Morning journal and courier., 1889-01-23
THE OLD STATE HOUSE AGAIN.

THE OLD STATE HOUSE AGAIN. The Ever Ubiquitous Question Now
 Reaches Harlford-COuntyO Oaucuses
 and Conventions - Proposed New
 Horse Car and Railroad and Steam-
 boat Lines for New Haven-NeW Ha-
 ven County Caucus-Much Other Leg
 1slation Proposed.
 Especial Correspondence of the JOURNAL AND CoUR-
 HARTFORD, Conn, Jan. 22.-The old State House question, with which New Haven has been unsuocessfully struggling for many years, can be depended upon to raise breeze, even in the wilds of Africa, where it will probably extend some day, when, like Alex ander, it has conquered the civilized worlds. Perenially present, the old State House agi- tation has at last stretched out it's claws, and the golden-domed capitol is now writhing in it's grasp. How long it will agitate the halls of state, no political prophet dares to venture 8 prophecy. Commissioner Jacobs of New Haven county precipitated the question upon the New Haven county representatives meeting to day by report concerning the county's interest in the old State House, which, he said, was characterized by some
 
 and by others as 8 ''ruinous old rattle-trap." Attempts had been made to lease of the com missioners the county's interest in the old State House. The commissioners smelled mouse, believing that the would-be lesses had no use for the building and were setting trap to complicate the local disposition of the question, so they consulted State Attor- ney Doolittle, who advised that the county had not got cents worth of interest in the building. "Without any reflection upon either the friends or enemies of the build ing" concluded Commissioner Jacobs, ''I wish to say that the county has no use for the old State House."
 Representative Wolfe moved that the county cede any interest it had or did not have in the building to the city of New Haven.
 The motion was about to slip through without any argument when Representative O'Neil of Waterbury, who was evidently not Haven's Court of Common Council to deter- mine whether it had any value or not, arose and said he objected to voting away valuable property without any consideration of the matter. Representative Wolfe of New Haven said that the city of New Haven would cheerfully give the old State Honse to any one who would accept it as gift. Senator States disagreed with MT. Wolfe and moved that a committee of three be appointed by the chair to consider the matter. Senator States and Messrs. O'Neil and Wolfe were ap- pointed on this committee.
 OTHER COUNTY BUSINESS.
 Rep1e p1esentative Chapin, of Meriden, was chairman and Senator States secretary of the New Haven county representatives meeting, where the above discussion occurred, imme- diately after the adjournment of the House.
 Hiram Jacobs presented the county com missioners' report for the year and made an important suggestion. Commissioner Jacobs stated that the county's debt had been entire ly extinguished and there is now 8 surplus of about $6,0O0 in the treasury, which he thought should not be allowed to be idle, but advised that the county treasurer be em- powered to make short loans to cities, towns or boroughs in New Haven county, or else in- vested in State bonds.
 After considerable discussion it was voted to adopt the suggestion and empower Treas urer Welch to invest the securities allowed to trust funds with the approval of the county commissioners. An appropriation of $250 was voted to the faculty of the Yale Law school to reimburse them for expendi- lures in fitting the school library in the county court house. Representative Dwight W. Futile and O'Neil of Waterbury were ap- pointed county auditors. The convention then adjourned, subject to the call of the chairman.
 LOTS OF GRlST ID GR1ND.
 The House and Senate convened simultan- eously at one o'clock today and with an energy born of four days vacation the legis- lators flooded the clerks with resolutions. In the Senate Mir. States passed in his con- tribution to the proposed secret ballot legis- lation in the form of 8 voluminous bill. Senator States bill does not differ materially from it's predecessors except that it provides for the perforation of envelope and ballot just previous te depositing in the ballot box.
 Senator Morse introduced another railroad scheme in the form of petition from the 'EMeriden, Waterbury and Connecticut River Railroad company" asking for permis- sion to issue $400, 900 worth of bonds and it's property for this purpose. By of being referred to the railroad committee was referred to the committee on finance. People supposed to understand the railroad suggest that this measure pro- bably means business and that road from Meriden to South End with steam boat connections with New York will soon be reality.
 Senator Morse introduced an amendment of the general statutes providing fine of not more than $20 for anybody who shall sell tobacco in any form or cigarettes to minors under 16 years of age. Other resolu- tions were introduced authorizing the com- troller to print l 500 copies of the bank com the State Reform school for expenses incurred in arbitration with the "Meriden and Water bury railroad company" restoring forfeited rights to B. w. Strong of East Granby: in- cooperating the Seaside club of Bridge port; incorporating the Federal Improve ment Co.," of New Britain; amending the general statutes concerning the withdrawal of civil actions, all of which were referred to proper committees.
 In the House resolution was introduced providing that fine and imprisonment for any one who shall destroy striped bass under 12 inches long. MT. O'Neil, of Waterbury, introeed bill to tax all palace on the dollar of their annual earnings. Mr. Barnes, of New Hartford a bill providing that the board of agriculture shall hereafter consist of governor and one member from each congressional district. Mir. Hunie, of New Haven, bill making the first Monday of September legal holiday to be known as Labor day. For two years this day has been celebrated In New Haven and other large towns of the State, and many petitions will soon be handed to the legisla- ture from the various labor organizations, asking that MT. Hunie's bill be adopted. At the solicitation of Chief Hendricks and Fire Marshall Kennedy of the New Haven Fire
 
 to compel the location of fire escapes upon all buildings where two or more families re- side, instead of five families, as the existing law demands.
 MORE NEW HAVEN HORSE CAR LINE.
 A bill was introduced to-day to charter a horse car company which, if organized, will meet long felt want. The incorporators, James N. Townsend, Charles H. Townsend, Edward H. Townsend, William K. Town send, Caleb s. Naltby, Alfred M. Forbes, Alfred Hughes, Hudson B. Forbes, Samuel Q. Thompson, Collis B. Grannis and William A. Woodward, ask for & charter to build line to be operated by horse, electric or other power to run from the terminus of the Fair Haven and Westville company at Tomlin- sons bridge through Forbes avenue and Townsend avenue to South End. A capital stock of 10000, with privileged increase to s100, ,000, is asked for. There is plenty of capital behind the new enterprise, and with an electric road to the city, an inland rail-