Waterbury Democrat., 1900-10-27
WORKING FOR REFORM.
Candidates For Office Give Expression
 To Their Views,

New Haven, Conn, Oct 27.-The Constitutional Reform association to- day made public a number of import ant letters which the association has received from candidates of both re- publican and democratic parties, on the subject of having the next state legislature call q convention for the revision or the Connecticut constitu- ton. Notable among these letters Which express the views Of men who nave had long careers in state politics, Is one from Michael Kenealy, the re- publican leader in the last house of representatives. In reply to the ques- ton Of the Constitutional Reform as- soc1aton, as to whether he favors the election of state officers by q plurality vote, Mr kenealy answers Yes" In regard to the second question asked by the reform association as to Whether he is ill favor of change in the composition in tie house of repre- sentatives so that the people will have representatives in the house according to population and not according to towns, Mr kenealy says: While the present system is wrong, equal per capita representation is impractica Die
 1t would neceSsitate making the small est town ill the state the unit. If the
 town system of representation is to
 De retained some compromise should
 be effected"
 MT kenealy says that he favors the Change ill the composition of the Sen- ate which was contemplated in the constitutional amendment proposed in 1853. Which increases the number of senators to 36. On the subject of re- stricting the general assembly to strict legislative functions. MT Kenealy says:
 If by this is meant the prohibition
 of special legislation as to charters, etc, my answer is No" The general
 statutes are in my judgment not what they should be to warrant this re- st"iction."
 In reply to the question of the as sociation: Would you suggest an enlargement of the powers of the government. and if so what changes ?' Ar kenealy has answered this ques- tion by one word: "No.'' In conclu-
 sion Mir kenealy suggests that: Pro vision might be made by q constitu- tiOnal amendment for the calling of q constitutional convention.' In this
 way Mir kenealy proposes that consti- tutiOnal convention might prevent the recurrence of a state of affairs such as now exists i'll Connecticut.
 Among the candidates on the stage | ticket who have endorsed the Reform | association is James r. Woodruff of Litchtield, democratic candidate for 1 secretary of state. MT Woodruff has 1 unequivocally endorsed the purpose of | the Constitutional Reform association. | William L. Hunting. democratic can | didate for comptroller, has made the | following answers to the questions: Mir | Hunting is in favor of the election of 1 state officers by a plurality vote. and | of q change in the composition of the | house of representatives so that the | people may be represented per capita | in that body. He says in regard to q | change in the senate: Il would so change the senate that each senator
 would represent as nearly as possible
 an equal part of the population" MT
 Hunting is in favor of restricting the
 general assembly to strict legislative
 functions. As to enlarging the pow
 CTS of the governor, Mir Hunting re- | piled that he not prepared to an-
 sWer the question.