Morning journal and courier., 1889-03-22
A LIVELY HEARING.

Henry O. Rowe and Engineer Bogart
 of the She'll Fish Commission Have
 Sharp Spat over the Fight to Abolish
 the COmmIssion-SWift's Petition Fa-
 vOrabIy Reported-Other Legislative
 Doings.
 HARTFORD, Conn.,, March 21. Especial Correspondence of the JOURNAL AND
 CoURIER.l
 The sensation at the Capitol to- day was the report of the judiciary committee on Mur- derer Swift's petition for a communication of sentence. The house adjourned at 12:30, but the Senate still held on and somehow the re- port began to be circulated in the corridors that the Swift report would come in. Grad- ually the senate chamber began to fill until there was dense jam there at 8 few minutes before 1, when Clerk McConville caused a sensation by opening a paper and reading: "Report of the judiciary committee on the petition of John H. Swift" Among the oc- cupants was the murderer's faithful sister, whose almost superhuman efforts will proba- bly save his neck from the gallows. The girl whose simple and pathetic tale, modestly told, has been poured into the lips of every member of the General Assembly with de- votion worthy of nobler cause than mur- derer's life did not during the long reading of the report, which revealed not it's effect until the conclusion, exhibit the slightest signs of excitement or suspense. She sat with the air of one who feels that she has done all that human means can do, and calmly awaited the result
 The report of the committee, signed by it's eight members, first set forth in substance that the act of Swift was committed while he was suffering delirium tremens and incapable of that reconciliation constituting murder in the first degree. After other less important premises it closed by recommending the pas- sage of an order committing Swift's death sentence to imprisonment for life. Senator Fuller moved that the bill be ta- bled for printing. Senator Graham said he believed all the senators were prepared to vote on the bill now. Senator Coffin dis sented, and said the matter called for the most careful del1beration. It was voted to table the report for printing in the senate journal There is no doubt but that the sen- ate will accept the report It is trying place for legislators The hearts of all prompt them to vote as Miss Swift pleads, while the mind cautions them to hesitate before over- ruling the deliberations of the court. Many of the members say that if they could avoid voting they would, but as they cannot they shall vote to grant the girls prayer. The follows:
 who presided at the trial of Swift when he said af-
 e sf h sheTn that ss to ms na y should have brought in verdict of murder in the second degree.'
 MT. Hickox, of Litchfeld, is the only member of the committee who did not sign the report. He will give his reasons when the matter is argued in the House. OPPOSING STOCKHOLDERS. The railroad committee did not hear the petition of the Hartford and Connecticut Western railroad for $2,0OO,OOO increase of stock as assigned. Lawyer Gale, of Hart ford. appeared, representing dissatisfied stockholders who were opposed to the scheme of the so-cslled Philadelphia management and wanted delay to oppose. which was granted.
 THE JUDICIARY.
 The lawmaking committee of the House had an executive session and voted to report unfavorably upon the bills prohibiting bon- fires, providing that five per cent. of license money shall go to the New Haven Police Re- serve fund, and that accused shall have closing arguments in libel cases. TEMPERANCE HEARING.
 Before the committee on Temperance this afternoon Dr. Chapin of Meriden advocated the ''Crosby law bili," preventing screens, curtains, etc., in saloons. A letter favoring the bill was read from Professor Wayland of New Haven. Edward Mccarthy and N. w. Kendall of New Haven saw no objection to this bill, but thought that druggists should not be exempted from it's provisions. R. E. Holmes, of Winsted, appeared in favor Of high license bill, raising the fee to s1,000 or $2,000.
 THE SHE'LL FISH HEARING.
 Co AI, oe this commission began to-day. Engineer Bo- gart of the commission was the first witness in favor of it's retention this afternoon. He said in regard to an item of 5000 of ex- penses criticized, that this amount was paid so the United States coast survey, as when he began with the commission it was im- possible to start the work of deep sea sur veys without this aid. He was graduate of Sheffield Scientific school, but this school nor no other can furnish men to do this work without experience. He submitted sum- mary of expenses of the engineers depart ment of the commission since it's establish ment, showing that S37, ,755 B has been ex- pended of which $21 ,406 03 has been for salaries. Engineer Bogart said he felt that his seven years and ten months of service to the State has been an honorable one. He has never drawn over $2, 900 year, which he has earned. MT. Rowe inquired what the object of this evidence was, as nobody had claimed that there was any malfeasance in the office or that the commission did not have items for all it's expenses.
 Mir. Bogart said his principle idea in speak ing, was to do away with the idea that the commission had but one map which cost $37, ,000. Scores of maps have been made of value as establishing records. It is necessary to continue the commission. The commission grants security and protection, without which many men would not put their money into the oyster business. From an inquiring point of view it would be bad thing to have towns manage this work. He did not believe to keep buoy signals, etc., for off shore work and designations of ground. Since June 30, 1887, he had been paid by the day for that service he perform ed. Cross-examined by H. c. Rowe, MT. Bogart denied that in some instances he had changed buoys already set by his engineers. He mad however changed the entire East line of layout in Stratford, changing the layout of MT. Rowes ground there. Being further pressed on this question: Engineer Bogart said that if the buoys had been chang. ed it was for cause. "1 should say no," re- piled Engineer Bogart Subject to right to 
 "If we prove you are wrong," interjected Mr. Rowe.
 "No, sir" exclaimed MT. Bogart, II am not liar, as some people are."
 Upon ruling of Senator Kenney, MT. Bo- yart said that the buoys in the Scho6eld lay put had been changed after they had been once decided upon and set by the commis- sion.
 'Can't you keep your tempera" asked MT. Rowe of the witness. "You show here the very qualities that have made your work failure?"
 Lawyer Maltbie, who appears for the com mission, remarked that MT. Rowe was quite ! censor.
 MT. Rowe replied that Eugene Bogart had IS much as told him he lied, and no man in he State could prevent him from replying lnder such circumstances.
 Witness said that he had once asked Mr. Rowe's advice about parts of his work, but le was free to say that he had not followed ,his advice.
 Lawyer Maltbie and Mr. Rowe had an~ other lively tilt. The lawyer said that MT. Rowe hadn't better get into any personal ! controversy with him.