Litchfield enquirer., 1869-05-13

to be particularly guarded against, and to
 the end that our elections may be fairly
 and properly conducted, would suggest Ethat more voting districts may be estab-
 lished in some of our larger towns and cit
 ies, and that the Police Department be
 managed and regulated by non- partizan
 boards of commissioners. "" ' ) It is thought by many of our best citi- , zens that further legislation is needed to
 check the growing evil of intemperance In many parts of our State. existing laws
 are so far a dead letter, that not only in- } toxicating liquors, but adulterations there
 of. containing the vilest and most poison
 ous ingredients, are openly and freely sold } during the whole seven days of the week.
 Without suggesting the precise course to adopt, commend the subject to your care : full consideration.
 Our present low legal rate of interest is,I
 think, injurious to the business interests of
 the State.
 i Capital must flow towards the highest } market. So much capital has been sent
 out of this State, that borrowers with diff I ficulty supply their wants, and when they
 do 1t Is always at higher rate than SIX per cent.
 I There is but one exception to the rule that has come under my observation,
 which Is in the case of the school fund, and can see no reason why this fund
 should not be loaned at as high a rate as
 the Savings Banks readily obtain.
 l recommend that the legal rate of inter-
 est be advanced to per cent, believing
 that the change would be beneficial to : borrowers.
 } I recommend the revision of our laws } with regard to divorce.
 According to the report of the State Lii
 brarlan there were in the State last year 4, 734 marriages, and 478 divorces. Dis
 contened peoplet come here from other States to take advantage of what is called
 our liberal legislation, to obtain divorces I which would be denied them at home As
 the sacredness of the marriage relation lies at the foundation of civilized society, it
 should be carefully guarded. Under our present laws the causes of divorce are too numerous, ands snot sufficiently defined, ,and
 too wide discretion is given to the courts
 I think the law of 1S49 should be modified
 and so much of the Statute as grants divor- ces for "any such misconduct as perma-
 nently destroys the happiness of the peti- tioner. and defeats the purposes of the
 marriage relation" should be repealed, I
 would also suggest that the law provide, that no decree of divorce shall take effect till one year after it is granted. r The accumulation of causes in the courts in our principal Counties and the general 1deiay of trials consequent upon it, are SC. irions evil. The business of the courts has undoubtedly largely increased with the in Icrease of population, and of business gen. erally. An increase of the judicial force of the State will, undoubtedly, from time to time become necessary. The establish
 ment of Criminal Court, with a single Judge and frequent sessions, for the Coun- ties, would leave the judges more time l for. their duties. and such course may be deeuled best. l think, however, an inves- litigation would bring to light some causes of delay that could be removed by proper legislation, without at present adding to
 the number of our judges. I commend the subject to your consideration.
 While our laws, with regard to married I women. have been amended from time to time for several years past, so as to secure to them ln 8 more ample manner their property, held before, or acquired after marriage, yet we are still considerably be- hind many of our sister states, and even conservative England, in onr legislation on the subject. I would recommend to your favorable consideration, such an amend ment of our laws as will secure to married woman all her property, with the full con- trol of 1t during her married life, and free from liability for any debts, except those contracted by herself, or for which she has
 voluntarily made herself responsible, with the same right on the part of the husband, to an interest h her property, on his sur
 viving her, that she now has, or that it may be best to give her, in his. .s. e.t .. It seems to me that some further legis- lation is needed for the protention of per sons held Tn restraint as lunatics, whether in public asylums or elsewhere. The subject Is one of much practical diff ticulty, but it is very clear, that there should be an ample opportunity provided
 Tn some way, for the making of complaints
 to some proper authority by peSsous so held, and for the fair hearing of any com plaints so made.
 T urge upon you the desirableness of a change in our Consultation, from annual to biennial elections, as did my predecessor lin his last annual message. That the elec- f tion should be held in the Fail, and the Legislature should assemble in the Winter Is, think, the almost unanimous senti- ment of the State.
 think that corporate and other privile. ges should be granted wherever practica- ble by general laws, and that special legis- latlon should be resorted to, only in cases which cannot we'll be otherwise reached. | Special legislation has 8 tendency to to strengthen the already strong. while it tplaces the smaller industrial interests at disadvantage. 4, se5,s -....
 My hearty cooperation will be given to any measures calculated to secure short session of the General Assembly. Many of us are business men, elected as such, and the people of the State have right to expect, that our Legislative duties will be discharged with the promptness and dis patch that would govern us, were our in- dividnal interests alone concerned. A long sessicn not only increases the regular ex. penses, but often. if not always, begets extrayagarce in contingent expenses, which should at all times be studiousIy avoided. | l especially disapproye of the practice late-
 y so common, of voting extra compensa- l ton to officers who have discharged only their regular and appropriate duties, for which they have been regularly paid, and of making any gifts whatsoever to any per sons out of the monies of the State. Let us avoid using the public funds, in any |other than a strictly legitimate manner, even If no great amount Is involved.