Morning journal and courier., 1886-02-11

Both Houses Bus1ly EngaGed-Gov- ernOr HarrIson,s Annual ReceptfO n
 -Werk of the Com a tte rs of Interest to New Haven and Vieinf- ty-Impertant Hearings fer the Af- ternOon.
 HARTFORD, Feb. 10, 1886. Special to the JOURNAL AND COURIER:
 This has been one of the days in which a
 great deal of business has been disposed of in
 short space of time. With several bills on
 the calendars to be considered and the re-
 ception of various committee reports, both
 houses were kept busy until the noon hour.
 The attraction this afternoon was Govern
 or Harrison's annual reception to the State officers, Senators, Representatives and attaches of both houses which continued from to o'clock. His E1cellency was assisted in re- ceiving by Lieutenant Governor Cooke and Speaker Tibbitts. The callers filed past the Governor, shaking hands and exchanging compliments, and then passed to an adjoin- ing room where fine collation. was served under the direction of Caterer Habenstein n. It was very pleasant social affair.
 At two o'clock this afternoon the Com mittee on New Counties and County Seats, of which Senator Bradley is chairman, heard parties interested in Representative Pigott's postponed bill for changing the congression- al districts so as to make New Haven county one district and turning Middlesex county over to the tender mercies of the Third dis. trict.
 MT. Pigott was the only person from New Haven who appeared in favor of the bill.
 His claim was that the laws of the United
 States required redistricting of congress
 ional districts after every census. That a population of 150,0 was the basis for con gressional district and that New Haven county had more than this number.
 Mr. Carpenter, of Norwich, and Hon. D.
 Ward Northrop, of Middletown, opposed the proposed bill on the ground that the law of the United States was not compulsory and that nothing would be gained by the change. One district would be Democratic and the other Republican the same as now. They also thought that if any change was made Niddlesex county should
 be added to the First district and Holland
 should be transferred to the Third district.
 MT. Northrop thought that when the next apportionpent was made in 1890 that Con- necticut would be cut down to three repre- sentatives in Congress and then would be time enough to redistrict the State. It was thought that the committee would make an adverse report to the proposed measure.
 The Labor committee this afternoon had another hearing on the "secret ballot' bill Among those who appeared in favor of the bill were Judge Birdsall, L. W. Cleveland and J. c. Button of Hartford, Attorney H. c. Baldwin of Naugatuck and MT. Morrison of Enfield. Their arguments were in substance the same as those of other gentlemen given on Tuesday. Tomorrow (Thursday) will hear parties interested in the bill providing for weekly payment of wages, and the bill to prevent the discounting of wages.
 The Committee on Cities and Boroughs heard Representative Pigott, George D. Wat rous, c. T. Driscoll, Burton Mansfield and Mayor Holcomb on the bill authorizing the city of New Haven to establish free public library and to accept the gift of the Young Mems Institute. After the hearing the com mittee voted to recommend the passage of the bill. This committee by request post poned the hearing of the petitions of the New Haven horse railroads to lay double tracks until Wednesday, February 24.
 The Committee on Agriculture gave hear ings this afternoon on the bills to prevent forest fires and to encourage planting forest trees and protecting them after they are planted. J. J. Webb, of Hamden, and oth- CTS appeared in support of the bills.
 The Temperance committee were not in session this afternoon. It is understood, however, that they will report in favor of the 'screen bill' so called, which provides for the removal of all obstructions to full view of barrooms by people passing them on the street.
 The bill providing for the brevet rank of officers on their discharge, next higher than the one they held in the c. N. G. will prob ably be reported adversely. It does not ap- pear to meet with favor among the officers themselves.
 The Committee on Fisheries have decided to report unfayorably on the bill to prevent the catching of cells in the Housatonic river by any other method than hook and line.
 The Committee on Railroads this afternoon considered the bill providing that fares on railroads shall not exceed two cents mile It was the bill introduced by Representative King, of Naugatuck, who was the only one to appear in favor of it. It is not thought that the committee will report in favor of the bill. lThursday) are the following: Bill regarding standard time and resolution appropriating S3, GOO for soldiers monument in St. Der hard cemetery in New Haven. Fisheries Bill regarding taking oysters from Branford and Farm rivers and bill relating to oyster grounds in State jurisdiction. Humane Institutions - Bills regarding contract system in caring for paupers; care of de- pendent children and care of boys after dis l charge from the Reform school. Insurance, Clark's various insurance bills. Judiciary, fees for record of births, and deaths; exemption of wages | from foreign attachment; powers of special l town meetings; for speedy and inexpensive settlement of small estates. Temperance, re- l garding applications for licenses; that sa- oons shall be closed at II p. m.; relating to l prosecuting agents; license of pharmacists. |
 Following is a summary of the business transacted in the Senate and House to-day:
 The Senate. The Senate was called to order at 1O45 by Lieuten Tt Cover nor Cooke Prayer was offered by Chaplain