The Press., 1895-04-25
Number 4.
(New Haven Morning News, April 13 1s95.) SENATOR RULERS PROTEST.

SENATOR FULLER'S PROTEST.
 The debate in the senate over the oys- ter police bill yesterday afternoon, was the most interesting of the present session. All through the two hours talk the cham Der was crowded with spectators. As the bill has been amended, it will have to be acted upon by the house again next week. It is predicted that it will pass the house, but by a majority much less than that which marked it's passage several days ago.
 Among the good speeches made in the senate yesterday was one by Senator Full Ter of Holland, representing the twenty fourth district. His remarks were listen- ed to very attentively. Senator Fuller spoke in substance as follows,
 He said it was with something of feel ing of trepidation that he arose to discuss this measure, coming as he did from a section of the state to which the oyster was not indigenous. He would be only too glad to support the bill if he could consistently. Some of his best friends were earnest advocates of the measure, and he disliked to cast his vote against them. He knew of no lobby working for or against the bill. The oyster growers were earnestly in favor of it, and advo- cated it's passage as they had a perfect right to do, while it's opponents as earn estly opposed it as they had an equally perfect right to do; but there was in no sense lobby on either side.
 He appreciated the arguments which had been advanced by those in favor of the measure, many of which appealed to his sympathy. He knew the peculiar sit uation of the oyster grounds extending as they do three miles into the sound, and their peculiar liability to depreciation. He knew that on property on the land, trespassers have no right, but that the waters that cover the oyster grounds are the roadway of the states, over which the white sails of commerce and pleasure are spread to catch the free breezes of heaven to wait them to their destined port.
 Senator Fuller realized that it was a great industry, and that it was for the best interest of the state that it be encouraged and not crippled in the slightest degree He did not blame the oyster growers for desiring the state to give them police pro- lection and so save themselves the ex. pense.
 "But," he continued, there is another side to this question. The state of Con- necticut sold these oyster grounds to the growers for $1 an acre, taking back al the end of certain number of years those that proved unprofitable. The state has been at great expense in surveying these grounds, and also in the maintainance O a shell fish commission and in various other ways. It has been said that because they pay tax to the state, they should receive it back in some way. Is this what tax is levied for, to be held as reserve fund or deposit to be returned il one way or another, to the industry O. corporation on which it is levied? Ger tainly not. The tax is levied for the gen eral uses of the state. Otherwise it not ill reality tax, but deposit to bt returned on demand.
 1t has been said that this approprla 4tDn is but m entering wedge for large { bproprietions in tho future That poin does not seem to be germane to tn question at issue. The question is l OuOulu Gu0 SGdL0 luEuISu Gu0 OySG0EuS with police protection at all?' If should, then it should furnish them wit ! adequate protection, if they desire it, n matter what the cost.
 I do not understand that the oyste growers ask for the passage of this bil because they are poor, but because the 3 think that it is right, and right becaus they pay a state tax. If this is a correc principle it must be carried to it's logica conclusion, and that logical conclusion l that every corporation or industry, o l anything paying state tax is entitled t police protection. The railroads of thi state pay in taxes about $9OO,O year There are more than ,000 miles of rail t roads in this state, running through cit S and hamlet and traversing valley and fol rest. If this principle is correct, they ar l entitled to police protection over ever f mile of their lines.
 v "The Mutual Fire Insurance companie pay larger sum every year into the stat = treasury in taxes than does the oyste industry. They have about $75, 1000, ,O0 at risk, on property scattered all over thi state and liable to destruction. If thi
 principle is correct they are entitled
 have all property which they insure pc
 liced by the state.
 The savings banks pay a state tax (
 about $3OO,0OO. They have large sum
 of the peoples money in their vaults
 They have mortgages on property all owe
 the state. If this principle is correc
 they are entitled to full police protectio
 by the state.
 "The life insurance companies paying
 state tax of about $340,O have, if tn
 principle is correct, a right to ask th
 state for police protection for every lii
 in the state which they insure. If thel
 should ever again be a state tax laid c
 the grand list, every farmer, every me
 chant, every manufacturer, and every ci
 izen would, if this principle is correct,
 entitled to full police protection by tt = state.
 ''The town does not police the propert
 of it's citizens whom it taxes. If this bi . passes it will be the first time tlfe stat
 has afforded, in time of peace, police pro
 tection to any corporation or industr!
 Will it be an act of wisdom to begin tn
 experiment. nOw?"
 A keeper of the London Zoo was pe'