Litchfield enquirer., 1843-06-08
Connecticut Legislature,
Monday Morning, May %.

tee to examine revise and digest the laws relative to the settlement of estates, and other matters in the jurisdiction of of probate, and report the next session of the assembly9 passed.
 The reports of the majority and minority of the committee on contested elections in the of Lev erett w. Beach of Durham, were taken up and after debate the majority report agreed to- and the seat of MT. Beach vacated-because he was whig
 Afternoon-Mr. Galpins proposition to amend the constitution to provide for the election of senators for three years, taken up and indefinitely postponed
 A proposition to amend the constitution by making more equal representation in the House of Repre- sentatives-provdingt that every town containing two thousand inhabitants or under may elect one repre- sentative; every town containing over two and not over four thousand two representatives, and pro- ceeding in the same manner, allowing all towns re- presentatives according to the same ratlo-was also indefinitely postponed
 The joint committee to whom was referred the pe-
 on ot James Mars and other abolitionists, report ed adversely petitions denied,
 Committee on roads reported favorabIy on the pe- with a resolution, which passed.
 Bill tor public act, exemPting persons from the charge ot toll on any turnpike road unless they have travelled four miles the same, referred to judiciary committee, who subsequently reported adversely and bill rejected.
 Resolution passed instructng the judiciary con- mittee inquire into the proprety of the Comptrol- ler's allowing the bills of county ailors for rbeddngr in addition to board
 Tuesday Morning, May 90:
 House proceeded to the order of the day--the bilE to abolish Imprisonment for debt.
 MT Seymour explained and advocated the bill s1 some length.
 Mr. Perkins offered some amendments, whicFs were rejected, and the bill passed.
 Committee on banks reported in favor rotthe bill in relation to the Housatonic Railroad Co with some amendments laid the table, and 900 copies ofthe bill with the amendments, ordered to be printed
 Select committee on mili,ia on the petitions for the distribution of rifles, reported fayorably with resolution which passed
 Committee on the subject of the reformation and punishment ofiuvenile offenders reported thatcrime committed by children had rapidly increased during the last few years-that system of discipline is ne cessary, different from what can be had in our State Prison, or in our county ails-hat the subject is of magnitude which requires the attention of the le- gisature, and that the object in view can be obtain ed by moderate expenditure. But the committee were not prepared to exhibit any plan of details and they therefore recommended the appointing special committee to enquire further, and report some system for the correction of this evil, to the next legislature with resolution appointing Saml H. Huntington, John T. Norton, and Gideon Welles, committee to enquire and report to the next ses- sion; together with bill giving discretion send t" county jails children convicted of crimes which by our law are punishable in state prison; re- port accepted, and resolution and bill passed
 Moves Darling appointed judge ofthe New Haveu cornty court
 Jud ges of probate, county commissioners and us- tices of the peace appointed for Hartford and New Haven counties
 Resolution proposing an amendment to the consti- tuition, providing for the election of justices by the people of the several towns lost by vote of 65 to 45.
 Similar proposition relative to probate judges, lost
 Wednesday, Morning, May 31.
 Act authorizing the Superior Court to grant divor- ces Tn certain cases came from the senate referred to the judiciary committee house concurred
 Committee on the judiciary reported bill for public act in relation to the surplus moneys received from the United Staes; passed.
 Afternoon. n.-Reso ution appointing Joseph Riggs judge of probate for the district of Norfolk, if. the senate amended, by erasing the name of Joseph Riggs, and inserting that of James C. Swift; House reconsidered and concurred.
 Committee on military returns reported favorably on the petition of Seth P. Beers and others, with resolution, winch passed.
 Report of the committee on the petition for the re- peal of the relative to students in literary insttu- tions. taken up; adverse to the prayer Tor repeal
 Mir. Seymour sustained the report and MT rPerkns opposed it. The yeas and nays were ordered, and ' the report corcurred in, l02 to 66-a party vote.
 Thursday Morning, June l.
 House took up the Housatonic Railroad Bill.
 MT. Stiles oaered an amendment for the appoinr.. ment of commissioners to examine the condition ot the company and report to the Secretary of State within sixty days; lost. proposition to extend the first of October instead of September also lost
 Mir. Perkins moved an amendment providing that the commissioners should be allowed to sell the property vested in them only for cash adopted. He also suggested another amendment requiring said commissioners apply the avails of said sale forth with to the redemption of the certified paper of the company; carrled ordered, and the bill passed as amended.
 Bill for an act regulating proceedings in courts ol probate, read a third tune and passed.
 The joint select committee on capital punishment, reported in favor of abolish!ng the same, with pill for act which read and 5oO copies ordered to be printed. . sed at the course the subject had taken-tor It was said the report should be submitted to the commit tee and an opportunity given for the preparation o5 a counter reportbut this was the first notice he hao that the report was ready to be submitted.
 On motion of Mr. Perkins, the report was recom- mitted.
 Afternoon Welch submitted the report the committee capital punishment which had been recommtted in the morning.
 An amendment was offered by MT. Robinson to all after the enactlng clause, and insert a sub stu'e dividing the crimes into murder in the frs, and murder in the second degree the first punisha be with death, and the second with perpetual imprs onment. 800 copies ordered printed.
 Bill and substitute laid on the table.
 The bill to divide the city of New-Haven into wards so that few small politicians may be choser ty of the voters of that city, was taken up Messrs Stiles, Seymour and others, who thought they under stood the wants of New-tiayen better than the i'm mediate representatves ot that eity, adyocaed thu Foster opposed 1t. After being amended so as t, take effect on the 2Oth of June motion to postpone the bill indefinitely was lost by vote of 79 to sO
 Friday Morning, June 3.
 The bill 10 divide the city of New-Haven into Wards, passed-yeas 97, nays 30. The measure wa so outrageous that few locos voted against it.
 Committee on diyorces reported favoraby on tn petition of Martha F. Miller for divorce from On I F. Miller, with bill dissolving the connection.
 Mr. Curtis made statement to the house of tn VI facts detailed, and the views of the committee upo
 MT Perkins spoke at length in opposition to ,h N