Morning journal and courier., 1884-03-14
The General Assembly.

More Hartford and Harlem-The Wash fngtOn Bridge Question SettIed-yVest River StrafghtenIng Not Yet Decided Upon-OIher Matters of Interest to the General Public.
 HARTFORD, March 13 Special Correspondence of the JOURNAL AND COURIER Matters pertaining to Hartford and Harlem railroad matters made lively work in both houses to-day. As will be seen by the an- nexed summary the Senate was not disposed to recognize the legality of the organization of the road while the question was pending before the courts but the House took a direct ly opposite view In the Senate MT. Yale was the champion of the amendment to the resolution regarding the change of line of the road in the town of Hamden, and al- though Mir. Scofeld eloquently urged the rejection of the amendment, yet it passed by 8 vote of 2 to l. This would lead one to believe that the Hartford and Harlem has but little show of recognition in the Senate until it's status is recognized by the courts. In the House MT. Law, of New Haven, made B brilliant fight for the Hartford and Harlem, Case, of Granby, in opposition, succeeded in carrying his point by small majority. There is no doubt, however, that when the resolu- ton reaches the Senate it will be unceremo7 niously set down upon.
 Before the Committee on Railroads and Bridges this afternoon there was final hearing on the resolution making Washington | bridge free passway and requiring the counties of New Haven and Fairfield to keep | it in repair.
 Hobart L. Hotchkiss appeared before the committee to advocate the resolution. He | claimed that when thera were bridges unit ing two counties, they should jointly share the expense of maintaining them. He said that the cost to New Haven county for maintaining this bridge would not be over $500 or $500, and it was picayune matter for a community that pays a million dollars in taxes.
 Ex-Governor English asked to be heard at this time. He said it was the seventy anniversary of his birth and he desired to return to New Haven as speedily as possible. The Governor said that this bridge matter was special legislation and it had been before the Legislature before and been voted down. The idea that New Haven should share in the care of this bridge was preposterous. It was enough for New Haven to take care of her own bridges. He said it was monstrous fol Milford to come before this Legislature and ask that New Haven be compelled to helr build this bridge. He said it was principle with him. If the door was opened in this l case there would be hundreds of others con- ing in and asking for the same thing. He said New Haven would finally have to re- build Tomiinson's bridge at a cost of $10O,- 900 or more, but they would never come to the Legislature and ask the county to helr pay for it. He said this was the entering wedge and if the Legislature passed the bill there would be no end to such legislation The Governor said he was opposed to put 1 ting the work into the hands of the county commissioners. He believed that every toWI in the State should care for its own high ways. The towns in other States did not asl other towns in the county to pay for thei bridges or help pay for them. He said h. was opposed to breaking up town govern ments and the proposed bill tended to this.
 Benjamin R. English, president of tn New Haven Board of Selectmen, stated tha his town objected to being taxed for thi bridge. He said that New Haven did no care whether there was any highway wher this bridge is located or not. They did no care if it tumbled down.
 Selectman Feldman expressed himself sim ilarly to Mr. English. He said that Nev Haven should no more help pay for thi bridge than should other towns in the county help pay for rebuilding Tomlinson's bridge.
 Representative Noble, of Bridgeport. saiG that this was bridge between two counties over a navigable stream, and it was mol analogous to the erection of bridges be tween two towns. He thought it was ar outrage for these two small towns to main tain and support this bridge.
 Lawyer c. .Driscoll made forcible speech against the passage of the resolution anc seemed to carry the committee with him il his argument. After all the parties in inter est had expressed their opinions the com mittee went into executive session and later stated that they had voted to recommend that the matter be continued to the next General Assembly.
 The Committee on Education announced this afternoon that they had concluded all the business before them. Thsy have con. sidered forty bills, ten of which they have | recommended.
 Senator Barrows, of the Committee on Cities and Boroughs, stated to-day that the committee would not reach decision on the bill for strsightenuing West river until next week. The delay is caused by the illness ot MT. Hubbard of Hartford, chairman of the committee on the part of the House.
 The ''short haul' bill was before the Railroad committee this afternoon, the hear ing being in Representatives hall. There was quite large attendance of representatives and others.
 Following is a summary of the business transacted in the Senate and House to day SENATE.
 The Senate was called to order at 1O:SO o'clock by | Lieutenant Governor Sumner Prayer was offered
 The Senate ooncurred with the House in rejecting the petition for voting districts in the town nRton and in continuing to the next session of the the 6 reggns Fnpa ire n b meet losses from extraordinary coIfsgrations
 appointed by resolution to make nominations to fill | vacancies on the board of pardons.
 thorizing the town of Seymour to issue $4O.OO0 in bonds to build school house and fund the debt and \ 1t passed
 | Committee reports were received as follows: | Incorporati6ns. Mir. Maltbie Favorable on amend the charter of the New Britain Institute to allow | an income from invested property not to exceed | $l5OO0.
 Temperance Mr. Clark, of the Second Unfavora b!e bill that ''every person" shall be liable fol violating the license law.
 Judiciary Mir. Scofeld-Favorabe on bill that ir towns not divided into voting districts the place | voting may be determined by maj ority of those present at any town meeting warned for that pur | poss
 | Roads and Bridges, Mir. DeForest-Unfavorabl on the resolution allowing William P. Abendroath to i'll land Byram river; also unfGvorabls, aftel recommittal, the petition of George Tyson fol leave to build dock.
 MT. s oisld said that before proceeding to natter on the calendar be desired to make motion. In thu vote ssed yesterday remitting the of Con necticut Valley road he was in the majority vote Since casting that vote he had made 8 fuIIe investigation of the resolution and wss convinced that he voted wroDg If the resolution again dis cussed he had doubt the vote of yesterday would be changed. he, therefore, moved to reconsider
 MT. Maltbie moved to table the motion, and th, | vote was Il to 10 against.
 | On the motion of Mir. scofeld the yeas and nay