Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-17
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY,.

COnsolIdatDh Seheme-Before The
 CommitteS Important Hearings
 For TO.tay-The Trial Justice Bill
 Other aatters.
 HARTFORD, February f6, 1886.
 Special tS the JOURNAL AND COURIER.
 This was the twenty first day of the ses-
 sion snd it opened auspiciously There was
 a large attendance of members in the House
 for the first day of the week, but in the Sen
 ate there were number of vacant chairs.
 There was a good deal of dissatisfaction
 expressed by Senators who live in the south
 eru and western portions of the State because
 of the early hour for the meeting of the Senate. They claimed, and with a good deal of truth, that there was no need of the Senate convening before twelve o'clock as they could ordinarily dispose of all the busi ness inside of an hour and be ready to ad- journ for the day. Of the twenty-five reso- lutions and bills on the Senate calendar only one was ready for action. It was explained that this was the fault of the printer in not getting the bills printed. The same expla- nation was given in the House and the clerk was requested to see if the printing could not be hurried up. There is an evident dis POSAbAOLA tion hindered by printers or anybody else, which bodes well for short session.
 This afternoon the Committee on Cities and Boroughs gave another hearing on the bill providing for the consolidation Of the city and town of New Haven. The oPpo- nents of the bill were on hand in full force. Besides New Haven's Board of Selectmen there were present large delegations of prom inent gentlemen from Westville and the An nex Attorney White, the representative of the Taxpayers association, seemed to be left to fight the battle for consolidation almost single handed. He stood up to his work manfully, however, but to a disinterested observer it seemed though he had not much heart in the work and that he had but little hope of success. The first wit ness in opposition was Hon. N. D. Sperry. Jn reply to questions by Professor w. K. Townsend, MT. sperry said: should prefer another bill to the one proposed. So far as town governments are concerned they are the old original goVernment. I am entirely op- posed to forced consolidation of town and city. If people living in the outlying districts are opposed to coming into the city they should not be forced to do so. I think large number in the city are opposed to con solidation. I don't believe in that part of the bill providing for the appointment of assessors and boards of relief by the Mayor, as think those boards should be kept non partisan. I should rather have the town and city government in the hands of six men paid to do the business properly than to have men who are not paid meeting together and passing hurriedly over matters of i'm portaDce. I wish there was some way to get rid of a double-headed government, but l would not fo:ce it.
 In reply to Attorney White, counsel for the petitioners, MT. Sperry said he would not object to the consolidation of town and city if it could be done without force.
 Referring to Tomlinson bridge, MT. Sperry said it ought to be free so people could pass to and from the city without paying toll, He thought toll bridges in city were relic of barbarism.
 Town Agent James Reynolds was next called, and read from manuscript the state ment he had to make and which was printed some days ago. Befors commencing he said the statement he had prepared found it's way into print inadvertently. He then read from his paper showing the plan of conducting business by the se- lectfnen. Also 8 comparison of the methods of the city as compared with those of the town. MT. Reynolds showed that New Haven was one of four towns in the State that paid the lowest tax. While ill other towns the tax was ten, fifteen, twenty and in one case as high as thirty mills on the dollar, New Haven is only taxed four or five mills.
 After MT. Reynolds had concluded his reading, he answered questions asked by Professor Townsend regarding the general management of the town affairs.
 Professor Townsend-Mr. Reynolds, do you as town agent purchase supplies particu larly from men who are of your political faith?
 'No, sir. have always made it rule to most favorable terms and without any regard to politics"
 In reply to another question Mir. Reynolds | said that of the 800 persons receiving town | aid not one lived in the Annex and only three or four in Westville. They were sub all residents of the city
 After Mr. Reynolds had concluded his di- rect he was taken in hand by Lawyer White who proceeded to cross examine him, but nothing of special interest was brought out
 This concluded the hearing for the day and adjournment was taken until to-mor- row Wednesday, afternoon at o'clock. The general feeling seems to be that it is useless for the opponents of the bill to spend so much time over it. as it is generally conced- ed that there is no probability that the com mittee, with the evidence they already have before them, will for a moment think of re- porting favorably on the bill. The anti-con- solidationists say, however, that they want to settle the matter so effectually this year that it won't be brought up again for de- cade.
 The Judiciary committee to-day decided to reopen the heoring on the "trial justice bill, /" so called, so as to give New Haven lawyers and others chance to be heard Tbr1rG is at he
 EX Senator Plunkett was before the Con- mittee Appropriations this afternoon and | advocated the bill providing for an appro- | priation of $3,000 for the erection of sol | diers' monument in St. Bernard's cemetery at | New Haven.
 On account of the illness of one of the In | surance committee no hearing was had to- | day on Representives Clark and Hoyt's bills fire insurance companies. The hearing was postponed until Thursday after noon.
 To morrow the Committee on Appropria- tions will hold another hearing on the bill relating to Standard time." Among other committee hearings tomorrow are the fol lowing:
 Banks-Bill amending law regarding un- claimed deposits in savings banks and other bills of various kinds Humane Institutions Regarding the pollution of streams. Ju- all wages from attach ment and other bills exempting portion of wages from attachment. Labor protection of life and limb in factories: Military Add ing to the Soldiers Hospital board three veteran soldiers.
 Railroads Relating to railroad commis- sioners; locomotive whistles; passenger and freight rates; spark arresters.
 Temperance-Prohibiting of selling cigar cites to boys; amending law regarding licenses to druggists; prohibiting screens in saloons; that petition for town vote on license shall be filed with town clerk:
 Following is a summary of the business in the Senate and House to-day
 The Senate. The Senate called to order at 1O45 by Lieuten ant Governor Cooke Prayer offered by Chaplain Parker Immediately after the opening of the Senate Sen that hereafter all executive sessions of the Senate shall be held with open doors. The Senator said | executive sessions inconsistent with the pres ent progress of legislation. It relic of bar barous age and should be done away with. IT a | turnpike commissioner to be appointed the | reporters and spectators were ordered out and the doors closed. If the chief justice should die to- | the nomination of his successor would be | considered in open session. The resolution was of fered for the consideration of all the Senator's and as there number of absentees, he moved that | the resolution lie upon the table; so ordered. Committee reports were received aS follows: