Waterbury evening Democrat., 1895-01-09
GOVERNOR COFFIN.

| k or t1SHo-Ee69onUon EteCBG0 SpeAkeF Hof lhe sHouse by . Vote of I99 lto as.
 HARTFORD. Jan 9-At 10 o'clock this | morning the house of representatives was called to order by ex-Speaker Brooks.
 Chaplain Irons offered prayer. The roll call followed and then the oath of office was administrated.
 At 10:S0 o'clock Judge Elmer of Middle town moved that the house proceed to the election of speaker.
 | Stiles Judson, jr, of Stratford, nomina- ted Samuel Fesssnden for speaker of the house. He paid a tribute to the other men who had been named in connection
 with the office, but spoke of Mir Fessenden as a man whom public sentiment had al-
 ready elevated to the post of honor: a man | who represents all that is true and just in
 the republican party; who from a broad Il experience and natural capacity is fully | qualified to perform the important duties
 of the position, and whose conspicuous
 ability, high character, stalwart republi-
 canism and long public service pre- eminently fit him to preside over the de-
 Alterations of the house of representatives. He said that influences surround the halls
 of legislation that cast discredit upon the
 state, and the conditions called for the
 occupancy of the speakers chair by one
 having comprehensive knowledge of the
 history of legislation in the state and | whose ability IS beyond question. Such a man, he said, is the Hon Samuel Fes-
 sendon of Stamford.
 The total number of votes cast was 227; necessary for a choice IA, of which Sam
 uel Fessenden received 1l9, Radcliffe Hicks 2S. The announcement of Mir Fessenden's election was gree ed with
 great applause. Judge Elmer of Middle
 town and Radcliffe Hicks of Holland es-
 corted Mir FesseDden to the chair. He was introduced by Ex-Speaker Brooks.
 In accepting the office Mir Fessenden
 said he was more sensible of the high
 honor bestowed from the knowledge that
 there were many of his colleagues fully qualified to fill the duties of the office.
 He was not unmindful of the re- responsibilities and difficulties of the office
 and said he would at all times try to dis
 charge his duties with impartiality.
 Whether in the chair or on the floor he
 would share the deep interest all felt in
 the enactment of such laws as will in the
 greatest degree tend to the protection of
 life and property, to the promotion of the
 happiness of the people. and so to the sta
 bility of our government. He expressed
 himself as ever ready to work for the en-
 actment of such laws as may be found
 necessary to secure pure elections by sur rounding the ballot with greater safe kudkuSs HI Oub buCu CuhuRcS III
 our constitution as will meet the demands
 of the people, in the refusal of grants or privileges having for their sole purpose the profit of their promoters, and in ex-
 tending powers and rights to corporations , whose interests are identified with those of the people, and by whose existence and success the people of the state are either furnished remunerative employment or , increased convenlenees of life.
 At the conclusion of his speech the speaker was again applauded and took the ] oath of office.
 ! On motion of George W. Gum of Mil . ford the rules were suspended and George A. Kellogg of Vernon was made clerk of the house and Fred A. Scott of Plymouth } assistant clerk.
 , The senate was called to order at 1925 by Secretary of State Phelan. Many . floral gifts were on the desks of members. After the roll call Andrew F. Gates of } Hartford was elected clerk and Senator } Ferris president pro tenn. Other elections | were: Messengers-J. w. Wilson, Hart , ford county; J. W. Moody, New Haven l county. Doorkeepers John R. Coggs-
 well, Windham; c. H. Chapman, Middle ) sex; W. P. Hayes. Litchfeld; William 5 Humphrey. Fairfield; Bert H Rix, Tol- land.
 , Lieutenant Governor Cook made an ad- dress and then a recess was taken. After recess the report of the committee ] of canvassers on votes for state officers . was read and committee appointed to 3 look over the report.
 William E. Gates, republican candidate l for senator of the eleventh district, filed t notice that he would contest for the seat 8 occupied by Clark W. Reynolds, democrat . The latter was declared elected by four IT. Al - was a miscount by which he was deprived - of twenty-three votes.
 |. At 2:30 the house and senate met in
 joint session. The inagural procession
 reached the capitol at 2:55. Governor
 Morris and staff accompanied by Governor - elect Coffin and staff went immediately to 6 the governors room, where they were D waited upon by the committee and es- 3 corted to the chamber. Governor Coffin received the oath of office and delivered A hls message.
 The governors message was lengthy paper treating in detail the different de 6 partments of the state government, and Y giving statistics and recommendation I taken from the reports of the different state commissioners. all of which has already been published. In concluding j. he recommended for the consideration o 6 the general assembly measures as follows An active and extensive movement in fayol s of better highways; a secret ballot law that s will enable the voter to follow hls owr preference in casting his ballot without D allowing any other, person to know how h. I votes, while at the same time the vote seller cannot furnish evidence to the vote buyer
 that the bargain between them has beer
 observed. The governor recommends what
 is known as the '.blankat ballot" system IA or some form of voting machinery. He says N that any secret ballot law, Tn order tha r. it's advantages may be fully secured, needI if to be reinforced by such statutes as vii n provide the surest methods of enforcing
 its provisions He urges. therefore. th'
 passage of corrupt practices law
 Whether it is best to abolish the office O
 county commissioner or to proceed in If more moderate way to correct the abuse:
 which have crept into the present system q of executing the license law, he says is
 question for the careful consideration o |. the general assembly. He says the mum Der and cost of licenses should be hxsG
 by law so that neither the commissioner
 nor courts would have power | lt change both number and eos 10 at will. He calls attention
 10 a defect in section I, ,962 of the statute a by the terms of which property cannot b le deeded or willed for the benefit of peI
 son for life, and upon his decsase for tn it benefit of his heirs. He says it is tn le duty at all times of the general assembl
 to be watchful of the course of publl :, affairs. He speaks of the three propose
 amendments to the constitution, bu
 makes no recommendation. The governc
 says the trading of votes by members Y reprehensibls and urges all to put an sn VI | thA aNandal hv whiah Nha afata he