Middletown transcript., 1898-01-15
lon. Exnsriment- in legislation af-

tion. Experiment in legislation af-
fectIng the right OF property, the
lives, liberties and persons of citizens
is not only unwise but often little less
than criminal.
sSince your adjournment the Consti-
tutional Convention has concluded its
labors and adop ed and promulgated
new Constitution, differing widely in
many important respects from the old
one. Much of the machinery of our
State government has undergone inn
pertant changes whether wisely or not
the test of future experience must
determine. Thus we mark in the his
tory of our State new epoch. We
have been conservative people, slow
to recognize he necessity of change
and reluctant to give up the tried and
understood, though recognizing it's de-
fects, for the new and untried. The
Constitution under which we now live
is but the framework Of our govern
ment. A Constitutional Convention
can but provide those necessary rules
of government which are not subject to
frequent changes, while the Legisla-
ture, composed as it is of members
coming fresh from The people clothed
with their authority and familiar with
their desires, must provide for the vary
ing necessities of ch year. Hence,
with you will rest III no small degree
the successful application of the new
Constitution. 1t is by your enactments
that its most important provisions can
be carried into effect. In doing this,
however, let me caution you that you
change only those laws which it is
necessary to change to put it in force.
By the express provisions of the Con-
stitution all laws. not inconsistant with
it are continued in force. You are not
called upon to unnecessarily disturb
the existing statutes which have been
long established and by judicial inter-
pretation are we'll understood.
"The Constitution has placed around
you many restrictions and has deprived
you of many Of the powers which have
been heretofore vested in the Legisla-
lures. You have been relieved of many
irksome and unpleasant duties-duties
and demands which you could not we'll
snun or avoid SO long as you were
clothed with the power to discharge
them. | congratulate you that you ara
no longer to be annoyed by divorce leg
islation so disgraceful to our State and
humilating to her good citizens, nor
called to sit in judgment on conflicting
claims and disputes of corporations, in
volving questions which legislative
body finds SO difficult to understand
and intelligently deal with. Your tine
will no more be occupied in the con-
sideration of local or special laws re-
lating to fences, strays, bitches, school
districts and roads. These are subjects
which have consumed much of the
time of past legislative sessions, often
to the detriment of our people and at
the expense of much of our public
money. You will now be able to devote
your attention to proper subjects of
legislation, involving the general public
welfare, while the representatives of
private interests and special favors will
seek their desires in the courts or be-
fore other proper tribunals.
The Constitution provides in section
19 of the schedule thereof, that s'the
General Assembly as soon as convent
emily may be after this Constitution
shall take effect, shall enact all laws
necessary or proper for carrying out the
provisions thereof" 1t was for this
purpose that you deemed it necessary
that you should hold an adjourned
session at this time and you are ex-
peeted to address yourselves to this
work. While have no doubt that I
am expressing but the views which you
yourselves maintain together With the
great majority of the people of the
State yet | feel that my relations to
you are such hat it is necessary to
remind you of these things. In the
reconstruction of the different depart
ments of our government the Consti,
tutional Convention thought wise to
cl0the the executive with the veto
power in legislation. This places upon
me.new duties and new responsibilities.
It brings the executive in close touch
with the legislative branch and changes
my relation to you from that of the
merely recommendatory and suggestive
to an active participation in legisla-
tion. And, while | keenly appreciate
the Importance and gravity of the
duties thus imposed upon me, I shall
try to discharge them fearlessly and in
the interest of wise and conservat i've
legislation. You can do much to assist
me in the discharge of my duties by a
careful and conscientious consideration
of the measures that shall come before
you, enacting good and wise laws,
which will leave me the easy and pleas
ant duty of approving them."
Jurors Drawn.
The following Petit Jurors for the Court
- nnrnrnI cynsn;o.A. "a c.