Morning journal and courier., 1880-02-14
Legislative Hearings.

The JudReshIps-TheP Proposed Amend
ments-The Boundary QuestiOn-The
oyster and Fish Interest.
The proposed amendment to the Oonstitu-
ton, providing that the Governor shall nomi-
nate judges of the Supreme and Superior
Courts, was favored before the Legislative
Committee on Constitutional Amendments by
Hon. Origen s. Seymour, Professor Simeon
E. Baldwin, Ex-Governor Hubbard and Frank
lin Chamberlain. Judge Briscoe, John L.
Hunter and Speaker Marcy opposed 1t.
Those who favored it thought that the pro-
posed new way would result in an elevation of
the Judiciary, while the opposite view held
that one man power was not to be trusted,
and that the result would not be SO elevating
as some supposed. Rev. DIR. Bacon appears
on the subject before the committee next
Tuesday.
Lewis E. Stanton, of Hartford, and O. M.
Whittlesey, of Old Ssybrook have submitted
a minority report in opposition to the pro-
posed change of boundary line between this
State and New York. They hold thst by this
compact Connecticut surrenders unnecessari-
Iy four and half square miles Of land, that a
crooked boundary line is proposed, and that
the proposed surrender of Fishers Island,
worth between $50, 900 and $40, 900, is fool
ish arrangement. The island is about seven
miles long and two miles from our shore
The principal objection is that the island is
too far from New York to be well governed,
and SO near to Connecticut as to be nuisance
if prize fighting is to be practically allowed
there. The agreement is held to be silent as
to criminal Jurisdiction as regards the bound
airy line running through the sound and ocean,
which line is from one to two miles from our
coast. The report says: If, as we are in
formed, Connecticut may, after the agreement
is ratified, arrest persons fishing for oysters
off New Haven or Bridgeport, north of the
new line, why may not New York arrest the
Stonington fisherman, who goes off more than
mile from his home?
We think the natural southern boundary of
Connecticut is the sound and ocean, together
with our adjacent islands, and that Long
Island Sound is high sea, and not inland water,
and should be preserved for the benefit of all
the people of the State; also that our proper
western boundary is the nearly straight line
proposed by the commissioners of 1860, that
our ancient rights and possessions should not
now be surrendered up without struggle.
We have not overlooked and do not under
value our important oyster fisheries. The
fullest protection should be given to them
which is consistent with the common rights
of fishery which belong to our people. But it
seems to us totally unnecessary, in order to
advance those interests, that Connecticut
should quietly yield up her ancient rights by
land and by sea.
In conclusion we recommend that the sub
ject be continued to the next General Assem-
bly,, that resolution be passed declaring that
Connecticut is willing to treat upon fair terms
for such boundaries as we have above indica-
ted. If this proposition be declined, we rec
omnend that Connecticut proceed to obtain q
trial of her cause now pending before the Su-
preme Court of the United States.
John Burns petition for release from the
State prison was heard before the Legislative
Committee on State Prison, Thursday, Judge
Bronson conducting the hearing. Senator
Smith, Hoadley B. ives, Representative Rob-
| ertson, Alderman Chase, ex-Commissioner
Donnelly, Fire Marshal Kennedy, SeIectman
Forbes of East Haven, and Messrs. Eagan
and Kelly of Fair Haven appeared in his be-
half. He was accused of setting fire to a
house in Fillmore street Between seven hun
dred and eight hundred people, including ex-
Governor English, signed the petition. The
State Prison Committee reported favorably
on it yesterday morning.
Representatives Robertson and Norris Of
New Haven, and John Fl. Brocklesby, of
Hartford, appeared before the Educational
Committee, on Thursday, in opposition to the
bill providing for county examiners of teach
ers, as proposed by the State Council of Edu-
cation. Secretary Northrop spoke in favor of
the bill, the main feature of which is to place
the examination of teachers for places in the
public schools in the hands ola county board.
The New Haven Representatives insisted that
the bill be amended so as not to apply to
cities.
Ex-Gov. Hubbard appeared before the Com
mittee on Humane Institutions yesterday af-
ternoon and discussed briefly the subject of
increased accommodations for the insane poor
of the State. He was proud of the State when
he saw how much had been done for unfortu-
mates. He made manly, able address in IA
vor of enlarging the accommodations at the
present hospital at Middletown as the best
economy and wisest course in every sense.