The daily morning journal and courier. [volume] (New Haven, Conn.) 1894-1907, 1897-02-24
MANY HEARINGS HELD
LEGISLATIVE COMMITTEES Dill
GENTLY Al WORK.

Damages Claimed for the Injuries of
Mrs. Harriet T.. Mentor of Woodbridge
Prison Parole Acknowledgements Grow
ers Heard.
President Cheney of the board of di-
rectors of the state prison, DR.. Will
liam d. Morgan, trustee of the insane
asylum at Middletown, and Warden
of Wethersfeld were before
the legislative committee on state
prison yesterday afternoon at Hartford
in behalf of the bill asking that an ap-
preparation be made to erect an insane
ward at Wethersfield so that the in
sane convicts may be taken care of.
An act providing for the admission
to parole of certain prisoners confined
in the Connecticut state prison was
also considered by the committee. Dean
Wayland of the Yale Law school was
before the committee in behalf of the
enactment of the bill.
James A. Church and S. H. Street,
..
OF Woodbridge, was was injured by the
swinging doors of the Meadow street
armory on January 30, 1896, were be-
fore the committee on claims in behalf
of the passage of a resolution reim-
bursting James A Church for money
spent in consequence of the accident to
Mrs. Newton. The testimony showed
that the victim of the accident was an
incurable and was helpless from the
day of the accident until her death in
February of this year.
The claimants say that the injuries
and death were caused by the negli-
gence Of the states employees in not
properly securing the door.
David Ackley and ]. H. Mansfield,
both of whom were ushers at the Mills
at the time of the accident. and which
Mrs. Newton was attending, testified to
the negligence of the armorers. The
amount of money claimed is $1,S65.50.
Colonel Burpee of the Second regi-
ment c. n. G., appeared in behalf of
the state. He described to the commit
tee the manner of fastening the doors.
He also told the committee that it was
after much importuning that he al
lowed, with the consent of the COVER
nor, the armory to be used. He con-
sidered that it was a detriment to the
militia to have the drill season inter
rupted. The Mills people paid nothing
for the use of the armory, the colonel
said
He recalled the unique instructions
given by the evangelists about allowing
people to pass in and out of the build
ing.
There will doubtless be another hear
ing on the matter.
The hearing on the bill before the
general assembly connecting the board
of health and the oyster industry,
which has been discussed for some
weeks past, took place yesterday after
noon. Representative oyster growers
from many of the oyster towns of the
state were present, including the fol-
lowing: e. Frank Lockwood of Green
wich, Captain Charles f. Palmer of
Sound Beach, Captain John McGuin-
ness of Rowayton, William Lewis Of
Bridgeport. Stiles Judson of Stratfcrd,
D. P. Merwin of Milford Henry C.
Rowe, George e. Lancraft, D. c. Sam
ford and C. D. Parmelee of New Ha-
ven.
The chairman of the committee call
ed for those in favor of the bill to state
their case, but no one responded.
A gentleman present stated that the
person who offered the bill was not at
that time able to give it his attention,
and asked that those who opposed the
bill should go on with the hearing, and
that those who favored it should have
a later opportunity to state their views.
Senator Woodruff then called for
those who opposed the bill.
President Henry c. Rowe of the State
Oyster Growers association then said,
in behalf of the oyster growers, that
they had come from all parts of the
state. at the time appointed by the
committee two weeks ago, prepared to
answer any reasons which might be
urged by the advocates of the bill. The
oyster growers could not conceive what
reason would warrant the passage of a
bill placing their industry under the
dictation of a local authority like the
board of health in each town.
The board of health under this pro-
posed bill could make rules and regu-
lations debating the methods of oyster
culture, and could change them the fol-
lowing week and again the week after,
and if the oyster growers should fail
to conform their business to these rules
they would be liable to fine and impris-
onment.
Mr.. Rowe said that there were many
other food products which experience
has shown require the direct control of
the board of health out of all compari-
son with the oyster industry, and that
the passage of such bill would be eX-
ceedingly unjust and improper for
many other reasons which he would not
now mention, as the parties favoring
the bill were not ready to present their
case.
The chairman of the committee stat
ed that this was the second assignment
of the bill. and that it had been once
postponed before. He thought it would
be an injustice to the oyster growers
to be expected to come a third time to
answer those in favor of the bill. The
committeeman We're all of this opin-
ion. but decided to send out the clerk
of the committee to search for Mr.
Nearv of Naugatuck, who offered the
bill. and request him to come into the
committee room and state his reasons
for the passage of the bill.
During the absence of the clerk the
subject was talked over informally by
hudson, Of