Waterbury Democrat., 1901-05-09
JUDGES IND POLITICS.
Movement to Elect Inferior
 Judges Not Popular Here.
Judge Burpee is Opposed to It The Indeterminate Sentence Bill Was Passed To-day Temperance Com mittee Reports High License Bill Two Reports Sent In.

mlltee RepOrtS High License Bill
 Two Reports Sent In.
 The proposition before the house com nlittee on constitutional amendments that the judges of the inferior courts shall be elected by the popular vote of the people does not meec with favor among the legal fraternity in this city. In q general way the members of the local bar decry the idea because they say such a method of selecting the judges could not fail to have q detri- mental tendency on the actions of the judges. They seem to be unanimous in the opinion that it would be impos- sible to keep the courts out the hands of the willy politicians, and that the courts would essentially become the weapon of some political party and eventually a foot ball of both. Deputy Judge Peasley did not favor the idea He said the suggestion has been dis cussed for some time by all the law | journals, and none of them seem to have decided whether the judiciary committee, the executive of the state, or the people by their votes is the safest body to make the selection.
 Judge Burpee is emphatically op- posed to the idea of electing the judges by popular vote. Not that he fears the voice of the people in any way, but from his own experience he says the best means to make the ap- pointments would be that by which the judges of the superior court are chosen, to wit: the executive head of l the state. Judge Burpee said that while he has been judge of the local city court he has heard that attempts were made to influence the actions of | judges for political reasons. There fore if judges were to be selected by the people it is evident that politicians would endeayor to use the courts as means to bring about the accom- p1ishment of their views.
 Hartford, May 9-The indetermin- ate sentence bill was called up by MT King in the house this morning, when two amendments were offered by him. One leaves the five day rebate on time in the law as it stands and the other makes it compulsory on the court to sentence an habitua1 criminal to D Al1AAluellu Ol lhuAt y J0dAS. AuS DiAA was passed.
 The appointment of Senator James F. Bree as state auditor, which was passed in the senate last Tuesday, was called up in the house this morning. Ar Brady of New Britain moved that the house concur with the senate. MT Calkins and MT Miller opposed the passage of the bill Several democratic members followed with protests against the opponents of the bill The bill was passed by an overwhelming majority.
 The temperance committee sent in the long expected report on high license. Two Teports were offered, the majority report in favor of a 5000 license and the minority in favor of $500 both being increases The ma iority report provides in brief that license to sell intoxicating liquops shall be $6O0 in towns of over 5000 inhabi- tants and in towns of less t7Aan 5000 inhabitants it shall be $4t-9. The license for ale. cider beer and wine only shall be $200 Exception is made for hotels in towns of less than 4,000 inhabitants, when the license shall be $20O Wholesale dealers will have to pay $500 for a license for goods not to be sold on the premises. Both bills were tabled.
 In the senate to-day the bill increas- ing the number of superior court judges by one was passed.
 A large number of members of both houses left this afternoon on that ex- cursion to the scene of the Tariffville extension contest and will return later to-day.
 A bill providing for telephone com pany in which Warren l.. Hall and others were interested, was rejected by the house committee yesterday. It is said that Representative Iilley's short time in politics has cost him $5,000 On the other hand it is said also that he cuts more ice in the legislature than any other member of tlie general assembly.
 Representative Heminway is the hapdsomest member of the house, and he is also a bachelor. His laugh is the merriest and his manner the most demoeratic He is the auditor of Litchfield county to which office there is salary of $20 a year.
 Representative Guilfoile is the youngest member of the house. He is we'll thought of, and when he speaks all whispering and talking ceases. He is one of the best educated members of the assembly and his passage at arm with Representative Tucker of Ansonia is still spoken of.
 Representative George L. Lilley ban quoted the representatives and sena- tors from Litchfield county in the Allyn house in Hartford last evening. His object is said Ito be to smooth the way to the paSsage of the bill pro- viding for bridge across the Nauga- tuck river above Wateryille.
 There was curious coincidence in connection with the house resolution on Tuesday, raising a committees to draft resolutions in regard to the death of Representative Standish of Ando- yer In the session of two years ago, when Representative Pickett died, the resolution raising q committee was No @. The resolution of Tuesday relat- ing to Representative Standish was also No 62.
 The appropriations and humane in stttutions committees went to Lake-