Litchfield enquirer., 1871-05-25
WHOLE NO sass

- - au = - s =, - - labor, and are generally too much occupied in earning their subsistence to pay much fore the State should carefully guard their interests The tendency of legislation of late years has been in marked degree in the direction of the consolidation of capital and the growth of large corporate interests. Without going into the question whether or not evils have already grown ont of, this tendency, it is manifest that unless some salutary check be placed upon it great dan- ger may be apprehended. e While labor and capitol should not be considered an. tagonistic, they may properly be held as checks upon each other to the adjustment of which wise legislation should be direct ed. The tendency gtheref0re towards the consolidation of capital and the growth of huge corporations may fairly be balanced by careful nurture and cultivation Of the interests of labor and our egreat laboring classes. Whatever tends to the growth of self reliant and intelligently cooperative spirit among the working men of the State cannot fail to operate benefcially, as well in placing both the great interests upon Q nearer equality, as in promoting the well fare of that class upon which prosperity of the State so largely depends. Lab0rers on new railroad should be protected by law against loss of wages, consequent upon the failure of contractors or companies, either by a lien upon the work done or in some other way. Without recommending spe. clic legislation these thoughts are suggest ed for your consideration. t
 An amendment to the Constitution will come before you submitting to the people of the State, the question of permanently locating the capital. The importance of the subject demands, and I doubt not will receive, your careful consideration. There is growing sentiment in the State in fa- vor of biennial elections, to be held in the autumn to which would call your attention. The time will probably soon come, when by Congressional enactment, all members of Congress must be elected on the, same day. It requires no argument to demon strate the great economy it would be to the State, to hold two elections in four years instead of five in four years as at present. I recommend that measures be taken to bring about this result
 I would suggest to your serious consider ation whether additional Legislation is not necessary for the protection of the ballot in this State. Not only should bribery and coercion be prevented in the casting of bal
 
 accurate, and the number of votes boiled and declared should correspond with the i names checked on the list. Penalties should be provided for any uula1 1ful inter. ference with voters or votes, or with the boxes in which ballots are deposited, or preserved for the six months required by I law. ~'- s s~A st@@A '@a@f
 Our divorce laws unless changed bid fair | l. 1i Etoriously loose. more so than those of any other State except Indiana and Illinois. In the year 1870 there were in this State 406 divorces and 4871 marriages, a ratio of about one to twelve, which has been about she proportion for several years, In Yer
 mont the ratio is one to twenty. one, in Ohio one to twenty y-seven, in Massachusetts one to forty four. Diyorees may be grant ed in this State for too many causes, in fact for almost no cause at a1l Discomfort. I ed and vicious people come here from oth- CT States to get divorces which the more strict legislation of their own States. deny, thus creating much scandal and tarnishing the fair fame of our State. Some marked cases of this kind have occurred the past year which loudly call for reform in our laws. ...-... .--4-.
 ! It may not be generally understood, but such is the fact that all salaries. of every kind and nature above one thousand dol lars, due from the State to its, officers, whether for executive, judicial, military or other services, are now by law, payable semi annually in advance. There is c sound business maxim that :. good pay master pays when the work is done,"' which I most heartily recommend the State to adopt. f~'$~' eAiAlsaa a.efl AA@s would advise rigid economy of both the time and money belonging to the State. | We are in duty bound to exercise the same care in attending to the business of the State that we should were it's affairs all our own. At the last sessson of the general as- sembly there were passed but 142 public acts, while at the same time there were passed 206 private aetsg The latter occu- pied the most time, notwithstanding we have general laws that cover most of the cases. Legislating for special cases in so large proportion cannot fail to be detri- mental to the general good gd 9af
 The practice heretofore so general of granting gratuities for services which have been properly and legally paid for. should be discontinued The people arAnow very heavily taxed to pay the State and national debt contracted during the war. and no ad- ditional burden should be imposed upon them by protracted session or by giving
 money to favorites. eoI think Wes have al- ready too many laws, certainly more than most of us can understand or than can be wisely administered. Our danger is of too much rather than too little legislation. trust therefore that your constituents will be limited to the actual wants of the com- munity. The people of the Stale have en- trusted to us grave responsibilities. With a grateful appreciation of their spsrtiality let us invoke that divine wisdom which alone can guide us and enable us to dis charge the duties imposed upon tis in such manner as will advance the trueinterests of our grand old commonwealth. ada
 u.e, +.s- MARSHALL JEWELL.
 HARTFORD, May 16, 1871. ~