Connecticut western news., 1879-10-01
CANAAN, CONN. WEDNEsDAY,. OCT, 1. 1878
Constitutional Amendments.

ED. CONN. WESTERN NEws:-DEAR SIR :- You stated Tn a recent number of your pa- per, that you were willing to publish commu- nications on both sides of the question relating to the proposed Constitutional Amendments, D and following your suggestion, I enclose a very fair and candid statement of the question by one of our citizens, the perusal of which would commend to any who desire to vote in- telligently on the subject.
 Truly Yours,
 N. B. STEVENS. < Monday, October 9th, is the day of our regu- lar town election; we do not elect any state 4 officers, but vote on the following constitution al amendments:
 The form of ballot to be used is as follows sConstitutional Amendments, First Monday of
 October, 1879"
 NUMBER 1. Providing for biennial sessions . of the general assembly.
 - NUMBER 2. Judges of the supreme court to hold the office during good behavior, but not after 75 years of age.
 If you approve of these amendments you must vote them just as they read. If you dis approve them, you want to erase the number of the one you wish to defeat and such a ballot (the number erased), will be counted against the amendment.
 I desire to give my views of the proposed constitutional amendments those persons : who agree with me will vote against them by erasing the number on the vote as suggested above.
 One of the principal claims of those favoring : sfhe change is that, by adopting the biennial amendment, the state will save one hundred thousand dollars in debentu bills each year. This IS not true, but were It the case that the Ytste would save this large sum of money, when borne by the people of the state it would only save to ca oh [nhabitant about one-ffth of a dollar year, or about three-fourths ot that sum to each registered voter in the state. Now g saving of 25 cents to each inhabitant, or 75 cents per year to each voter, is not ot sufficient consequence. A biennial session would be prolonged much beyond the time now spent, and the expense to the state would be very much increased over what is now re- quired for an annual session.
 Since the organization of our state, we have never had less than one session of the legisla- ture year, in old times they were more ire quent, which was necessary from the growing wants of new settlement. These yearly ses- sions of the General Assembly have always been productive of great good The bringing together of leading citizens from all parts of the state has given the people full knowledge of their state affairs and business principles that has been invaluable. The prominent po- sitfon the state has always held for enterprise and the general intelligence of her people in the practical affairs of life, are in great measure due to the intercourse of the repre- J
 At this time there are almost an innumer- able number of corporations that have been organized and fostered by the state, many of which have grown from small beginnings to immense proportions, and are not only cred it to the state, but their fame has brought credit to the whole country. While all ot them have not yet arrived at that point of i'm portance, they are, as rule, all well man. aged, and are great credit to the communi- ties where they exist, and the state by whose laws they have being. Of these institutions every citizen has cause to be proud, and shoHld always encourage such legislations as the greatest point. In doing this, care is needed on the part of tho people of the state, for while they may be immensely useful, they might, by neglect, become as dangerous as they are useful. As a rule, long continued success to an individual or a corporation must increase theirpowe and influence with their usefulness. With an individual this termi- mates with his life !; but with corporation il may be extended till it will need the salutary action of the state to check it in order to pre-. serve and continue it's usefulness.
 Now, with the great number of these vita institutions existing under our state laws, an. nua1 elections and annual sessions of the leg islature are necessary. The people can not be too watchful; they should never cease theil vigilance.
 Business men making frequent settlements with their agents do better than those thai neglect to do so. The people, to preserve their rights and interests, must canvass the merits of their agents and institutions often.
 Infrequent elections and sessions of the Gen eral Assembly will surely give these rapidly growing corporate institutions the control O the state.
 Byou will prevent this, or postpone it fol the longest period possible, vote against thii amendment by erasing the number on youl vote.
 AMENDMENT NO. 2.
 Judges of the supreme court oferrors and o the superior court to hold office during gooG behavior. but not after 75 years of age.
 Now this seems like reason. judge or any other person would seem to be better uuali. ned for any position the longer he had the ex- perlence of the duties attending his calling, Now, while this may seem to be gcod, sound ooctrlne. practical test of it, in any case you may call to mind. shows to the contrary,
 There are many very worthy and able men In all trades and professions that are past the prime of life; but this is the exception to the rule, which is that the middle-aged men are very much their superiors.
 It IS usually well balanced man that is &c., !ected for such an honorable position as a judge of the supreme court of errors and of the superior courts and such men, as rule, have longer expectation of life and were the life the rule; or seventy-fve years of age to pre- val, ltSls pretty sure thing that, in course of time, our judges would be advanced in years beyond their prime and usefulness and wonId become unequal to the wants of the state No business man ever thinks of engaging a clerk or empIoye of any kind till he is seyenty-6ye years of age; and, for the same reason, the people Of this state should not engage the judges for any such time.
 They are now elected for eight years, and if the people of the state do zig ht they will vote against electing them for any longer period, Let us therefore continue the practice of ap- pointing them for eight year terms for it would be easier to reelect good judge under our present law than it would be to get rid of Q poor one under the proposed one. The peo- Ple will he better served and on better terms with their judges by frequent appointments.
 A ballot with the numbers erased. will be counted in the negative. Or, if one number IS erased and the other not the one erased will be in. the negative, and the one not erased will be in the affirmative If neither or the numbers are erased both will be count- ed for the amendment. Do not separate the two amendments, as the Illegal form, 'includes both. But erdSe one or both numbers. the erasure in each case being legal ballot against the amendment and this is the only way von can vote against either.
 As the state does not provide ballots with the numbers erased for those that desire to vote against the amendments, it will be nec- essary to get them from the town clerks and prepare them yourself by erasing the numbers on them, which, to save time, should be done before election day, unless sufficient number Of printed ballots with numbers erased, are in the hands of the town clerk or registrars. or some commit ee men of both parties, previous to that time FS R Hartford, September, 1879.
 The Rev. Dr. Bacon of New Haven pub 1s.l IA