Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-30
LIVELY LEGISLATION.

HARTFORD, Conn.,, Jan 29. Especial Correspondence of the JOURNAL AND CoUF' There is premonition about the Capitol to- day that Governor Bulkeley will send in some important appointments this week and that the assembly will be asked to confirm a I judge or two before the adjournment. Gov ernor Bulkeley himself preserves sphinx like silence on the subject, but it is generally ! believed that Senator John NJ. Hall, of Will
 limantic, will be named for Superior court | judgeship.
 The principal interest to-day was cen- tered in the hearing of the committee on con 1 tested elections on the application of w. B. Hubbell to be given the senatorial seat from the Thirteenth district, which is occupied by Senator Lyman S. Catlin, the Bridgeport banker.
 There is no doubt that Senator Catlin was elected and if there was not @ far more i'm portant matter at stake the petition of MT Hubbell would not have appeared in all probability.
 The hearing was held at o'clock in the Senate anti-room. Judge DeForest, of Bridge port, appeared for the petitioner and "Sam'
 Fessenden, of Stamford, for Senator Cstlin, whose district is in the Fourth Congressional district. When Manager Barnum's managers discovered that Hon. Frank Miles had beaten the Democratic candidate for Congress by fl votes only, and also realized how important it would be to secure another Democratic Congressman to organize the next House, they at once discovered that there had been an error in the court at Vest port by which Senator Catlin's majority of 6s would be wiped out. The great end of course is to change the congress sional vote and elect Seymour if they can get the committee to open the Westport box, which has stood in Democratic politicians possession in Westport without the proper seals for some time. In view of this state of aff airs there is not much doubt but that the box would now show big change.
 The first witness heard was John W. Hurl- burt, the Democratic registrar of Westport, who testified that he counted the votes and discovered no mistake, although he thought the Republican vote was very big. The most convenient witness for the petitioner was John w. Gorham, Democratic ticket ped Ter, who works on election days for the good of his country and little Democratic money. Mir. Gorham swore that during the count he saw package of AZ ballots called oil for Hanson, and as it was laid down he caught a glimpse of the bottom ticket, which was Democratic he thought. He therefore be- lieves that 42 votes were given the Republican which they were not entitled to. On cross- examination by MT. Fessenden witness could not give any better reason for not calling the attention of somebody to the mistake thar that he was afraid the moderator, who wal hall. The hearing will continue several day probably. A NOVEL DIVORCE COURT. Another interesting hearing was held by the judiciary committee in the Supreme court chamber this afternoon. The petition for g divorce of George NJ. Beard of Milford was considered. MT. Beard's wife is insane, which is not cause for courts to grant divorces upon and only the legislature can. Mrs Beard's father, an old gentleman named Wheeler, is worth about S10,000 and is will ing to care for hiE daughter, who now lives with himself and aged wife. The petitioner seeks to avoid the responsibility and expense of her care. The judiciary committee ques ftssf teb bp property which Mrs. Beard wifi sooh fall heir to on her aged parents death and who will care for her. Nil. Wheeler, Mir. Beard and several members of the family were heard. Dr. Coggswell of Stratford testified that the lady was insane, but her bodily health very good. She has been in the in sane asylum. The committee reserved it's report.
 THE RAILROAD FIGHT CONTINUED.
 The railroad commissioner office was packed with gentlemen this afternoon at the hour announced for the resume of the hear ing on the petition of the Housatonic road for charter to parallel the Consolidated by the removal of it's charter limitations regard ing ten mile branches. Messrs. Starbuck and Stevenson of the petitioners were pres ent to be examined, and President Clark of the Consolidated was also on hand. On &C., count of the sickness and absence of Senator Graham, the chairman, the hearing was post poned for a week.
 Attorney William c. Case appeared to-day as additional counsel for the Housatonio syn dicate.
 JUDGE THoMPseN's CLOSE SHAVE.
 The long and hard fought contest for the assistant judgeship of the New Haven City court eliminated at Hartford to-day. A number of prominent New Haven politicians were present in the interests of both candi- dates, among them being Hugh Daley and W. P. Niles.
 The caucus was called together after ad- journment of the House by Dr. Chapin ot Meriden. Senator Graham was absent. The caucus immediately voted to go into execu- tive session, one member voting for the motion and none against it. AS predicted in the COURIER last week, the contest was much clOs6T IQdn u&u D6Su RcuoIdAly oApCClOd, sO close, in fact, that the first formal ballot re- suited in tie. There WAS no walk-over as uninformed politicians had predicted. The first business was the nomination of judge for the court. Dwight M. Futile made 8 strong speech in favor of Judge Rufus $. Pickett, and as there was no opposition to his appointment he was nominated by acclama- tion, and the desks were cleared for the struggle.
 Dwight Tuttle of East Haven presented the name of Hon. James Thompson of East Ha- ven, the present incumbent.
 MT. Bryant of West Haven made an im- passioned speech in favor of Edward L. Linsley, speech, which, coming as it did from clergyman, would naturally have con- siderable effect MT. Bryant said that at the outset he was of the opinion that Judge Thompson should be retained, but he had been led to modify his opinion to the extent of deem1ng it his duty to closely investigate the matter, and had spent much time in closely examin- ing the fight in New Haven. He had become convinced by this investigation that it was his conscientious duty to vote for MT. Linds- ley. The reasons why he was moved to this course he did not care to state to public convention.
 The caucus proceeded to an informal bal- lot, which gave Judge Thompson and Mir. Lindsley 2 votes, Dr. Chapin of Meriden not voting The next ballot Dr. Chapin voted and both candidates received votes The second formal ballot gave Judge Thompson g votes and Mir. Lindsley 2, electing the forms CT. The ballot was made unanimous.
 It will always be mystery which one of MT. Lindsley's eight supporters on the first formal ballot bolted to Judge Thomp- son on the second, but there is suspicion that it was rep resentative who had promised both candidates to vote for them, and in this manner fulfilled his promise.
 INDUSTRIOUS REPRESENTATIVES,.
 In the absence of Speaker Perry, Frank Hyde, of Hartford, called the House to order and presided. One of the first things pre- cipitated upon the members was the petition of Luzon B. Morris and thirty-nine other Democrats for the appointment of Attorney Burton Mansfield as assistant judge of the New Haven City court.
 Representative Wolf called for the read ing of the petition. The claim made for MT. Mansfield is somewhat unique in politics. The bill was read as follows:
 To the Honorable General Assembly:
 We, the undersigned members of the New Ha- ven bar, believing that only citizens of New Ha- ven should be judges of the City court of New Ha- ven, and further believing that justice to the Dem fatic majority of the city and to the city iudci-