Morning journal and courier., 1883-02-02
SOurnsl ann GCrrisr.
Friday, Feb. 2. 1888.
The General Assembly.


 The General Assembly. Full Attendance i'm Both Houses-The
 Hartford Railroad Matter Before the
 COmmittee-TheI Irrepressible Goodwin
 Again Appears-Other Matters Of Gem
 eral Interest.
 HARTFORD, Feb. 1, 1883. Special correspondence of the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
 There was full attendance in both houses to-day and the 'sthird'' was quite well repre- sented This is always the case when there are any railroad matters to be discussed be- fore the committee as was the case today. The lobbyists seem to think that there is a bonanza in all railroad matters, hence they hurry to the Capitol when any question of this kind is up for consideration.
 The Railroad committee met at o'clock and commenced the hearing of the Hartford and Harlem railroad matter. s. E. Baldwin, of New Haven, appeared for the petitioners and Gilbert W. Phillips for the New England road and Henry 0. Robinson of Hartford, Lynde Harrison of Guilford, and Samuel Fessenden of Stamford, for the New York, New Haven and Hartford railroad. There were large number of spectators present, | which included Mayor Lewis and others of New Haven. Mir. Baldwin read the pro- posed bill which was an act giving the Hart ford and Harlem and all other railroads power to consolidate with any connecting rail road outside of this State. He said that this had previously been done by special act and what was proposed now was general act. While designed especially for the Hartford and Harlem road, yet he said it was applica- ble to all other roads, as it should be. Hon. Henry O. Robinson said that the State of Connecticut was now practically committed to the consolidation of existing railroads, but it was not committed to the policy of consolidating railroads that only exist on paper. He said that the law of New York only gave power to existing railroads He read from the law in proof of his state 1 ment. Mir. Robinson then suggested few verbal amendments to the proposed bill. MT. Baldwin objected to the striking out of the substantial part of the bill which al lowed roads to be consolidated before they were built.
 Lewis M. Brown, vice president of the Hartford and Harlem road, was called. He said that they proposed to build one hundred miles of road. He said it would be impossi ble to build the railroad on the $5, 900, GOO stock subscribed without mortgages being issued before the road was finished. He said it was absolutely the intention of the cor porators to build the proposed railroad. The Connecticut part of the road would cost $5, 900, 900 and the New York part to the Harlem river $1, 100000. The practical diff ficulty about building the road before con- solidation would be the impossibility of bonding the road from the Connecticut line to New York city. He said that there would be no trouble about getting into New York as there had been old charters purchased which gave them clear title to the right of way. MT. Brown was closely questioned by Mir. Harrison as to the responsibility of the large subscribers to the stock, which he answered promptly. The cross examination was continued at considerable length.
 A few other persons were heard, which ap- parently concluded the hearing, although ar- guments may be heard later.
 The date for the hearing before the Con- mittee on Judiciary on the Plunkett bill vaIi- 1 propriRting 1000 for 8 soldiers monument has been changed to February z.
 Following is the business transacted in the Senate and House today:
 The Senate.
 The Senate met at 1O:3O, Lieutenant Gov ernor Sumner in the chair Prayer was l offered by Chaplain Parker.
 Senator Alsop presented 8 favorable re- ! port of the Committee on Agriculture on the I annual report of the State Board of Agricul- ture. The report was accepted and ordered | on file.
 Resolutions from the House appointing Hiram w. Jacobs, of East Haven, commis- | sioner of New Haven county, and A. P. Brad street, of Thomaston, judge of the district | court of Waterbury, were passed.
 Various matters from the House were acted upon in concurrence.
 New matters of legislation were presented as follows:
 By Senator Yale-Petition in aid of the bill amending the charter of the borough of Wallingford; referred to Committee on Towns and Boroughs.
 By Senator Scofeld-Bill providing that in ! all controversies before the Superior court | between husband and wife as to the custody of minor children of the marriage, the court shall have power to assign the custody of | such children to either parent according to it's best judgment upon the facts of the case and upon such limitations and conditions as | it shall deem proper Judiciary committee. ' Also bill providing that judges of the Supe rior and Common Pleas courts may. in vaca- ton, appoint auditors or committees in any cases proper for such @ reference pending before said courts respectively, upon applica- ton of either party, with reasonable notice to the other party or his counsel; Judiciary. ! Also bill authorizing courts of probate, in making orders for the sale of property, to order the same to be sold at public or private sale at the direction of the person authorized to make such sale; Judiciary.
 By Senator Hills-Bill empowering the railroad commissioners to order any railroad company not to use for switching purposes such portions its tracks which may be across any public street or highway. Should the order be disobeyed penalty of $50 for each day of the offense is provided; referred to Committee on Railroads. Also bill pro vidiDg that no person shall disturb the sur face of any street or highway in the city of Hartford without first giving notice to the board of street commissioners of the city Committee on Cities and Boroughs.
 The resignation of Sherman w. Adams as associate judge of the Hartford city police court was presented by Senator Hills and laid upon the table. ....-
 By Senator Gunn-Bill de annexed school districts in adjoining towns; Committee on
 At 11:1o the Senate adjourned until Friday at 12 m.
 The House.
 The House was called to order at 1O:SO by Speaker Pine; prayer was offered by Chap lain Stone.
 THE GOODWIN.
 MT. Bowman, of South Windsor, intro duced the following memorial from Henry L.. Goodwin, of East Hartford To the House of Representatives of the State
 of Connecticut
 Your memorialist, Henry L. Goodwin, of East Hartford. respectfully prays that the House resolution No. 25 be taken from the , r4 4eaker's table and passed. T., Nour memorialist respectfully represents hat&he is the author of the resolution, and | hat lit was submitted to the House at his re- uestA That inasmuch as it merely called or information he supposed it would be assed without objection; and that. in con equencee, he did not give the member of the Iouse wIao introduced it all the facts in the ase which led to the offering of the resolu- ion, which, were as follows:
 Early in Ehe month of December last your addressed letter to the railroad !