The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-06-07
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
THE SENATE APPOINTS Il SPECIAL
Committee


in the Senate-Staub's Accounts to be In
vestigated-Much Other News of Interest
Hartford, June Elm both the sen
ate and house to-day action was taken
on the criticism of the legislature ut
| tered by Rev. J. H. Mason Of New Ha-
ven last Sunday. Judge Cowell In the
house arose to a personal explanation.
He had copy of the Christian Secre-
tary Of Hartford in his hand. That
paper published the minister remarks
| in full Judge Cowell said: This pa
per in publishing such an unfounded
attack might properly be called the I'm
| Christian Secretary. do charge
| that a newspaper exceeds it's privileges
when it will publish this endorsement
of the elergyman's address" Then Mr..
| Cowell read the editorial endorsement
as follows our readers will agree with
| Rev Mr.. Mason's plain and temperate
statement when he said that members
of the general assembly can be bought
like cattle in the SHAMELESS"
Judge Cowell continued: IT am a
pretty good judge of men from my
training as lawyer, and my experience
| as police magistrate. I have been
here five months and have not met
any man who believe is thief. I be-
lieve 1t would not be safe for anyone
| to approach a member of the general
assembly with anything in the shape of
bribe.."
Representative Wilton of Manchester
said: II am very much surprised that
| my distinguished friend from Water
bury should notice such vile stuff. 1t Is
not worth the dignity of notice from a
Legislator" That was the end Of it
so far as the house was concerned.
The senators We're inclined to drop the
matter, and even pass over Mr.. Mason's
charge that they had been on the pool
bill amendment, bought like cattle in
the shambles" Senator Coffey had de-
nounced Mason in emphatic language,
and other senators had expressed them
selves in open session.
This would have ended the matter
had 1t not been for a paragraph in the
issue of the Christian Secretary of
June s. This paper republished the Of
fensive part of Mason's sermon, and
added its own comment:
"Our readers will agree with Mr..
Mason's plain, temperate and true
statement of the case"
Marked copies of the secretary were
sent by friends to several senators, and
before the senate met this afternoon
they gathered in groups and discussed
the matter. Some of the language in
condemnation was emphatic, and 1t was
freely suggested that the senate should
take some official recognition of the
matter.
Late in the senate session to-day Sem
ator Marigold brought UP the subject.
He said that Mason is known as care
full, conservative man. to whose utter
ance considerable weight Is attached.
The senator also spoke of receiving a
copy of the Christian Secretary con-
tanning an Endorsement of Mason's
charges. He had intended, he said, to
pass the matter without notice, but if
the religious papers are TO make such
charges as these then 1t is time for the
senate to speak for itself If the
charges are false then the people of the
state should be shown their falsity. In
conclusion he offered the following res
olution, whose preamble reoited the Of
fensive part of Rev Mr.. Masons ser
mon. nB
Resolved That a special committee
consisting Of Senators Warner, Louns-
bury and Palmer, be appointed for the
purpose of fully investigating the
charges made by Rev, Mr.. Mason of
New Haven and published in the pub
lie press; said committee to have full
power and authority to compel the at
tendance of any person or persons and
cause any paper or papers bearing on
the matter to be produced before said
committee and to use all means .neces-
sary to further the purpose for which
this committee is appointed,
The resolution was discussed for half
an hour, nearly all the senators speak
ing.
Senator Coffey endorsed the resolution
as proper and called for. The time had
come for the public to know whether
the senators are thieves or honest men.
TIL senators are open to fair criticism,
but it is serious thing to charge that
they have been bought. When clergy
man charges this, and a religious paper
endorses the charges, it is high time to
demand their proofs.
Senator Dayton referred to the recent |
'crawp by a certain Massachusetts |
who charged President |
Cleveland with drunkenness. The sena-
tor believed that when brought to book |
the New Haven clergyman would either |
dodge or crawl"
Senator Lounsbury suggested that he |
be left off the committee and that |
Senator Webster or Senator Chandler |
be substituted,
Senator Marigold said he had pur-
posely named in his resolution three |
senators who had voted against the |
pool bill change.
Senators Webster and Coffey held /
hat the committee was properly Sc
ected, and the latter added that he
would give the committee all aid in
ais power.
Senator Webster again took the floor
and suggested that it would be more
n accord with the dignity of the senate
% pass the charge by as beneath not
ce.
Senator Fuller said that, having full |
confidence in the senate, he attached no
weight to the charges, and did not con-
lder them worth invest eating. He could
afely say this, as he had voted against
he pool bill change.
Senator Ayerlll suggested that as the