Litchfield enquirer., 1869-07-22
THE WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY Y

THE WORK OF THE ASSEMBLY ' l The Legislature of 1869 has adjourned ' On the whole 1t has been the best Genera Assembly this state has had for "a number Of years. Not only because it has beer
 truly and carefully conservative in its worl
 but also because it has dispatched bushes. i with commendable promptitude. 931s The Legislature of 1862 adjourned the
 same day. July 10th. Since that date. fol seven years the sessions have been length
 ening until the last year. adjournment dld
 not take place until August. The number of public and private acts passed thls ses sion will be equal to those passed last year while tue number of those considered and rejected sgconsiderably in excess of any previous year which we have looked at fol comparison. It will be seen, therefore, that the committees have been quietly and in dustrlously at work. ASas efgas Jg aasaw We spoke of the Legislature. as eonser- vative in its tendencies This it has mani tested by a dislike to enter upon new pro jects It has rejected the charter for the Parallel railroad, also the general railroad law, although the fate of tue latter might have been different had it been introduced earlier in the session. It has refused to ap. point state constabuiary or to change the laws in regard to divorce. It declined to build the Washington bridge or. to take away the charter of the Hartford Bridge company. It would not change tue time of holding the sessions of the General As sembly, or cal. a constitutional convention. 1t also refused to repeal the usury law.
 On the only strictly political issue it was In sympathy with the progress of the Re- publican party. It ratified the Fifteenth Amendment. It passed the amendment striking out the word sswhite" from the state constitution. @t "'-+.'' s']~
 It has also created court of common pleas for Hartford and New Haven counties and given some additional terms to the Superior Court of Fairfield county. : But we think this action in regard to the reform in judicial proceedings will not be thorough enough to satisfy the people of the State, It has neither adopted a new system or re- formed the old. The judiciary committee are most at fault in this. They should have considered the subject more fully and at an earlier day. But it may, be that partial trial of the system in New Haven and Hart ford counties, will show if anything can be accomplished by new court. - a'.
 The railroad committee have granted every application for charter except that from Derby to the State Line. They have also reported, and the Legislature passed, under an amended form, the bill allowing railroad companies to contract with each other, and to lease connecting or intersect- ing roads. 1oh asls ta9 iw ;oga ed4
 Of private legislation, there has been plenty. although the committee on corpor- ations were more conservative than usual. Trust companies have been chartered in bury and Norwalk. An act of incorpora- tion has been given to Pratt, Whitney & Co.,, and the National Slave Company in this city. sAinew fire and a new life insu- rance company have been chartered for this city, and several for other parts of the State. Various temperance and literary and benevolent societies have also been chartered. '"t ''a'.9t v 5@ @,e' +. Some disappointment will be felt at the curt manner in which the question of di- vorce was disposed of. But the Assembly could not do otherwise, considering the late time when the report was presented. MT. Bryan of Orange truly said that the petitions of almost every religious body in the state should have been treated with more respect by the committed. 8eo8 a.
 The Committee on State Prison have recommended the discharge of but few convicts, and the Legislature has oyerruled them in no case. But four in all, as we remember, have been discharged. af4w 1T ! s The session has been prolific of fish laws. All kinds of fish from shad to lamprey cells have been .legislated for, and if they are not protected for the future, this Assembly is not to blame. sat fs bsi1Aa sgs Eo4
 9d The actioniin regard toiedueational mat ters has been carefully considered andi no doubt wise and judicaons. The, free school law of last session has been modifi- ed and changed for the9 better, and, the Normal School re-established.i pysthng "' 10 The salaries! of the judges have been in- creased $500, and the restriction of one hundred days removed, giving them $3000, and five dollars for each day of service.
 za In regard to the benevolent enterprises of the state, they have all received . gen erous though not extrayagant appropria- stions The disposition seemed to be to check any extravagant outlay but to pro- vide well for ell worthy objects. gzs
 On the whole it has been hard working Legislature, we'll intentioned and honest
 We have found some fault with its adjourn ments from time to time, and have not ceased to warn it against the blandishments of tbe lobby, but we close our review with a hearty wish that the State of Connecti- cut may never have worse legislation than that of 1869. h Hartford Post. ,T adT
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