Litchfield enquirer. [volume] (Litchfield, Conn.) 1829-current, 1850-11-21

IND AA8s e 1lAtASes
Aside ffom the tax law, which was the
pet measure and cTOwning glory Of ne last
legislature, the " Dem0cmcy' tried their
hands at few Other bits OF reform; nOt
great many, but enough 10 satisfy the peO~
pie that they had been doing something du>
ring their two months visit 70 New Haven
On fair calculation, they achieved about
me measure 10 each two weeks Of the ses>
sion. II would NOT do for them 10 60 home
without some excuse tO their constituents
for their long session, and SIS they could not
swallow any Of The reforms
by the Governor, they had 10.
turn their hands TO something else. The
tree banking law, reform school, ten hour
law, homestead exemption, and 0suEy laws,
-su 1jects in which the PEOPLE were inier>
esled. and legiiimalely wilhiu the acope Of
the improvements which LeecEJcoism had
promised rs, were showed aside as TOO dam
geroHs 10 be handled. But, feeling like the
chap in the thunder storm, who could not
pray. but must do something, they made q
desperate effort TO save their credit, by abol~
ishing The militia system prohibiting stu
dents from voting-linkering with railroad
iaxatioU, and providing for the election Of
judges Of probate and justices Of the peaces
i'm case the amendments 10 the constitutions
should be Adopted. The FIRST Of these was
net strictly party measure, blt the. stu
dent law was entirely so, and il was got
up and passed ia that peculiar way which
is characteristic Of L0cofocoism-.4 The
DEMOCRACY have always Ind mortal
anti pathy against young men who are Try
ing 10 obtain an education. II seems as il
there was something in aculiivated under>
sta nding entirely at variance with Locofnco
prin ciples. Hence the student law of le42,
which was repealed by general consent as
soon as the Wings returned TO power
Their poor success al that time taught
them 10 be little more cautious; and So,
this year, instead of saying that students
shall be deprived of the rights awarded 70
mechanics, clerks, and gentlemen of leisure.
they got up an apparently innocent eDact-
ment that 'no person shall be deemed to-
have lost or acquired a residence, bv reason
of his being student in college, academy
or any seminary of learning" The effect
of this would be the same as the law Of
1912, and students would have been dis>
franchised, but somebody managed TO stick
on saving clause, providing that his
home or domicil is else where" thus leaving
the law on the statute hook 10 be ira nslated
TO suit the views Of the different local au>
thorilies-a H. emblem Of the Obscuriiy of
Locofoco legislation.
Another beautiful piece OF legislation was
the law taxing railroads. Formerly, these
companies were obliged TO pay their full
share of taxes, and in this city, about $780,
900 of railroad Stock was taxed 10 defray
our town and city expenses, raising the sum
Of about $275 10 aid in carrying on our To-
cal government. But the Legislature, in It's
wisdom, has abolished all this, and abs ulved
railroad companies from all local taxes aud
lwo-lhirds of the State tax. requiring of
them onlvs one lhiId Of one per cent, in lieu
OF all other taxation whatever, Perhaps
some may think it is rather inconsistent
for such strong hateIs OF corporations To-
show such taTornism to railroads, but De~
mocracy is always ileoLsissenL
The Legisla'afe also attempts 10 make
arrangements for the election of judges III
proolie in The case The cunsl tulion should
be amended, and it was enacted that the vo>
tiers should deposit their baliots IN the box
! for State officers for 4he jndges OF the drs-
.iict in which their towns WeIe located
| Now ii SO happens that several towns ave
J $ luaed PATTY in Two disiGiciS. aud as
here is 40 provision mad: for aDy such
case, some OF our towns will he unable 10
vote at all. In he same act, i, is provided
| that the provisions Of the third clIapier Of
the act relating ID courts shall be applied 10
he election OF judges of probate. On refer
ring u that chapter, il will te found that it
relates TO the duties and jurisdiction OF the
County Court, and if il should be applied
10 judges of PROBATE, would take away all
their powers over the set lemeni of estates,
and give them concurrent jurisdiction in
criminal cases with the County Courts
Again, the law regulating the weighing Of
potatoes, provides that the weights shat! in
all respects confnrm to the 4ih chapter Of
The act concerning cOmmunities and c0rrO>
rations, which, on turning 70, II Is found 10
Irea. of the duties OF grand jurors, Having
he mind in a glorious uncertainty whether
the weigher is 10 weigh the potatoes on a
grand Jurors complaint before justice, or
10 prosecute the owner for VIOLATION of.ihe
Grimm al code. II the potato dealers were
as bad as some of our charcoal peddlers,
The latter construction might mol be very ob-
jectionable, but as they generally bear fair
characters, the Interpretation would form q
good subject for The investigation Of The
board of equalization.
These are only part of the absurGiiies
and hlundeTs perpetraIed by a Legislature
composed, according their own claim. OF The
highest talents in the Locofoc0 RACKS. and
they serve as fit warning 70 the people
against trusting power IN the hands of q
party utterly incompetent TO use it for the
public good.
MATTERS IN oREeos "A corespou-
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