New-York tribune., 1878-01-03
CONNECTICUT LAW-MAKING.
THE NEW LEGISLATURE.
ITE NEW TEVIo1'NT UNIT
sHAD- EATERS" NO LoNGER-DIsiISE TO SITTING
N wINTER-ISsURANCE AND SAVINGS BANKS
TIE yENT UNITED STATES SENATOR.


IN wINTER-ISsURANCE AND SAYINGS BANKS
THE yEXT UNITED STATES SENATOR.
lFEoa A STAFF CORRESPONDENT OF THE TRIBuSE.l
HARTFoRD Jan. 1.-The change in the state Con-
situton which brings the session OF the Legislature
from May to January has had the effect TO con-
fuse the Connecticut reckoning, so that taken In
connection with the change in the term of office OF
the Governor, which left the people with no State
officers and only fraction OF Legislature TO elect
last November, the good people OF this Stale hardly
know whether they have government of their own
or running some Importation from Rhode
Island or Massachusetts, The revolution has affected
the name if not the character of the legislators
Formerly they were known as " shad -ea'rrs." They
came in with the shad, and IN younger times, when
there was not so much special legislation TO be done.
went ont with them. For several years before the
change in the Constitution, however. they had got
in the way of Out-staying the shad: the last
shad had Tapped his farewell hin at Say
brook long before the shad-eaer" had packed his
stationery and the Secretary declared the Assembly
adjourned, and the Sheriff said God save the Com
mOnwcalth." Under the new arrangement they
have bad but one session, aud do not think it is
popular. The farmers used to grunble. to be sure,
ut being obliged to stay ut the Capital during the
warm weather and the "haying" season, but, with
all their grumbling it was noticed that they stayed
And now they miss the shad. and don't seem to get
used TO coming to the Legislature III overcoats in
stead of linen busters. and making laws around a
stove instead of with the windows open. The dis
satisfaction with the January session is great
that an adjournment Of the coming session over to
May is seriously talked of in some quarters. 1t Is
not unlikely that the condition of the new State
House may have something 10 do with this prOposi-
tion. The new building is just Oh the eve of com
plction and il is believed will be ready for occu-
pancy by next May The Connecticut legislator
il not utterly deaf to suggestions growing ont Of the
difference between meeting in the old bnidng and
dedicating the new Some of them, no doubt, would
lie willing TO adjourn over to May, and be the first
TO occupy the State House. An element of
uncertainty Is not wanting in the matter. however
iIr James g. Bltteison is one of the contractors for
the new building
The Legislature will be Republican in both
branches In the Senate there is contested cleo
ton case of some interest in the Ist District. the
canvasscrs' report showing tie vote, which. if ac-
ceped by the Senate, win make necessary elec
ton by the House Of Representatives. The law and
the facts are in favor of Ar. Hills. the Republican
candidate, and, what is practically of vastly more
consequence both Senate and House oi the same
political complexion so there Is no doubt of his adj
mission to the seat. In the House the only contest
Of any importance in the organization, viii be over
the SpcakershIp. The candidates Messrs. Brscoc,
of Enfield Andrews of Litcheld ard Brewster, of
Danbury. General Har!and, of Norwich will have
some support, but neither he nor his friends have
made any effort for The nomination, and il is pretty
certain that one Of the three above named Will he
chosen The Republican newspapers in the
State carefully promising that they had
interest III the matter and did not think it proper
lava tn,
get ND a lively httlc controversy the claims Of
the several candidates. from which it appears that
local considerations enter somewhat into the coicc
and Insurance questions arc not unmixed with IL.
Judge Brisc0e the Hartford candidate. Is said 20
rpr.sent the insurance interests of this city, and e.
he friend of the Insurance CommissIOnct Mr.. John
". Siedman. who by his course in the investigation
Of Mr. Ben Noycss insurance company at New
Haven excited an opposition 20 which the friends Of
Noy.s have with great adroiinoas and industry
given local character. The N'w-iiayen in
trrc.t Is represented by slr Brrwstcr, and
Mes,rs Andrews and HMlnnd seem 10 be
entirely free from tbs loca' complication
in tin insurance entang glomcut The object
of the ri,coe men is+ad Ia be- 10 prevent IN nycs-
ti-aiion OF the Insurance Commissioner, judge
Bri-cocH law par iucr-Who . also fucmbcf Of the
Unu---LaSing been Drpdty Commissioner in the
ofc. until quite recently. Precisely what the New
Haven opposition 10 bin means. beyond expressing
dlsapproVal OF tOmmissiOncr Strdmaus course, !
do not know. There l. considerable vague and loose
talk abOu' investigating ihc Insurance Cumms-
sion with reference TO VIA: H. believed in New
Haven to b. fayoriti'm toward The Chatter Oak and
other Hartford insurance interests, and PERSONAL
hostility toward Ben NOvrs'5 company and New
Haven interests generally. But ] yppprehcnd
II consists mostly of trlk; neither party 70 thc
controversy is very anxious Tor oycThluling of
insurance matters. BGt both know it ~ sore sab
i.ct aud 50 they uakc faces at each other about It,
II II not at all probIbr tat any one Oi the C.ud-
a. tl.tsr.A =
such way either 10 stllc investigation entirely
or inquire INTO matters too vigorously. The stIr-
aurc interest too important 10 Hartford aud t.
I'm. state 10 b. trilcd with or carrlcsy OVerhauicd
Whatever investigation II had wIll 20 deep ,nnIgh
10 show that tacrc Is no unusual ground for lack
Of confidence IA the Surviving cOmuauit7, but not
deep enough to uncover the bottom Facts as to OF
ganilatiou. salaries. dividends inLcstments etc..
etc. have it on prct'y GOOD anih(Y that The IN
suiaaco cpmpaHic, made pioyisloG~hr!oichaud for
the Legislature, aui tha, they have ~ consequence
"A well grounded confidence TIM: the existing coht
tion will not be seriously disturbed. There will Ice
nothing more than some general legislation OF =
conservative character upon thc subject ami TINS
The only other subject of much Importance which
will occupy the attention of the LEGISLATURE is The
condition % the savings banks in the State. As i
rule the savings banks in this State have been
fortunate in their Investments aud in the details of
their management than III most other States. Most
of ihom have pursued Il conservative and cautions
policy and are consequently IN comparatively
sound and healthy condition now, when the bottom
Is falling ont Of so many similar Institutions else
where Still the depression of values III real estate
and the prolonged commercial ana industrial stag
nation have noi failed to affect them uu!ayorably
and il is not unlikely that the general subject wilt
occupy greater share of the attention of the
Legislature than any other single topic. Governor
Hubbard in his annual message Will undoubtedly