Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-07
SINGLE COPIES TWO CENTS
Friday, March 2, 1884.
The General Assembly.

The General Assembly.
 Governor Waller Goes Home to Take a
 Rest-PrObabIe Publication of COrre-
 spondence Between the Governor and
 "J9dge" BIrdsaII-West River Straight ening-Other Matters of Interest.
 HARTFORD, March 6. Special Correspondence of the JOURNAL AND COURIER There was very little that was exciting in the way of news about the Capitol to day. There waJ more or less talk about the un- pleasantness between Governor Waller and Judge" BirdsalI, and the prevailing opinion among men of all political persuasions is that the Governor has rid himself of trouble some customer. The Governor was ct the Capitol early this morning, but left for his probably not return until next week. It was stated this afternoon on what is considered good authority that the correspondence or the reputed correspondence between Cover nor Waller and MT. Birdsall would be pub Iished in the New Haven Palladium to-mor- row (Friday) morning. The friends of the Governor say that Birdsall dare not publish these priSa letters in his own paper, the Telegram, and so resorted to this method to get them before the public. It will no doubt make interesting g reading, but whether the publication will reflect credit on the Judge" remains to be seen. The correspondence, it is understood, refers in a measure to the as- sistancs given by Judge Birdsall to the Waller boom, to mutual friendship and CO., operation in endeavoring to gst ths sinews of war to conduct the campaign which re- suited in the election of the Governor, and the later portion to fancisd or real griev- ances and disappointments ofithe ''Judge" based on the ground of unrequited services and want of recognition.
 The hearing regarding the straightening of West river was concluded before the Con- mittee on Cities and Boroughs this afternoon. At the opening some rebuttal evidence was introduced, Mir. J. B. Sargent and Engineer Hill appearing as witnesses. Mir. Hill placed before the committee 8 sample of the clay from the banks of the present straigatening of West river which showed good deal of vegetable matter which the engineer said would be impervious to the flow of water through it.
 J. B. Sargent also testified in rebuttal, showing by his evidence that the proposed automatic tide gates would carry off all the spring water from the old channel.
 Mayor Henry G. Lewis said, that he did recommend in his annual message that the sewers in the western part of the city be | emptied into West river below the present tide gates as a temporary measure or until the boulevard sewer could be built.
 Tbe opening argument was made by Mir Driscoll. He said the purpose of this straightening was for the benefit of tho public health of New Haven including the Beaver ponds and the West meadows. He said if the river was strengthened it would only have one-half the distance to go and | twice the volume of water or more could be discharged through the tide gates at Congress l avenue. The draining of the meadows, he said, would be absolutely perfect if the river was made straight and free coarse was given to the outflow of water. MT. Driscol said no one doubted the necessity of the SC vel l and in order to carry out the proposed plan it was absolutely necessary that the river should bS straightened. He thought the req
 opposition from the town of Orange came
 from the idea that it was going ts be bill ot expense to them. He said there was no dis
 position to ipjurs the town of Orange and there ought not to be. But the town ot
 Orange objected to everything in the way ot l Improvement in this line for fear that il ] would cost them a few dollars.
 John ". filling followed in an argument
 for the town of Orange and in opposition to the proposed straightening. In his opsning
 MT. Aling claimed that change of Senator | ial districts could not be made except in Sen atorial years. It made no difference whether it was a change in land or population. He | claimed that no city or town had the right tc appropriate money that was 10 benefit pri. vate property and this is inst what the peti. tioners proposed to do. The scheme to i'm | prove the river for commercial or manufac ! turing purposes was not to be thought of fol a moment, as everybody would be dead before this scheme is carried out, and it probably nevor would be consummated.
 The closing argument was made by Mir l Driscoll and the committee then took the papers, reserving their decision.
 There was farther hearing before the | Committee on Fisheries this afternoon, and I several matters were considered. It was an nounced after the committee adjourned that they had decidrd to report adversely on the bill providing for an appropriation from the State to secure the destruction of star-fish on 1 private oyster beds, and also on two substi- tutes for this bill. Also adverse to the bill authorizing dredging on public oyster beds. l Also adverse to the bill authorizing a second committee to adjudicate concerning the lOca- | tion of natural oyster beds after one commit 1 tee had rendered a decision. This is practically victory for Henry C. Rowe of Fair Haven, and the State Oyster Growers association, who opposed these measures. The bills were favored by Mir. Bell, of Nor walk, who is an extensive oyster grower.
 Hon. Francis WaSland was before the Committee on State Prison to. day to advocate an appropriation for the enlargement of the prison to accommodate the rapidly increasing number of prisoners. It is likely that au appropriation will be made, as it seems sbso- lutely necessary under the circumstances Following is g summary of the business l transacted in the Senate and House to day. THE SENATE.
 The Senate called to order at 10 30 o'clock. Prayer offered by Chaplain Taylor.
 MT. Soofield intr> duced a resolution requesting our Senators and members of Copgress to their influence should they deem 1t proper, to procure the passage of act granting pensions to those in0 soldiers and sailors prisoners of the late WAT confined southern prisons. And that the Govsrn- forward the resolui ion to our representatives in Congress. Mr. Scoheld said of the sufferers handed the resolutien to him, End he in formed that a similar had been passed in the Ohio legislature Thess soldiers had been unable to present their claim penion from the nature of ths case; They could rot procure record Of their Rufferings, and only their own personal appearance exhibited it. These soldiers suffered in Libby, An l 6ersonville and other southern prisons Their sufTerngs impaired thoirN constitution and to many brought premature breaking down of general