Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1885-03-06

A Calm After Inauguration Day-Dis-
cussfon on the Divorce LaW-The
Proposed Amendment to New Ha.
vents Charter-Judge TOrrancess Con-
firmation-A Caucus to FIJI the Va.
cancy-Other Matters.
HARTFORD, March 5.
Especial to the JOURNAL AND CoUR1RR.l
The pleasant humor and the disposition to
be jolly which was SO apparent among the
Democrats yesterday owing to the inaugura-
ton of President Cleveland, and which fire
quently cropped out in the proceedings in
the House, is changed to day and the mem
bers have settled down again to earnest
work. Most of the time, however, up to the
hour of adjournment, was taken up in the
discussion of the order of the day, which
was Mr.. Swartwout's divorce bill. This bill
is, in fact, almost identical with the New
York State law, being changed only to adapt
it to the code of this State There we're a
number of able speeches made on both sides
of the question and the large vote in favor of
the bill shows that there is a strong sentiment
in the State in favor of more stringent di-
vorce law than the one at present on the stat
ute books. 1t will probably be some time, how
SAAS
only cause for which divorce can be grant
ed in Connecticut.
1t decided by the committee to-day
that the caucus of the New Haven county
Republicans to select judge of the Court of
Common Pleas should be held on Wednes-
day next Immediately after adjournment.
There seems to be no question about Judge
Studley receiving the nomination, and many
think it will be unanimous on the first ballot.
There also appears to be no question about
Judge Deming succeeding Judge Studley on
the City court bench; but who the assistant
judge will be is still in doubt. There are
number of candidates for this position, and
all feel confident of success it is very evident,
however, that only of them can be
elected
The veteran soldiers in the legislature held
meeting this morning and agreed not to
appear before the committee on the bill ex-
empting one thousand dollars of taxable
property of all honorably discharged soldiers
and sailors. The" ground taken was that as
their own interests would be affected in the
passage of the bill, that it was hardly the
proper thing for them to do to advocate it.
This is an honorable position to take, to say
the least, and it is not likely that it will in
any way endanger the passage of the bill.
The Railroad committee this afternoon
gave hearing to parties interested in a bill
which provides that city governments shall
have the power now vested in the railroad
commissioners to order gates and bridges at
railroad crossings transferred to them. As
the law now is the commissioners are the sole
judges of the needs of the public in this re
gard.
The amendment to New Ravens city char
ter was under consideration before the Com
mittee on Cities and Boroughs this afternoon.
The proposed amendment provides for the
repeal of that portion of the charter requir-
ing the election of commissioners of the diff
ferent boards by the Board of Aldermen and
vest the power in the people direct, SO that
shall be elected in the same
manner as other city officers. Among those
who appeared in favor of the bill were
julius G.. Cable Editor Benton of the Palla-
dium, Police Commissioners Hart and Shell
don, R. E. Baldwin, Eynde Harrison and
others. Mr.. Gable managed the hearing on
the part of the petitioners. Judge Harrison
stated to the committee that he had been
with the management of city af
fairs in New Haven for the past twenty
years and that he had never seen better regu-
lations than at present under the n-parti-
san plan of selecting the commissioners. He
was satisfied, he said, that the police force
had never been more efficient than
at present and the same was
true in the other departments.
It seemed to him that the proposed change,
making the election of commissioners by the
people, would give better satisfaction, as
then Republicans in Democratic wards and |
Democrats in Republican wards would have
voice in the matter, and as rule better |
men would be selected to fill these positions. |
The other gentlemen named all spoke in a |
imilar manner, agreeing with Mr.. Harrison |
II the benefits that would accrue if such 1
hange was made.
Corporation Counsel Driscou said to the
ommittee that he had not supposed that the
republicans were really in earnest about this
hange in the charter and had not asked in
tructions from the Court of Common Council
Y should be given him to see what was
wanted of him in the premises. He asked
hat the committee assign another day for
urther hearing.
Representative Troup, of New Haven, took
hand in the discussion at this time and told
he committee plainly what he thought about
t. He said the present amendment would
lo1 hoo Of PoCrhli-
an party had been in the majority in New
Iaven and they never would come to the
legislature and ask for this so-called non
artisan charter. 1 am here, said he, to pro
est against this scheme of Republican poll
cians to get the entire control of the city
overnment into their own hands. Divested
f all cant and hypocrisy the facts ale
nat the Republicans are afraid that the
may sometime get eighteen of the
Aldermen and that they would
hen elect two commissioners, as the law pro-
idesAthat the two commissioners receiving
ne highest number of votes shall be declared
ected. He hoped that if the charter was to
g amended in this way that the rule might
e made to apply to all other cities in the
tate.
After farther discussion the committee
oted to give parties interested another hear
,g next Tuesday afternoon.
Following is a summary of the business
.ansacted in the Senate and House to-day:
The Senate.
The Senate was called to order at 1870 a.
i. by Lieutenant Governor Cooke. Prayer |
as offered by Chaplain Taylor.
Resolution ordering an investigation of the
abroad commissioners doings was tabled on
lotion of Senator Allen.
When the report of the Committee of the |
judiciary favorable to the appointment of |
avid Torrance, judge of the Superior court,
as reached, the rule preventing immediate
elton was suspended on motion of Senator
[altbie and ballot taken. There were no
,marks. The ballot stood: Yes IA; blank,
absent, 5. The resolution was declared
lopted.
The resolution reappointing State Auditors
aw and Raymond came up on disagreeing
ote, the House having insisted upon its sub
tuition of Lake and Gum. Senator Tatem |
loved to recede and concur. Senator Glover |
nended to an insistence and committee Ct
difference. Senator Alsop rose to point of /
rder; Tatem was not in the major vote pre- I
iously and therefore could not move a re- ,