Morning journal and courier., 1883-03-21
anrruaI xra Gpurier.
March 21, 1888.
The General Assembly.

The General Assembly.
 Capitol-But Few Committees i'm ses-
 sfon-FinaI Hearing on the License Law
 --Railroad Matters.
 HARTFORD, March 20, 1883. Special correspondence of the JOURNAL AND COURIER
 To-day began another weeks session of the General Assembly, and, as usual, on the opening day of the week there was g small attendance. When the Senate was called to order not more than half the Senators were in their places, and there were also a large number of vacant seats in the House. The business however, proceeded as usual, and before adjournment several bills on the cal endar were disposed of; mostly of an unin- portant character. In the Senate the more important bills on the calendar were tabled for future consideration.
 This afternoon there were few commit tees in session. The Committee on Temper ance listened to remarks from Hon. Francis Wayland and President Noah Porter of Yale college, who appeared in opposition to Rep- resentatiye Perrys bill, which practically proposes a repeal of the present license law and the substitution of more liberal law in it's stead Both of the above gentlemen op- posed any change in the present law, which ! they said was much more liberal than the H. cense laws of many other States. The com mittee will have their final hearing on the various amendments to the license law to-
 morrow, and they will probably be able to ! submit their report some time during the present week.
 The Committee on Railroads were in session this afternoon in regard to the proposed bill regulating or preventing the crossing of high ways by railroads at grade.
 The Finance committee had another hear ing on the bill which provides for taxing railroads on their gross earnings. Ex Judge Birdsall of Westport, was present to cham pion thomeasure, while Hon. Lynde Harri- son looked out for the interests of the rail roads.
 tomorrow both branches will come to- gether earlier in the day and the work of the week will commence in earnest. Following is the business transacted in the Senate and House to-day.
 The Senate. The Senate was called to order at 12:30 p. m. by Lieutenant Governor Sumner. Prayer was OU0f6O Dy Oudpldlu The Committee on State Prison reported unfavorably on the petition of Charles E. Upton to be released from prison calendar.
 Bills on the calendar were disposed of as follows:
 Act authorizing the commissioners of shell fisheries to take upon ten years leases plots of ground as they may deem necessary, for the constructing and maintaining of signals beacons, bound stones, posts or buoys to be used in desigt ating, locating and surveying shell fish grounds. The penalty for injury to these signals is fixed at not less than $7 nor more than $10O, or by Imprisonment not less than ten days nor more than ninety days, or both; passed.
 Bill relating to shell fisheries. MT. Gilbert explained that the bill provides that the con- missioners of shell fisheries may appoint two or more shell fish wardens to assist in de- tecting and prosecuting offences against the shell fishery laws, who shall receive the same fees as are paid grand jurors passed.
 Bill relating to the annual returns of rail road companies Mir. Elton said that the act provided that the annual returns of rail roads shall be made on or before the 18th of November, and that the railroad commission CTS shall make their report to the General Assembly not later than the fourth week of the session. The bill passed. Act authorizing redemption of State bonds. MT. Baker explained the bill It authorizes the issuing of coupon bonds of the State to the amount of $1,O0O,00e, to bear interest from the first day of January, 1884, at 33 per centum, payable January l, 1903. The bill further empowers the treasurer, with the < advice of the governor, to establish sinking J fund.- provided the amount expended for such
 account shall not exceed $20O, ,000 per year. i The bill passed.
 Resolution appropriating $25, ,OOO towards \ the deficiency of the school fund. Mir. Yale
 explained that the fund had been impaired 8 $1O0, ,0OO through losses upon real estate M loans, and the committee were in favor of
 making this sum good, but thought it better
 to have it done from time to time, and so had Y reported an appropriation of $25, ,000 for this year. The resolution passed. II Bill authorizing the city of Waterbury to H issue bonds for sewerage purposes to an
 amount not exceeding $1OO, GOO, which bonds
 shall be denominated the sewerage bonds of x the city of Waterbury, and shall be exempt r from taxation by any town, city or school
 district in the State, and shall bear interest
 at rate not exceeding four per cent. per
 annum. MT. Colt moved to strike out the
 words exempting the bonds from taxation. The amendment was accepted and the bill as amended passed.
 l Resolution validating and giving effect to last will of Johnson Heinrich Schulte. MT. Scofield explained that Schulte was the man murdered some years ago in South Norwalk, and this resolution was to validate his will made at Hagen in Westphalia. and effecting the title to some eight acres of land in the | town of Norwalk. The resolution psssed.
 Resolution authorizing the town of South z ington to subscribe to the capital stock of the Southington Water company but the same ' shall not go into effect until it has been ac- I cepted by the town; passed. | i Bill appropriating $2.5O week for the support of each boy committed to the State Reform school MT. Sturtevant said the State paid $2 last year. The bill passed. At 1:45 the Senate adjourned until We'd nesday morning at 10:30 o'clock.