Morning journal and courier., 1889-02-20
A GLOOMY CAPITOL.

Senator OIeveland,a Resolution Con- corning the Hartford Horror-Repub- New Haven-The Railroad Hearing Continued To-Day.
 HARTFORD, Conn, Feb. 19. Especial Correspondence of the JOURNAL. AND CouR-
 IER.1
 The Capitol was shreuded in the gloom of the local horror to-day and the legislators moved about with suppressed demeanor. Not until the railroad hearing was well under way, with Colonel Stevenson in the witness box, was the gloom dissipated. Lieutenant Governor Merwin opened the senate with the following touching words: 'sIn the hour Of calamity, let us look to God for comfort and consolidation" Senator Cleveland offered resolution appointing joint committee of senators and representatives to inquire into the disaster and investigate generally, and report by bill or otherwise for the further ance of future public safety. The resolution was passed under suspension of the rules, and also by the house. After considerable discussion the senate voted to print the secret ballot bills. Senator Clark opposed the idea on the ground of ssnseless expense. Senator Fuller, the popular chairman of the corpora
  mittee on manual and roll. He has just issued a neat and elegant letter book con- taining 6 list of all the committees, roll of all the members and other valuable statistics.
 IN TEE HOUSE.
 The principal business in the house to-day was the discussion on the report of the ju- dietary committee on the bill for minority representation of justices of the peace, con- stables, jurors, etc. MT. Graves of Litch- field opposed the bill Several other Demo Hyde of Hartford, who said that the princ1- pie as adopted previously for selectmen, as- sessors, etc, mad worked we'll, and in such offices it did not matter what the officers politics were so long as he did work well. The judiciary report was favorable and the bill was passed by large majority. Here- after half the constables and justices of the peace in New Haven will be Republicans.
 THE JUDICIARY.
 The judiciary committee decided to-day to report unfavorably on the bill to pension judges.
 Judge Demin9, Major Fl. H. Strong, Lieu- tenant Luzerne Luddington and other well known members of the New Haven company of Governors Horse Guards appeared before the committee on military affairs to-day in
 
 for this company for new uniforms. THE RAILROAD HEARING. The great railroad battle was resumed again to-day shortly after 3 o'clock. Col Stevenson, vice president and general mana ger of the Hsusatonic, was on the stand all the afternoon, and his scross-examination was not finished until adjournment. Few new facts of importance were developed and most |nf bA kinoaSw0c hv T01 Ctavano0n ir explaining to the committee his standpoint on various questions with which Attorney Harrison narrowed him over Friday. The colonel by his characteristic remarks created considerable fun for the big audience in attendance. Colonel Steven son said, in reply to question by MT. Harri- son, that if the Housatonio got permission it intended to build road 10 New York over the route of the New York and Connecticut Air Line, which is the route most accepta- ble to them.
 Inquiry was then transferred to the action of the stockholders and directors concerning the recent alleged illegal issue of bonds. Transcripts from the records of the company were produced by Prof. Baldwin, which showed that the action was taken in Septsm- Der, 1887. The resolution was MT. Starbuck's, and Jabez Bostwick was chairman of the stockholders meeting.
 Judge Harrison's examination was then directed to show that ex-President W. H. Barnum discovered that the issue of bonds illegal and that he wanted to have nothing to do with it.
 Witness denied that he had even had any conversation with ex-Senator Barnam at which time the senator had told him he had learned that the bond issue would be alleged. Q. Did Mir. Barnum sign those bondsl
 A. He could not, as he was not then pres |, q lss7s Were not the bonds dated November A. Yes, believe so.
 O.. MT. Barnum did not cease to be press ent until December, some time after, did he. so he had time to sign themi
 A. The bonds were not ready to issue.
 Q. Did MT. Barnum as director take any part in the transaction!
 A. He took part in the mortgage.
 Q. Colonel Stevenson, did not MT. Barnum in fact tell the directors that they had not any right to issue these bonds and mortgages on account of the law of 167Si
 A. Not to my knowledge, but ever since the old management dropped out there has been more or less talk about the law of 1878.
 Colonel Stevenson suggested that he might like to change places with his inquisitor and learn some law in relation to this mat ter.
 Judge Harrison asked him if the Housa- GOQ1C OlFeCEOrB hdu uOL III IAGO uAu B legal opinion as to the illegality of the proceedings which caused MT. Barnum to wash his hands of the whole matter.
 I didn't mean to say it, replied the witt usss, but you have forced me.
 An opinion was sent in by Attorney Nor ris Seymour of Bridgeport, and our people said they wanted the opinion of lawyer. the counsel for the Housatonio for many years.
 A-With yourself yes, judge.
 Q.-Dld he not advise the company that the law of 1878 invalidated the roads privi- leges to isaue such bondsi
 A.-Idid not see the opinion.
 Q.-Mr. Barnum was president shen, was he neti
 Alt was when he had promised to re- sign and had not.
 And now, Colonel Stevenson, said Judge Harrison, since you are so fond of speaking unkindly of the absent, did you not say about two years ago to gentleman:
 You have got the money you don't want to stay in this position all your life or for any length of time.
 have got some friends in New Haven and have got some friends in New York and 1 got a scheme by which we can turn out Old Man Bsrnum and we will make you president and will be vice president and general man ager, and then we will have things our own way.
 Colonel Stevenson was much excited and swore that he did not make such statement and "You know I did not" he shouted at MT. Harrison.
 Did you not say this to MT. Henry A. Bishop, asked Judge Harrison quietly. I did not, said the witness, and he won't say so.
 We shall prove. said Mir. Harrison, by Henry A. Bishop that you did.
 The witness was then cross-examined as to the length of the Derby extension and who paid for it. He replied that the Housatonic road loaned the Derby money to pay for the three miles built by the Derby, and also built 91 miles itself from Botsford to Shel- ton. Some time was then spent on the ques- tion of fares and it was developed that the rate on the Housatonic Is three cents 8 mile and on the Consolidated two cents. Freight rates and other similar matters heretofore considered were also touched upon.
 Do you know, asked MT. Harrison, whether Jabez B0stwick owns most of the stock of the Housatonica
 suppose, said the witness, that he does, like the president of the Standard Oil com rany does the Consolidated.
 Witness afterwards admitted that Presi- dent Rockefeller did not own much more than 2, 1000 of the 150, 900 shares of the road. Colonel Stevenson then made long speech on the matter. When an attempt was made