The daily morning journal and courier., 1895-02-08


 PROPOSED INCREASE REPRESEN.
 PATTON,
 In the house there were a goodly number of bills and petitions introduced although the amount of business did not reach the high water mark of yes terday. The most important matter was introduced by Representative New ton-two bills drawn by ex-Speakel Paige. The measures are in the in terest of proposed amendments to the constitution, providing for increased representation in the house and the first bill follows:
 Section 1.-The general assembly shall enact laws which shall provide that in towns entitled, as hereinafter pro- vided, to send three or more repre- sentatives to the general assembly such representatives shall be elected under such laws as may from time to time be enacted, so as to secure, as far as may be practicable, a propor- tional number of such representatives, in proportion to the number of votes cast for the different parties or groups of electors, nominating and voting for, in such manner as may from time to time be provided by law, candidates for representatives.
 Section 2-As soon as such laws shall be enacted and as long as such legis- lation shall remain in force, every town which now contains, or hereafter shall contain, a population of 15,O0O as deter mined by the census of the United States, made out before the election of representatives is held, shall be en- titled to send to the general assembly three representative and additional representatives for each additional pop ulation of 5,O0O
 Resolved, That the foregoing propos- ed amendment to the constitution be continued to the next session of the gen. eral assembly, and be published, with the laws passed at the present session
 The second proposed amendment is about the same as the foregoing, ex- cept that it provides a manner of exc cutting it. Nominations are to be made by parties by arranging the number of votes cast for representatives and find ing how many representatives each par ty is entitled and selecting those hay ing the highest number of votes cast as the successful candidate. If a town was entitled to ten representatives ten would be voted for on each ticket, and if one party cast four-tenths of the total vote it would be entitled to four repre- sentatives and to the four receiving the highest vote.
 When introducing the bill Mir. Newton said he believed in town representation and did not wish to be understood as endorsing the Paige bill at present. He said the plan would increase the repre- sentation to the extent of about fifty.
 The bill was opposed by Representa- tive Clark of Haddam, Representative Gum of Milford and Representative Middleton of Enfield, but was finally referred to the committee on constitu- tional amendments. It is proposed to continue the matter to the next general assembly and have it printed with the session laws
 A STATE ROAD COMMISSION.
 In the interests of better roads a bill was introduced in the house this morn ing. It is one of the most important measures of the session and proposes that the governor shall appoint road commissioner, whose duty it shall be to superintend the work of constructing state highways. The provision that the commissioner shall be a civil engineer may not be retained in the bill, but it Is one of it's most important provisions. The grand list of the state for 1893 to $416, ,323, ,252. It therefore appears that if the bill passes over four hundred thousand dollars will be avail able for building state roads. The grand list of New Haven county amounts to about $1O7OOO,O0O This would furnish, on the basis of the bill, If this bill passes the towns of the state will certainly be obliged to again begin paying a state tax, pro- vided, of course, other state expendi- lures are not materially reduced. This bill provides that the governor shall | appoint a commission on roads. Such an official shall be a civil engineer of at least five years experience. He shall appoint deputy of at least each three years experience for each coun- ty Each deputy shall decide as to which roads in a town shall be re- paired. The expense shall not exceed l an amount of a 1 mill tax on the rata ble property of the state. The salary of the commissioner shall be $2,5O0 per lnnum and of deputies $5 per day for | each day employed and expenses of $1 l per day.
 THE WEST RIVER BRIDGES.
 Tn introducing bill this morning | .elating to West river bridges Repre- sentative Newton said that the bridge l It Kimberly avenue had twice as much | .ravel over it as any other bridge in the 3tate. It is intended to build an iron bridge so that shipping can go under Orange was now trying to get rid of he burden, and rightly so. If any bridge should go to the care of the state his should.
 Following is the proposed bill which vas referred to the judiciary commit ee;
 Section 1.-The highway across West iver, near the line between New Haven nd Orange, where the present bridges t the crossing nearest Long Island ound now are, together with the said ridges at the crossings and approaches ppurtenant to and connected there yith, shall hereafter be maintained by he state of Connecticut at it's expense