Morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven [Conn.]) 1848-1894, 1891-01-20
THE mUDDLE Ar HARTFORD.

110 M ~ DOAX "A HAN AO W13 ~
what veteran observer Says ON,
the Subiect-An Interesting View OF
the Case.
To the Editor Of the JOURNAL. AED Cc-RIHR:
The writer claims that there is no con-
stitutional ground for tho middle az to
state officers. He claims that the consti-
tuition gives the electors their day to vote;
that it gives the general assembly the frat
day of the season TO ascertain from the re-
turns and the votes if or not the people
have made choice. If it is found that they
have not, then the constitution gives the
general assembly the second day Of their
session, by joint ballot, to elect state Off
GERS, and if the general assembly fail to
act On that day, the old state officers hold
over.
A careful reading of tho provisions Of
the constitution below quoted will show
how clearly the case stands under the spe
cifc provisions of the constitution. Neither
the laws nor customs can set aside the
fundamental provisions of the paramount
law.
Constitution of the State of Connecticut, 1918.
At the meeting Of the electors in the respective
distey after the Of Senator'S the
ing officers shall call upon the electors to bring
5s5s f 9th Bin xnS asy w1 elect
When such ballots shall have been received
and counted in the presence of the electors, du-
number Of votes given for each shall be made
and certified BY the presiding 9fcsFs one +6 o.
town clerk within three days, and the other
within ten days after said election shall be trans
ferred to the secretary 1of stateo or to the
have been held The sheriff receiving said votes
shall deliver or cause them to be delivered to the
secretary (of state) within fifteen days next after
The votes so returned shall be counted by the
treasurer, secretary and comptroller within the
A fair list Of the persons and number of votes
given for zach, together with the returns OF the
Secretary and comptroiier made and laid before
the general assembly next to be holden, on the
by o. the
clare the person whom they shall find 20 be
legally chosen and give him notice accordingly.
number of said votes, or if two or more shall
have an equal and the greatest number Of said
their session. BY joint Ballot Of both houses shall
proceed without debate to choose governor
from list of the names of the two persons hay
names of the persons having an equal and high
est number of votes SO returned as aforesaid.
the IN WscR na Questions rs"
the election of a governor or lieutenant governor
shall be determined.
Sec III. At the annual meeting of the electors
Immediately after the election Of governor, there
shall also be chosen in the same manner as is
herein before provided for the election OF cover
nor a lieutenant governor, who shall continue In
office for the same time, and possess the same
qualifications 1881
above relating to the foregoing provision, is as
follows:
AMENDMENTS, OCTOBER, 1884
| Sec. I. A general election for governor, lieu
! Ter and members of the general assembly shall
be held on the Tuesday after the first Monday OF
| such officers are herein and may be hereafter
prescribed.
Sec II. The state officers above named and
the Tuesday after the first Monday Of November
1885, and those elected biennially thereafter or
| the Tuesday after the first Monday OF November
Wednesday following the first Monday of the
he ga Until tb the
January and until their successors are duly
qualified.
Sec. III. Provides for the compensation Of the
| members of the general assembly.
Sec. ". The regular session Of the genera
lowing the first Monday Of the January next sue
Sec; v. The senators elected on the Tuesday
fs the @ Mondn of
l
| the first Monday of January, 1887.
REvIEw-FIRsT.
The election of governor is ordered anG
directed to be held in tho second section O.
the fourth article of the constitution O.
1918, as herein printed; and this article O.
| the constitution has never been altered
| except by the amendment of October, 1884
! as herein printed; and this amendment at
fects only the time for holding the election
for governor, lieutenant governor, secre
tary, treasurer, comptroller and member
of the general assembly, and estabishe
biennial sessions.
And Article w, in regard to the name
of determining who are elected governo
and lieutenant governor, and state officers
never has been changed; consequently
II. The constitution in 1918 named
particular day for the people to elect stat
officers, and subsequently changed the da
by the amendment of October, 1884.
But in so doing did not change tn
mode and manner prescribed in the COZ
stitution Of 1918, article w, of maxim
the record and depositing the votes whe1
the legislature could, by committee c
otherwise, put their eyes upon them, cour
and judge for themselves as to VIII
wefe Or were not elected state officers
the electors on the day appointe
for them to vote, and in case the peopl
had failed to elect, then
III. A day was named in the constitr
ton on which the general assembly sha
proceed to elect, to wit: s'Then said a!
sembly on the second day of their sessio
by joint ballot of both houses shall pre-
coed without debate to choose a governo
from the list of the names the two pei
sons having the greatest number of votes
etc., and
". If the people made no choice O
their day for voting. And if the geners
assembly made no election on the secon
day of their session, both the people an
the general assembly have lost their oppo1
tunity, consequently the old stat
officers hold over for the full term G
Office and the general assembly can pre-
coed in constitutional manner to trani
act the business of making laws, grantin
charters etc., and the constitutionality {
their power to act cannot be questioned
Any other view Of the case is not only
defiance of the constitution, but woul
lead to disaster to the state and to tn
people. See amendment
October, 1884, Section II. The stat
officers above named governor, lieutenar
governor, etc., and members of the GEL
} eral assembly elected on the Tuesday afte
the first Monday Of November, 1885, an
those elected biennially thereafter on til
Tuesday after the first Monday of Noven
Der shall hold their respective offices fro1
the Wednesday following the first Monda
of the next succeeding January, until tt
Wednesday after the first Monday of tt
third succeeding January, and until the
successors are duly qualified. And one
the qualifications is, that he was legal
elected under the constitution, by IL