Morning journal and courier., 1886-05-27
The treasurer concludes his report as fol

1nlS can hardly De cOnS1Q6r6Q report sat- isfactory to the society for whilst the amount due on taxes the past year is not as great as in some former years it shows a steady in- crease since 1883. In the past ten years the least indebtedness was in 1879, amounting to S34. 30; the largest, 1878, $142.20. Last year I reported no return from Litchfeld county, but this was satisfactorily explained,
 and all but $5.4O of the amount due was
 paid before the close of the year. The pres
 ent year, however, finds this county in ar
 rears to the amount above stated; and, save
 Hartford, Holland and Windham, whose
 taxes are always paid in full, there
 is a falling off in the collection
 The deficit, as have stated,
 Tn other reports is not due to negligence on
 the part of the clerks, for I am confident
 they have used the utmost diligence and en-
 deavor to make full returns
 An explanation of this difficulty in collect
 ing will not attempt to give, probably it is
 varied; but am pleased to present sugges-
 tion that may help matters somewhat, viz. :
 That the secretary be empowered to with
 hold the transactions from all members in
 arrears.
 It has also been suggested that all taxes be paid by May 1st and that an additional ten per cent be levied on all taxes not paid at that time. It would be very small return to the clerks for their much tried patience. The society is still in debt to the amount of $397 80, incurred in the publication of the old proceedings. With the balance of cash on hand we shall be un- able to meet this indebtedness and the ex- penses of the current year unless some extra provision is made, which is to be considered in the unfinished business of last year.
 Dr. Moses c. White, from the committee on proposed charter, made report, which included suggestion that @ committee of three be appointed to obtain it's approval by the General Assembly at it's next session. The main changes proposed were as follows:
 1. All physicians and surgeons now mem bers and all who shall hereafter be admitted shall be fellows of the Connecticut Medical society.
 2. In favor of having each annual county meeting appoint a committee corresponding to the former number of fellows charged with the duty of attending to the wishes of their county meeting in the annual meeting of the State society, but that all members present have equal powers to speak and vote at such meetings.
 3. In favor of retaining the power which the society already possesses to grant licenses for the practice of medicine in such rare cases as the society may approve.
 4. In favor of abolishing the old form of collecting taxes by legal process as found in section of the old charter, which form has become odious and obsolete, and which has been suspended by better method fixed in our bylaws.
 Dr. Carmalt moved that the report of the committee be received and the committee discharged.
 Dr. s. G. Hubbard moved to amend by requesting the committee to retire and make some alterations in their report The amendment was lest and Dr. Carmalt's mo- tion prevailed.
 Dr. Carmalt then commenced discussion of the committees report, and spoke in iv, 41 kLa sod changes.
 Dr. Beckwith followed and said at first he was oppos d to the proposed changes, but he had changed his mind and was now in favor of the changes proposed. In the proposition as submitted every member would have the privilege of voting, and he did not see why this was not as it should be.
 Dr. Cassidy, of Norwich, said that it seemed to him that the government of this society was about to be whipped out, that the legislative portion of the body as now constituted was soon to go out of existence. The present system gave the gove ernment in- to the hands of as many as compatible with the interests of the society and it was pro- posed to establish a council of a smaller number for the government of the society. The members of New London county he said were in favor of maintaining the present charter. It had worked well and he believed it would continue so to do.
 pr. Douglass, of New London, said it had been argued that the present system should be maintained on account of its antiquity. He thought that as there were no county medical societies that all the members of this society should be allowed to vote. He said he understood that a majority of New Lon don county members were in favor of a change without regard to what may be said l to the contrary. He thought the proposed change would be manifestly better than the l old methods. He did not see why every | member who wanted to come and vote should | not be allowed to do so.
 Dr. Amy, of Norwich, said he opposed | the change two years ago and he was here to l the new charter meant equal rights to the l larger cities and the reverse to the smaller 1 cities and towns. He thought New Haven | and Hartford counties would be benefited | by the change, while other counties would l suffer thereby. He said it really provided | for star chamber of seventeen members, l and so far as the country members were con- l cerned it was giving away their birthright | and receiving not as much as a mess of pot | ta0e. l
 Dr. Knight, of Hartford, said the last l speaker had struck the key note of the whole l matter. It was evidently change in favor | of the city men bers and in opposition to the | country members. He thought if the coun- | try members wanted the change they should | have it; but it should not be forced upon | them.
 Dr. Moses c. White said every county in | the State had given vote in favor of this | change, great and small. The changes were | not in favor of the city members any more | than country members.
 Dr. Vile of Sandy Hook, said he was here | to oppose the proposed innovation. He said | the country members could not get here every year, and if they were not here all the pity members had to do was to get together and push through any proposition they de- tired. He said you make this into mass meeting and it was everyone for himself and he devil for the whole. For the life of me, Iaid the doctor, I cannot see the benefit that s going to come from the proposed change ,xcept to the large cities
 DE. Dickinson, of Rockville, said that however Windham county may have voted vhen the circular was sent out, there were lot dozen members to-day who were in