Morning journal and courier., 1889-03-08
TWO IMPORTANT MEASURES.

TWO IWPOEsTANT MEASURES. Hearings Begun AZ the Capitol On Ballot Reform and tho Abolition of Grade aIlroad Commfs- atoners Reappointed-ssJoe. Bar bour opposes she ProhibieorY AmendmeHt-Speake Perry To Be Judge.
 HARTFORD, March 2. Isnecial Correspondence of the JOURNAL AND CoUR- IER.1
 Senator John M. Hall made one of the best speeches heard in the senate for years. At it's conclusion the senator was congratulated by friends and ladies present. The senator had tussle with Senator Cleveland on the bill to compel assessments of damages by iury after defaults or demurrers overruled, when either party asked for it. At present the law is that, when defendants, default cases, the judges hold the hearing in dam ages. This bill was reported unfayoraoiy by the judiciary committee, but the House passed it after lots of talks about our judges being the creatures and servants of corpora tions. Senator Cleveland favored the bill and made one of his characteristic speeches in behalf of the people whom he said were crying for the jury and were ground down by the corporations. Senator Hall reviewed existing law and explained that it iury only where defendant confessed his liability and asked the judge to assess the amount. The judge, the senator maintained, was far better qualified to do this duty which involved @ great amount of fine law points, like ''contributory" negligence, etc., than any jury.
 He also called attention to the present character of juries, some of whom were gen erally "seen" in all cases, and especially as utter ignorance had become to be the essen- tial qualification for jury service. It was not corporations that were likely to suffer from a repeal of the law, but towns and cities and individuals as we'll. Senator Hall quoted from Chief Justice Swift and Judge Ship, man, both of which noted jurists favor the existing law. He concluded by calling at- tention to the glaring cases of injustice which might occur under the proposed law on account of shyster lawyers who took &C., cident cases against defendants of means on speculation for part ot what they might recover, and by stating that before the judiciary committee only one person, the drafter of the bill, had ap- peared in it's favor, while the most prominent lawyers from New Haven, Hartford, Water bury and all over the State opposed the bill and Representative Hyde of Hartford,a a mem- Der of the judiciary, had voted against the bill. This law had been in existence nearly two hundred years and had stood the test. Upon the vote only two voices besides Sena- tor Cleveland's were heard in favor ot the bill, which was defeated by an overwhelming majority.
 RAILROAD COMMISSION.
 Governor Bulkeley sent in the names of Commissioners George NJ. Woodruff of Liteh- field and W. H. Hayward of Colchester for reappointment as railroad commissioners. MT. Woodruff was appointed by Governor Ingersoll in 1874 and is the oldest railroad commissioner in point of service in the coun' try. MT. Hayward was appointed by Gover- nor Andrews in 1880.
 COMMITTEE REPORTS.
 The committee on appropriations sent in 8 favorable report on the bill to appropriate $2O, GOO for the burial of soldiers. The com mittee reported and the House passed the resolution of Speaker Perry concerning the lobby. Hereafter any person desiring tc speak to a member during the sessions of the House must send word to him by the mes senger and remain at the door unless invited to enter by the member addressed. A favora ble report from the committee on temper ance was received, providing for the closing of saloons at 12 m. on the night preceding elections and e. n. on the following morn- ings.
 Mr. O'Neips bill taxing savings banks de- posits was rejected.
 THE SPEAKER TO JUDGE.
 The Fairfield county Republican caucus this morning nominated Speaker Perry tc the judgeship of the Court of Common Pleas vacated by Judge Halls promotion. The other candidate was Howard Scott, oi Brewster & Scott, Danbury.
 CONCERNING NEW HAvENERs.
 Thomas H. Sullivan and several other well known New Haven citizens appeared in behalf of the petition of the Emerald Guard for loan of State muskets. They visited Governor BulkeIey and were much pleased with the result of the visit.
 Gen. Frank D. Sloat and other veterans o1 the 27th Conn. Vols. appeared before the military committee in behalf of an appropri- ation of $500 for memorial tablet at Get tyshurg.
 Ex-Governor English appeared before the finance committee in opposition to the bil to tax express companies. He represented the Adams Express Go.
 GRADE CROSSINGS.
 The railroad committee opened their hear lHSe OA HI Luo SIhuC CIOsSluR DlliS III LQ' commissioners office this afternoon. A larg, audience was assembled there. The first bil considered was that of Representative Ham mer, of Branford, which provides that here after when any grade crossings are abolished the entire expense of the work shall be borl by the railroad companies themselves. Mir Hammer spoke in favor of the bill. He sait that it was a rather humorous situation fo A IL 11- G. F. when so much time had been spent by tn railroads in asking legislation entirely fo their own benefit. The ablest lawyers in tk country had been here in the interests o these railroads, asking for more power whil we as the people protest short time az the editor of a certain newspaper roundl, berated the people of Fairfield county be to the charity fund of the Con- solidated road in this matter "From a letter learn," said MT. Hammer "that this editor said that the reason for thi action wassbecause he was beholden to thu Consolidated road, and l think this sam' reason explains many of the press comments that are floating about the capitol. Th' present method of removing crossing is fc1 the commissioners to visit the place, stean away in private car with the railroad off cers and in few days they order just wha the railroad wanted and big, ungainly pil' of dirt rises for bridge over the highway which destroys the landscape and for whict the town soon has to pay half. It has seemed that previous legislation on this matter hal been indifferent to everything but the inter ests of the railroads. Now is it not the rail roads chief interest to abolish the grade crossingsi We have a magnificent railroad in Connecticut, which seeks to keep abreas of the greatest progress in speed and com. fort. Now to make the fastest time safely they must not have any grade crossings And does not the public already pay for these improvements in fares and freights