The daily morning journal and courier., 1901-03-28
AN INTERESTING HEARING
Continued From First Page,

(Continued From First Page) of Hartford, representing the Gonstitu- tional Reform association, x-Consress- man Stephen W. Kellogg, of Water bury, Representative George M. Clark of Haddam, Speaker of the House John H. Light Attorney Gen. ,. eral Phelps, General H. o. Averill, Judge John A. Stoughton,of East Hart
 ford, Attorney George D. Watrous, of New Haven, and N. B. Stevens. of Win
 chester.
 At the opening of the hearing Attor-
 ney Shipman, of the Constitutional
 Reform association, said that the rep
 resentatives of the association would not
 present their arguments for the calling
 of constitutional convention until to-
 day, when another hearing will be held
 Judge Stoughton, who opened the
 hearing, said that he believed that the changes desired could be brought about by amendments to the constitution in- stead of by a constitutional convention. Ex-Congressman Kellogg said that he felt a great deal of interest in I change in the representation Masea- chusetts had town representation before
 
 was divided into districts, a condition which Connecticut will come to some day if there is not a change made in the system of representation. They all | knew that towns of less than 1000 in- 1 habitants have as many representatives as town of 10S,000 It is not fair rep resentation; it is not dernocratic; and it is not representation according to taxation.
 l Chairman 0. R. Fyler of the repub- | lican state committee, said he fully agreed in the main with the remarks of MT. Kellogg and Judge Stoughton, and | he hoped he would not be far apart from others. The present representa- tion of Connecticut is not defensible or cannot be defended from any point of view. He confessed he had never given the matter that serious thought which 1t deserved until last year. Even parti- san like himself could not defend the present system of representation even | to gain party advantage.
 1 He said that at a meeting of the re- publican state central committee it was agreed that a change in the representa- tion was desirable, while maintaining
 
 is republican and in his message he stated that he believed a change is de- sirable. The press, without regard to party, is in favor of a change As a republican-and he believed in his par ty-he believed his party cannot afford to take position which is not just With the present inequality every fair minded man admits that something should be done.
 MT. Fyler said the legislature should not adjourn until an effort is made to remove the present inequalities. MT. Fyler said he is not in favor of constitutional convention. The changes which are desired could be effected by amendments. The question of rep resentation is the only serious ques- tion. Eliminate the question of representation and there would be no demand for a change in the consti- tuition. There are a good many peo- pie who favor the election of judges by the people; he did not. Neither did he | believe in electing the county commits | sioners by the people. Possibly the se- l lection of the judges of the courts by | the governor might be better than the present system Outside these ques- tons it is not worth the powder which | the constitutional convention would require to hold it.
 N. B Stevens, of Winchester, spoke against the holding of a constitutional convention and said that the question was not one of inequality. It is wheth- CT or not the town system of represen- tation will be broken up That is the question. He could see no reason for breaking it up. It is safe principle to keep. The towns would come out of the convention shorn of all their privileges and they will be mere skeletons. The cities get all they want now. In reply to a question by MT. Fyler Mr., Stevens said that he had under stood from MT. Fyler's remarks that the latter was in favor of breaking up the system of town representation. MT. Fyler stated most emphatically that he was not in favor of doing away with town representation Colonel Norris G. Osborn, of New Ha- J ven, in reply to MT. Stevens, said that It is not revolution that is sought, but ., evolution. He did not want to condemn any one who favored the present sys- em; he wanted to convert him. No one | advocated taking representation from he towns. No system looking for that |. S possible. It is not physical, math- | |