The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1895-03-22

| ed ana the nomination. was immediately
sent to the senate by unanimous vote.
Afterward the nomination was reported
favorably by the committee on judicial
nominations and it was confirmed in
the house by a unanimous vote. Praise
worthy remarks were made by Repre-
sentatives Cowell of Waterbury, Greene
of Norwich, Gum of Milford, Newton
of New Haven, Hicks of Tolland and
others. THE senate Immediately rati-
| fed the action of the house in confirm
ing the nomination. The governor sign
| ed the commission, and this afternoon
Mr.. Elmer is fully equipped as judge of
the superior court.
OYSTER PoLICE-A VERY LIVELY
DEBATE.
| The liveliest debate in the house this
session took place to-day when the oys-
ter police bill, made the special order,
came up. Following is the bill
Section 1.-The shell fish commission
ers shall appoint and employ five or
more persons to act as oyster police,
who shall detect and prosecute any vio-
lations of the statutes relating to shell
! fisheries upon, the private oyster grounds
in this state. Said commissioners shall
also hire or charter such boats or vessels
as may be necessary for the use of such
police.
Section 2-Such police shall have the
same powers as deputy sheriffs or con-
stables with reference to such offenses;
may seize amy boat or vessel which has
become liable to seizure under existing
statutes, and do any other acts in en-
forcement of the statutes relating to
shell fisheries as may be directed by the
she'll fish commission.
Section 3-The shell fish commission
ers shall pay to such oyster police such
compensation as said commissioners
may deem just and reasonable, but not
exceeding the sum of three dollars per
day to each person. and the total eX-
penditure for such compensation shall
not in one year exceed one-third the
taxes upon oyster grounds paid by the
oyster growers to the state in the pre-
ceding year
Section 4-This act shall take effect
from it's passage.
1t is a substitute bill, the original call
ing for an expenditure not exceeding
one-half of the oyster tax. 1t was eX-
planned by Representative Taber Of En-
field. He said that the oyster business
represented an investment of s3.500,00O,
and $500 hands We're employed. The
interest had paid to the state $S0,555 in
taxes, including 100000 on worthless
grounds that had been improved.
Representative Wall of Torrington in
a long speech bitterly opposed the bill.
In the course of his remarks he said:
"There is one feature of this bill
which is both amusing and unusual
On Tuesday, the 18th day of March,
it was arranged to have another hear
ing on this bill, and said hearing was to
be on the following day Wednesday.
may say, Mr. Speaker, that I was very
much surprised to hear the bill read
by the clerk on the very day set down
for the hearing. say further that this
bill was never voted on by the commit
tee at any meeting which I attended,
and if voted on at all must have been
voted on at meeting which was not
on the bulletin of the house,
and of which meeting was in total ig-
Now, Mr.. Speaker and gentlemen
apart from the question of the irregu- |
larity of the reporting of this measure, |
I am opposed to it for the reason that |
it is unjust, that it is special legislation, |
that 1t is intended to benefit a class |
at the expense of the commonwealth.
IF this bill passes every farmer in
the state can claim equal privileges;
they will be justified in claiming protec-
ton for their apple orchards, their mel
on patches and their strawberry beds.
Every manufacturer can claim protec-
ton in the shape of watchmen to watch
their factories, and will have as valid a
claim as the owners of the artificial oys-
.er beds. If this bill passes, 1t is useless
to advocate retrenchment, it is useless
TO TRY to keep down expenses if the
money of the state is to be given to pro-
note private enterprise, having no leeit-
mate claim thereto and innovation will
De inaugurated, the results of which no
nan can foresee."
Representative Judson of Stratford
made a. splendid speech in favor of the
dill. He said the oyster men were sim
)ly asking a moderate proportion of the
money they are. paying into the treas
Jury of the state. They have made
productive 10000 acres of grounds, built
seventy steamers, and had paid into the
reasury of the state the sum of $4,000
n taxes more than had been paid out
or the expense Of the commission and
'ther expenses. All they asked was
bout s2,4OO per year for the oyster po-
ice, proposition entirely fair and
.bove board. After paying such large
UNI into the state treasury they should !
ave something in return. 6
Mr.. Judson in his remarks made a S
tatement which Mr.. Wall construed 6
o mean that some of his statements
rere untrue. Mr.. Wall vehemently pro-
ested on this ground, and made the
lost sensational speech of the session c
4 reply, pounding his desk to empha-
lie his remarks. He said he came J
, Hartford toNdo his whole duty, and
othing else. He resented the imputa-
on that he was a liar.
Mr.. Judson disclaimed any intent to
ljure the gentleman's feelings and 9
laimed that he did not say Mr.. Wall
ras untruthful.
Representative Smith, chairman of
he fisheries committee, endorsed the
i'll and gave figures to show how I
reat is the oyster industry in Con- Q
ecticut and claimed that it should I