Litchfield enquirer., 1881-02-10
Legislative.

The most important measure before the Senate, last week, was the bill giving justices power to sentence vagrants to sixty days iu- prisonment and, in case of second conviction, one hundred and twenty days. It was finally recommitted-A bill passed that body re- stricting life insurance loans.-The bill for establishing Waterbury county was referred to the Committee on New Counties. es.-Joseph Sheldon was appointed Judge of the New Ha- ven city court and Lyman Dunning was re- appointed Commissioner of this county number of petitions have been presented from towns proposed to be included in the New Waterbury county for and against the measure. Both Houses have voted Friday sessions. The New Haven county members are to hold special county meeting next week regarding the Waterbury county project. ., @.5..
 Bills, etc., passed both House and Senate requiring $1, 900 bonds of town clerks; and punshing theft from the person with five years in State Prison. Bills passed the House requiring railroad companies to notify rail- road commissioners of acciddnts; and incor- porating the Woman's National Hospital.
 From the bills, petitions, etc., presented we select the following as of apparently special importance for abatement of Housatonic railroad taxes; giving $3 bounty on foxes for incorporation of the Sharon Water Go. by 106 voters of Bridgewater against the re- lease of Charles J. Allen from State Prison abating taxes of Shepaug R. R. Co. provd- ing for inspection of poor houses; requiring towns of this county where tue District Court is held to provide for it's accommodation: ex-- empting husbands interest in wife's property from execution; adding another judge to the judicial force of the Superior Court and pro- yiding that nojudge of that court shall docom- mittee work; increasing punishment of the crime of fornication; giving county comms- siouers $4 8 day and cts mile for travel, each way taking Middesex county from the 2d Congressional District and adding it to the
 Third; restraining lawyers charges; incer- perating the Kent Water O.. incorporating the Seth Thomas Clock O.. with half mil
 lion capital for abolition of the second vot-
 ing district in theitswn of Washington; pun. ishing liquor saloons for keeping open after midnight relating to sales of liquor to minors and drunkards; providing for the holding of The Supreme Court of Errors for Fairfield and the remaining six counties at Hartford; pun lshing bigamy and sale of indecent books and and pictures; providing that after the first term there shall be no taxation of costs for
 constructive attendance of parties in civil
 suits; declaring cider an intoxicating liquor:
 punishing wife-beaters with whipping; abol- ishing capital punishment; offering sympathy
 with Irish patriots: repeating the law author izing the appointment of prosecuting agents.
 The bill proposing the removal of the Su- preme Court from all the other counties to Hartford and New Haven is one of consider able importance. It is of course conven-
 fence to lawyers to try their cases in their own
 counties but in those having as little business to furnish the Supreme Court as this, it is, on the other hand. a good deal to ask of the five judges to come out here for days or two l days session. It would also be great con- veuience to lawyers to have the State Library for reference in trial of Supreme Court cases, l and the more frequent terms of the proposed district would give speedier trials. ,, The Enghsh House of Commons was more disorderly, last week. than any branch of Congress has ever been known to be and the government was only enabled to carry through it's measures by the arbitrary decision of the Speaker who declared the debate closed and put the vote in spite of the determined oppo- siticn of the obstructive minority. All the Home Rulers succeeded in getting themselves named" by the Speaker and temporarily put out of the House. The result s the adoption of resolutions enabling the government to 20 on with business ia spite of obetruction by small minorities. Large mtnorities- such as the regular Opposition loan still retain full power of debate.
 The Blaine notion that it is the duty of this country to build ships which they can buy at
 less cost abroad, seems to us absurd enough.
 The further result of his theory: that not be- ing able to build we shall not be allowed to
 buy, is something more than blunder. It is l crime that has destroyed the carrying trade of the country for want of vessels wherewith