Connecticut western news., 1879-02-12
CANAAN, CONN. WEDNESDAY, FEB. 12. 1879.
The Legislature

As last Friday was the last day for the of new business the number or bills and resolutions introduced was, as the Courant said, appalling. The judiciary committee held hearing in the supreme court room last "Wednesday on the bill to simplify procedure in civil cases, recommended by the commission on the subject appointed by Governor Huo- bard. Senator Philips presided as chair man, and there was large attendance or members of the bar, and also of the ieglsia- ture.
 Ex Chief Justice Seymour, chairman of the commission. explained the general pur- pose of the bill. which he said contemplat- ed changes of a most important and valua- ble character. The first section provides that hereafter there shall be but one form of civil action, and the first pleading on the part of the plaintiff shall be known as the complaint, and shall contain a statement of the facts constituting the cause of actions and a demand for the relief to which the plaintiff supposed himself entitled. Judge Seymour briefly stated some of the advant- ages that he thought would accrue if the proposed changes in the civil code were made.
 Mfr. Seymour was questioned at some length in regard to the advantages of the proposed changes, and MT. Lucas of Nor. wich and ]. B. Curtiss of Stamford argued that the present methods of procedure were superior to those proposed. Judge Hiram Wiley of Hartford and MT. Penrose of Windham stated various objections, and District Attorney Child of Stamford and IT Professor Baldwin and Professor Platt. of New Haven argued m favor of the various features. : The hearing was adjourned until the af- ternoon of February 18th.
 Thursday afternoon the same committee had under consideration amendments to the divorce law. Ex-Speaker T. M. Waller and others were heard. It is proposed to restore what is called the Omnibus clause" which was repealed last winter and to make it the duty of the state attorney to appear n every case in which the respondent fails . to appear.
 The proposition to create the office of at .torney general has been revived. He is to have salary of $5O00 and $2000 for cleri- cal assistance. There is also bill to create the office of surveyor general with an as sistant Tn each county. Also bill for the appointment of 8 sergeant-at-arms and cap itol police-the sergeant-at-arms to have charge of the capitol and grounds, the cap itol police force and the messengers and door-Leepers, and to have g salary of $500. These will all be nice fat sinecures. We are surprised that no one has introduced 8 resolution for the appointment of keeper of the Barkhamsted Lighthouse. We beg leave to call the attention of our representa- lives to this neglect; and we would modestly intimate that if the position were forced upon us we might be induced to accept it We think the salary ought to be about $2500 with an extra allowance large enough to buy 3 lamp and some kerosene oil. Will Brother Graves see to this. We claim the position upon the principle of minority rep resentation.
 The committee on agriculture voted to have 5000 copies of the experimental station report printed with the report of the board of agriculture, and hereafter to have 5000 copies of both printed.
 MINORITY DIFFERENTIATION.
 Mir. Graves of Litchfield offered q resolu- ton that whereas county commissions in each county in the state have two republic ans, and whereas minoritles should be rep resented, that in the appointment of county commissioners this session regard should be had ''for the party that is in minority in this assembly,"
 Mir. Gsy of Ninsted introduced resolu- ton suspending the payment of taxes of the Connecticut Western Railroad.
 Last Friday there were about seventy bills introduced. The whole number up to that time was about $50. Among those for pub lie acts were the following:
 Providing penalties for wiifully injurine or impairing the value of mortgage proper tY by the person mortgaging the same.
 Abolishing the death penalty.
 That when ten tax payers represent that any estate IS set in the list at less than it's true measurement, the selectmen may have the same measured.
 That any railroad company refusing tc transport ata reasonable rate, ties and oth- ermaterial for the use of another railroad, shall be guilty of risdemeanor.
 That trustees of the Methodist Churches shall be elected by ballot at the fourth ol last quarterly conference each year.
 That corporations shall keep q list oi their stockholders. number of shares and post efices which shall be open to inspec --tion by any stockholder.
 That disorderly boys from 8 to 16 year may be sent to the State Reform School. =. That women may vote on questions per taining to sale of intoxicating liquor. s That all property of married women shal be exempt from taxation of any kind. s-- That any woman over 2l years of az, shall be entitled to vote in School Distric meetings.
 That when any person supported by town as an insane pauper is believed not t be indigent the selectmen may bring th case before the judge of probate by who's order the person was committed and if sucl person is found to have property the towl shall be released from liability.
 That when judge grants 2 temporary injunction on exparte evidence, he shall ap point time within ten days when the res pondent may be heard without further no. tice.
 That taxes shall hold against property even if listed against the wrong person.
 Giving the Supreme Court jurisdiction over claims against the State.
 That no school committee shall employ