The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-04-12

| lELGSlS OI lllG " llOlN pSSb'A~ --NNN to grant favors to special classes. In
 every instance the promoters of these charters propose to connect town with l town, and in every case they propose l 10 use the principal and best, or the | only highway provided Tor the use or
 the whole people,
 It is the highway used by the farmers
 to draw their produce to market, and used by them and their families in
 driving to church, school or post office. l It is the highway over which all irelsht
 is carried by the local teamsIefs' It is the highway upon which the people l of both city and country drive for pleas l ure. It is the highway upon when all errands of mercy, charity and necessity are run. It is the highway built and | maintained by direct taxes which the l peope have levied upon themselves m 1 town meeting. It was once the King l highway. It is now the peoples high ] way. You are the tribunal when mas the sole power to give or withhold cor porate franchises over this highway; and you have the power in your hands, and we ask you to exert it for the maln- lenance of the peoples highway, free from danger or obstruction, ana secur- ed to the purposes for which it was laid out and constructed
 THE COMMITTEE ON ROADS AND
 BRIDGES.
 Town Counsel Goodhart of New Ha- ven was before the committee on roads, bridges and rivers to advocate the | bill which provides that electric roads shall pay a certain part of construc- 1 ton and maintenance of town bridges. He stated that to adopt the bridges | for use by electric roads curtailed quite an outlay in strengthening such bridges and it was no more than right that the companies should give something in re- turn for such franchise.
 THE OYSTER POLICE BILL AGAIN
 The oyster police bill was passed in
 the house and then sent to the senate The members of the house then voted
 to reconsider it and sent to the senate for it, but before the house could act
 on it. the senate also sent for the bill, secured 1t and laid it on the table. There was quite a tussle in the house over the matter of giving it up, but
 they finally decided to do so
 Senator Lee of New London, who tabled the bill, gave notice he would call 1t up to-day and it was made the special order for 12 o'clock.
 Senator Little opened up the debate in a vigorous speech against the meas ure. He said he failed to see any merit in the bill. There had seldom been a bill pending where such a big lobby had been employed It was class legis- lation. It was just as feasible for mill owners to ask for state watchmen for the protection of their mills. The oyster business was not of mushroom growth. There is nearly 10000 acres under cultivation and an investment of 3,500,O 900. There is no claim that the business is not a remunerative one. Why should this indusGy ask for an appropriation to carry it along? The rate of taxation is fixed by law. There is no claim that this taxation is eX- cessive or unjust. Why should other industries be taxed to assist an in- dustry already taxed by the state? The bill is an opening wedge; if passed, it will open wider and wider the treas ury doors This bill would please the oystermen and the lobby; but it is not popular bill and I shall vote against 1t.
 Senator Chapman spoke in favor of the bill He said this oyster property had no adequate protection. He then referred to the manner in which oysters, were stolen from the beds. The oyster men had built up an industry worth $1 300, 900 year. It was business that was a great benefit to the state. The committee had been requested to set apart one-half of the oyster tax for police protection, but they thought that the oystermen should be entitled to one-third of the tax for a police
 Senator Lee of New London opposed | the bill.
 Senator Marigold spoke in it's favor. | He said that when this property was l taken by the oystermen it was entirely | worthless. When there was a trespass upon farm, the owner had redress. The oystermen paid taxes to the town | upon their equipment for taking the | oysters and tax on their real estate | and they also paid tax to the state | on their oyster grounds. It was almost to detect thespassing on this the same as trespassing on the | land
 Senator Warner inquired where the
  whether to the town or the state?
 Senator Chapman replied that it went to the state.
 Senator Douglass had been more inn portuned to favor this bill than any other before the senate at this ses- sion He wanted to know if the oyster men made their properties valuable for the sake of the people or for their own pockets? There was no difference between this kind of enterprise than the enterprise of manufacturers or other investors. It was just as well to have the state of Connecticut line the Consolidated road with guardsmen to protect it's property. He did not believe the state wished to make precedent at this time in favor of this sort of legislation
 Senator Fuller opposed the bill. He said a committee of the Oyster Crow ers' association had come into these halls and urged that the bill be passed and they had 8 right to do that He was aware that great deal of money nd been invested in the business. His opposition was because of the princi- oles that were underlying the project. If the state should give any protection, | To }