Morning journal and courier., 1891-01-16
CONNECrICUT,s mUDDLE.

The state Omces-GOvernOr-Ele Mer.
win Dignified Attitude-His Policy of
Silence-The Threatened Quo War
rantO Proceedings the Next steps
Judge Morris Message-More Com
ments of the Press on the Anoma- |
lous Condition OF Ahairs-What |
Judge Stoddard Said Last Night.
Governor elect Merwin was interviewed |
yesterday by a COURIER representative.
General Merwin said the delicacy of his
position was such as to dictate to him the
policy of silence at present. He would
therefore decline to speak as regards the
present political situation in the state.
He was awaiting the tide of affairs and
the progress of events and felt it incumb-
emit upon him in the present condition of
affairs to avoid any remarks for publica-
ton. General Merwin had just finished
his duties for the day at the Yale National
bank of which he is president. He is also
president of the old New Haven Savings
bank which at this time of year especially
takes some of his time. General Merwin
has purposely avoided Hartford of late,
not having been there since the legislature
convened, nor has he consulted with Mr..
Case, of the republican counsel General
Merwin, though still Acknowledgements,
has not thought fit to claim his privilege
of presiding over the senate, and would
feel the same way if the senate was repub-
ican.
General Merwin's course in the midst of
all this hubbub and controversy is highly
commended and approved by leading Con-
necticut republicans as both discreet and
digni6ed. He regrets the present compiled
ton of affairs as much as anyone and would
much have preferred that a more decisive
conclusion had been reached in one way or
the other at the polls. General Merwin
has, contrary to published reports, written
no message Just after election he care
fully considered the situation and the top
les necessary for message, but seeing the
turn affairs had taken, refrained from pro-
ceeding further in the premises Judge
Morris, however, who was probably advised
of the impending democratic "coup d'etat, :"
has message all prepared ready for deliv-
cry, but whether he will deliver it next
Tuesday when the general assembly recon-
venes, or not, he is, it is said, undecided
1t is not very lengthy or ponderous af-
fair. He will probably send it in to the
senate by messenger next Tuesday. Judge
Morris has had forty applications or more
for positions on his staff, but says he has
made no selections
ABOUT STAFF APPOINTMENTS.
A governors staff appointments, under
ordinary circumstances, are announced in
special message to the senate, which has
the power of confirmation. And right at
this point the line of possibilities opens.
If the senate should have the effrontery to
insist upon recognizing DR.. Alsop as lieu
tenant governor and president of the SEN
| ate, and if DR.. Alsop should have the ef-
frontery to accept such recognition,
doubtless Mr.. Morris might send list of
confirm" them; the fact would remain
that Mr.. Morris had no more authority to
send such document to the senate than
| any other citizen of Connecticut, and the
| senate would have just the same right to
confirm" such messages.
WILL HE DO IT?
Mr.. Morris and his colleagues said yester-
| day:
f'Mr. Morris won't hand in any list of
| appointments or any message or anything
| of the kind. The steps SO far have been
| taken solely to get the matter into the
courts sooner than would be done if the
| thlng TOOK the time necessary to leglsla-
tive investigation. It would be very fool
ish for Mr.. Morris or DR.. Alsop, or any
body else, to insist on maintaining any
rights attaching to their election until they
are regularly declared elected by the prop
er authorities I believe DR.. Alsop would
simply precipitate trouble by insisting up
on presiding in the senate next week.
don't know whether he will do it or not
but I am inclined to think he will. an
afraid if he did there would be sudden
cessation of the good humor which hal
characterized the proceedings so far"