New York to New Haven； if you have the courage to risk the competition of the steamboats； and whatever percentage you choose to increase the fare of transient passengers； we permit you to increase the rates of commuters in the same ratio。
〃The interests of the State； as well as communities； demand this law； for if it is once fixed by statute that the prices of commutation are not to be increased； many persons will leave the localities where extortion is permitted on the railroads； and will settle in our State。 But these railroad gentlemen say they have no intention to increase their rates of commutation； and they deprecate what they term 'premature legislation；' and an uncalled…for meddling with their affairs。 Mr。 Speaker； 'an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure。' Men engaged in plots against public interests always ask to be 'let alone。' Jeff Davis only asked to be 'let alone；' when the North was raising great armies to prevent the dissolution of the Union。 The people cannot afford to let these railroads alone。 This hall； crowded with railroad lobbyists； as the frogs thronged Egypt； is an admonition to all honest legislators that it is unsafe to allow the monopolies the chance to rivet the chains which already fetter the limbs of those whom circumstances place in the power of these companies。〃
At this point in his speech he was interrupted a messenger； who placed in his hands a dispatch from his son…in…law in New York； marked 〃Urgent。〃 He opened and read it。 It announced that his Museum had been totally destroyed by fire。 He laid it upon his desk； and without the slightest change of manner continued his argument； as follows：
〃These railroad gentlemen absolutely deny any intention of raising the fares of commuters； and profess to think it very hard that disinterested and conscientious gentlemen like them should be judged by the doings of the Hudson River and Harlem Railroads。 But now； Mr。 Speaker； I am going to expose the duplicity of these men。 I have had detectives on their track； for men who plot against public interest deserve to be watched。 I have in my pocket positive proofs that they did； and do； intend to spring their trap upon the unprotected commuters on the New York and New Haven Railroad。〃
He then drew from his pocket and read two telegrams received that morning； one from New York and the other from Bridgeport； announcing that the New York and New Haven Railroad Directory had held a secret meeting in New York the day before； for the purpose of immediately raising the fares of commuters twenty per cent。； so that in case his bill became a law they could get ahead of him。 He continued：
〃Now； Mr。 Speaker； I know that these dispatches are true； my information is from the inside of the camp。 I see a director of the New York and New Haven Railroad sitting in this hall； I know that he knows these dispatches are true； and if he will go before the railroad committee and make oath that he don't know that such a meeting took place yesterday； for exactly this purpose； I will forfeit and pay one thousand dollars to the families of poor soldiers in this city。 In consideration of this attempt to forestall the action of this Legislature； I offer an amendment to the bill now under consideration； by adding after the word 'ratio' the words 'as it existed on the 1st day of July； 1865。' In this way we shall cut off any action which these sleek gentlemen may have taken yesterday。 It is now evident that these railroad gentlemen have set a trap for this Legislature； and I propose that we now spring the trap； and see if we cannot catch these wily railroad directors in it。 Mr。 Speaker； I move the previous question。〃
This revelation astounded the opposition； and the 〃previous question〃 was ordered。 On the final vote the bill was carried through triumphantly； and has ever since remained an important item in the statute…book of the State。
In the spring of 1866 Barnum was re…elected to represent the town of Fairfield in the Legislature。 He had not intended to serve again。 But one of the directors of the railroad； who had led the opposition to Barnum's new railroad law； had openly boasted about the town that Barnum should not be allowed to hold the office again。 It was in response to these boasts that Barnum decided to accept the nomination； and he was handsomely elected。
The leading issue before that Legislature was the election of a United States Senator。 Andrew Johnson was then President of the United States； and had begun to break away from the Republican party。 One of the Connecticut Senators was following him in this action。 The other Senator was now a candidate for re…election。 Barnum had been an earnest admirer of him； but now ascertained