The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1873-07-03
Letter from Connecticut.
Correspondence of the journal,
HARTFORD, June 90
THE STATE LEGISLATURE


HARTFORD, June 90.
THE STATE LEGISLATURE
has been in session since May 7th, and its
labors are now about completed. There
has been some important legislation.
Three judges have been appointed to fill
vacancies in the Superior Court, bill
fixing the legal rate of interest at seven
per cent has been passed, several appro-
priations to 90 to charitable institutions
Of the state have been made, and more
is likely to follow. But perhaps the most
important question that has been discussed,
is that OF authorizing a Constitutional
Convention to draw up new state con-
stitution. 1t is claimed that the present
constitution does not allow some towns
fair representation in the Legislature. The
convention has not as yet been ordered,
but a committee on constitutional amend
ments has been at work suggesting means
by which the desired ends might be gained
by patching up the present constitution.
This committee has reported in favor of
changing the times of the state elections
so that they shall be held only once in two
years instead of annually az now 1t is
also recommended that two representa-
tives be given every town of 1000 in
habitants and upwards, and that towns Of
1000 inhabitants and under be restricted
to one representative. The committees
report has not yet been acted upon, but
its suggestions will possible be adopted
An important bill has passed the House,
establishing State Board OF Charities,
and the Senate will doubtless pass it also.
The board is to consist of three men and
two women, who will be armed with
authority to visit any asylum or prison in
the State, whenever they please, without
giving previous notice to superintendent
or warden. This board of charities is to
look out for all cases of wrongful con-
finement in insane asylums, and to pre-
vent such cases of unjust punishment as
that 80 wildly portrayed in Charles Reade's
novel of every Hard Cash"
The legislature has decided TO let the
people vote on the state capital question
in the autumn There is no doubt but
that the verdict wilt be tor one capital,
and that to be ii artiord The foundations
for the new State House are already laid
UNDERGROUND, OR LIFE BELOW THE SUR
FACE.
"Of making many books there is no
end" especially in Hartford the book
publishers paradise. But among the tons
of volumes that are annually ''ground
out' there are few really good and valu-
able books Indeed in the whole world
the number of books that are not worth
any more than their binding and paper,
is vastly greater than the number of those
which deserve an existence Among the
rarely interesting, entertaining and truly
instructive books is a new worl, by Col
Thos. K Knox of New York, bearing the
title of underground, or Lite Below the
Surface" 1t has Just been issued by the
enterprising and widely known publishing
house of j. b. Burr and Hyde The work
contains incidents and accidents beyond
the light Of day. startling adventures in
all parts of the world, an account Of mines
and the mode of working them, true tales
of the undercunents of society, deScrip-
tons OF caverns and their mysteries and
of prisons and their secrets, descrip-
tons OF the depths OF the sea, and strange
stories of the detection Of crime 1t is a
book of 942 pages with 100 illustrations.
We venture to say that there is not a
single page devoid of interest or instruc-
ton. There is very little padding"
about this product of Col. knox's facile
pen; every word has a purpose, and it
has been truly claimed that the author
has literally circumnayigated the globe,
and taken many long journey thousands
of miles up and down its surfaces between
the poles, to gather the materials for this
and other OF his interesting works. The
authors insight into human nature is con-
stantly shown in this book, and is the
legitimate outgrowth of travel, observa-
ton and earnest thought.
The Hartford daily papers have copied
chapter from Underground" to give
interest to their columns, until now il
seems as if they might in the end succeed
in copying the whole book. The publishers
do not complain, for they know that the
perusal of one chapter taken from the
book makes the public hungry to read
tho vUbolo